Fiddling

Step 3:Show them how to play root and 5th as double stops for an accompaniment.

Step 4: Show them how to play the accompaniment using a shuffle rhythmic figure.

Step 5: Teach everybody how to play a bass line (pizzicato). Then ask the basses to keep playing the bass line as you introduce the next variations. As basses get comfortable they can add a slap in between each note or elaborate the line. You can teach all the variations to the double basses but be prepared for lots of rumbling sounds if they play the double stops.

Step 6: Play the melody, but add a "drone A" as a double stop. Then try the melody with the drone in a shuffle rhythm. The shuffle rhythm should be played with the accents on the off beats(& of 1, & of 2, etc).

Step 7: Ask the violins to try the melody on their A string.

Step 8: Create your own variations to teach the class.

Step 9: Play through the tune 3 or 4 times. Let each student choose which variations they would like to play. Each time, everyone needs to play a different variation.

Step 10: Add a "kicker" at the beginning and a "tag" at the end.

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