Looking for Simandl Tips

I think you are only likely to get one in this case....get a teacher!

 

Practice very, very slow (with the bow, obviously). Start at quarter note equals 45 and gradually slow it down. Going through Simandl again is great, but if your sole objective is improving your tone, slow scales and arpeggios will accomplish that. If you do work through Simandl, make everything sound as musical as possible. It's in there if you look really hard.

 

Check out "Simandl plus" on Dr. Mark Mortons Website. Good info and a free downloadable workbook.
http://www.asodb.com/sp/spwkbk.html

 

Are you playing through it on electric or upright?

If it is on upright, take you time, play with a metronome, and MARK THE BOOK. I never did this, and always got messed up in the middle of the etude.

If you are playnig them on electric, play them in different positions on the neck - it is great reading practice!

imp

 

Really focus on the tone of the E and A strings. Also remember two things, these are not pieces of concert music, so don't get bogged down by worrying over the music, focus on what part of your playing you are trying to improve.
Also, try to focus on letting the etude "push" you into to tune, play, listen and don't worry over every note. Let Simandl do his part.
Obviously, you want to play them well, but pick a few of them and drill them every day, As well as sight reading a few.

 

Long bows, Flat Hair

 

I recommend also Simandl's Book of Etudes.

Those studies are little more musical.

 

I play through the 30 Etudes book once a year or so, and I've been doing it since 1965. More than just etudes, that book is really a treatise on bow management. Where to recover the bow and how to do it are built into those etudes. Playing through the book in order and doing each etude 3-5 times is great for getting your bow under control.