Another great teaching/learning tool to help students match pitch is the “One Finger Slide”. This is a little tricky at first and I save this exercise for when my students that are more comfortable with long bow strokes. The concept is simple. I’ll sound a note higher then their starting point and have them bow and slide their finger up the string till they match the pitch. For example I’ll have the student place their one finger low on the D string (somewhere around Eb) and then I’ll sound an A above that note. I’ will then have the student slowly draw their bow and slowly slide up the neck (using their one finger) until they can find and match the pitch I am sounding. It’s tricky at first but it is great for me to watch the student start to get it. When they are really comfortable with this exercise on all the strings I’ll start sounding notes an octave above or below their pitch. For the more advanced students we’ll slide into harmony notes i.e. thirds, fifths, etc.

Peace and good tunes to you, D. Patrick