What is PIZZICATO?

INTRODUCE pizzicato vs. arco

1. There's a special word for plucking the string on a violin, viola, cello or double bass: pizzicato. (pit-zah-KAH-toe). Try saying it a few times. (Pause to let students say it.)

2. Listen to a little of the beginning of a string quartet by Maurice Ravel. Do you hear the plucking sound?

   

   

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   String Quartet: II. Assez vif. Tres rythme - Maurice Ravel

3. When string players use the bow instead, it's called arco. Listen to a little of the beginning of Antonín Dvořák’s American Suite Op. 98a to know what arco sounds like.

   

   

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   American Suite Op. 98a - Antonin Dvorak

4. Have students make flash cards with the words pizzicato and arco on them, or print flash cards ahead of time. Then, listen together to each piece below. Say to students, “Flash your ‘pizzicato’ card when you hear a plucked sound. Flash ‘arco’ when you hear a bowed sound.” For a little more movement, try an “air pluck” or “air bow”!

EXTEND learning about pizzicato

Choose one or more of the following activities to extend learning.

1. In the Pavane, the strings play pizzicato but you will also hear other instruments playing beautiful melodies over the top of the plucking sound. Can you name the other instruments you hear?

2. While listening to these pieces, grab some art supplies and draw along with the sound. Pizzicato might be short dots, arco might be smooth, long lines - whatever inspires students!

3. Dig out as many rubber bands as you can find. Have students try stretching them to different lengths and plucking. Say to students, “Do you notice that different rubber bands make different sounds? The same rubber band will sound different when you stretch it to different lengths. See how many different kinds of rubber band plucking sounds you can make.”

4. Watch this video of MPR Class Notes Artist Lux String Quartet. Notice every time they play a pizzicato. Use a finger to "air-pluck" every time you see and hear a pizzicato note.