Dictionary of Bowing and Pizzicato Terms: Book

String teachers, private lesson instructors, and orchestra directors who need a definitive reference beyond method books. Advanced students learning unfamiliar repertoire or preparing for chamber auditions will return to this constantly.

• Keep a copy in the string section's stand folder during rehearsal. When a bowing term appears in unfamiliar repertoire, students can look it up immediately rather than interrupting the rehearsal.
• Have advanced students teach younger players the techniques they're discovering. Assigning a term to demonstrate builds ownership and reinforces learning across the section.
• Use the illustrations during sectional rehearsals to ensure consistent execution across all players. A visual reference prevents the drift that happens when technique is explained verbally across multiple rehearsals.
• Pair this with your score study. Mark obscure terms before rehearsal so you're confident in how to demonstrate what you're asking for.

Position this as a reference library tool rather than a workbook. String sections at schools with strong classical programs will reference it throughout the year as repertoire demands techniques beyond standard instruction. It's equally valuable for a private teacher building a student's technical foundation or a director programming contemporary works that lean heavily on extended techniques.

• Identifying and executing unfamiliar bowing techniques from notation
• Understanding the distinction between similar terms (e.g., col legno vs. col legno battuto)
• Reading and interpreting contemporary string notation
• Building confidence with extended pizzicato and non-traditional techniques
• Connecting visual markings in scores to physical execution