Ah, where to begin. This morning I continued my Kreutzer review focusing for some 40 minutes or so on #18 – it’s in volume 2 of Kreutzer for Violin Mastery. On first glance it looks like just another trill study; there are 10 in this section of Kreutzer’s book of etudes. On second, third, fourth glance, […]

This morning I was doing a little viewing on Youtube for fun. In the course of things I listened to Perlmann play Paganini’s Caprice #5. I say listened because his performance of the Caprice was taken from a LP recording done some 35 years ago. Youtube wasn’t around then, as you may recall. And in case […]

Several days ago, whilst still in LA, my little family and I spent an evening at the home of a remarkable musician/song-writer/producer. Now, as if playing five or six instruments weren’t enough, Chris recently decided it was time to tackle the violin as well. In the course of the evening our violins came out and […]

Last week I wrote a newsletter on playing in tough conditions, such as heat, cold and high humidity. I received quite a few responses to it, so I guess it struck a nerve with a lot of players. Now, one of the folks that wrote in has a very simple and effective way of dealing […]

Maybe you’re wondering, ‘what happened to Velocity 101,’ or, ‘I’ve got Velocity 201, I just can’t get myself quite up to Velocity 301, or X-01.’ The fact is, though, at times music calls for us to rise up off our backsides and haul arse, to put it poetically. And 99% of violinists asked if they’d […]

Just ‘dismounted’ from the violin. You know, many are the days I rebuild my playing from the ground up – focusing on the horizontal travel of the bow; the position of my left hand; the independent, light action of each finger, etc. They are the ultimate basics of playing and always worthy of holding in […]

Summer’s turned hot here in Red Rock country. And that’s a good thing, actually. Soon we’ll be treated to spectacular thunder storms as moisture from the gulf rushes in behind the rising air. A great season in Southwest. Now, for the next couple days I thought I’d look at what I call ‘fine points’ of […]

This morning I further amplified something I’ve been doing in my practice for many years. And if you are working with one of my courses – and PRACTICING – I’m happy to say that you are doing it too. And you might not even realize what it is. But whatever it is, and I’ll get […]

Well, here I am. And I’m happy to report the master class went extraordinarily well over the weekend. Matter of fact I’d say it was, as promised, the best so far. ‘So what were the differences that made it so,’ you may be thinking. Each time I conduct one of these I become clearer on […]

Just returned from the City of Angels last night. No recording sessions this time. Just a special screening of the movie ‘Up’ – for the orchestra – and some family time. ‘Up’ was indeed an up experience; a touching, genuinely funny, worthwhile way to spend a couple of hours. And the music was more effective […]

You know, the essence of double stop playing is merely the singing two lines simultaneously. It’s really that simple. ‘Yea, easy to say,’ you might be thinking. ‘Not so easy to do.’ And you’d have a point. Double stop playing requires patience and discipline, perhaps even a willingness to endure a little discomfort, for the […]

Thick, overhead clouds today. If we’re lucky we’ll see a cloudburst come afternoon. Could make things interesting for my daughter and I during our late afternoon riding lesson. This morning I had a rather profound realization. I think you’re going to enjoy it. As we grow we are constantly challenged to caste off outdated and […]

When I was young I had several traumatic experiences with memory. On one occasion I stood up to play and couldn’t remember the first note of the piece. Not a very good thing for one’s confidence. In fact it took many years before I felt at all ‘right,’ when performing, without a music stand in […]

Very curious times we’re living in. So many potent and unfortunate agendas being pursued in the world, and the majority of us caught in the middle just wanting to ‘live, and let live.’ In any case, thanks be to violin playing. It is to me as the harp was to king Solomon. This morning I […]

Just now – as of the past several days – I’ve been quite caught up in the beauties of renewal and rebirth. It’s a particularly refined version of ‘spring fever,’ me thinks. Anyway, today I’d like to chat a little about getting some renewal into your sound vis a vis something we call vibrato. Now, […]