How to Accelerate Your Learning

Got an order today from a very busy professional violinist who is looking to increase the rate at which she is able to learn new music.

Let me tell you a little story to shed some light on her concern.

About a year ago I arrived at the sessions for Mission Impossible III. I was the concertmaster on the project, so I opened the book a few minutes before the session to take a look at what was coming. I was shocked to see that the first cue of the day started with some incredibly difficult writing.

My first thought was, ‘Oh no, I don’t think I can learn this before we’re going to be asked to play it.’

Now, as a word of explanation, when you’re sitting in the section, you can get away with a little schmutz, if you know I mean. When your sitting right under the conductor’s nose, it’s a very different story.

My next thought was this. ‘OK, breathe, count, and play through this thing slowly, just calmly putting your hands on the notes.’

The first time through I had to slow way down in a few spots in order to think, speak, breathe and play simultaneously. The second time was noticeably easier.

With several minutes to spare before the conductor’s downbeat, I was laughing at myself for having that initial thought of alarm.

And I felt Totally Awake.

Now, there is one more important ingredient in doing this. You must have highly efficient well-formed playing habits. In other words, no extraneous movements to struggle against.

All this is what Kreutzer for Violin Mastery is about. And my thinking about all this is simple, ‘like causes produce like results.’

Do as I do, and you’ll be eating pages covered in black notes for breakfast.

All the best,

Clayton Haslop

P.S. Two of my favorite ’hand trainers’ are #11 and #12. Pay special attention to how I maintain a stable hand position through the shifts.