User's Manual

27
VOLUME HAND EXERCISES
Now that you’ve gotten your
pitch hand in shape, let’s work
on your volume hand. We will
be keeping our pitch hand
still and use only the volume
antenna to articulate notes.
Play any note and slowly
raise your left hand to raise
the volume. Gradually lower
your hand toward the volume
antenna to reduce the volume.
NOTE: Keep the motion mainly in your wrist as opposed to raising your whole forearm.
Practice making your movements as smooth as possible. The start of the
note is called the ‘attack’ and the end is the ‘decay.’ This exercise is an
example of a slow attack and slow decay.
Try it again, but this time, make your movement as quick as possible, so
there is a dramatic jump in volume. A fast attack gives you the ability to
‘pluck’ out sharper sounding, staccato notes and rhythms.
Practice playing notes with a fast attack and fast decay in groups of 3 or
more; then, try mixing it up by playing notes with a slow attack and fast
decay, or with a fast attack and slow decay.
PITCH & VOLUME EXERCISES
Now it’s time to get both hands
working in concert. Hum a note
and play it aloud. This time,
before sliding to the second
note, slowly mute the volume
and raise it just after your hand
has glided to the second note.
Do this again, syncing a dip of
your volume hand as you glide
between the second to the
third note. Don’t get frustrated
if you find it difficult to keep
both hands moving accurately
at the same time; just keep practicing!