There are few things more satisfying on the violin than playing in-tune, beautifully clear double-stops. On the other hand, there is also little that presents as much challenge. So, what is a body to do about them? For one thing, stop struggling. The last thing you want to find yourself doing is grinding away at […]

This morning I received an email that really got me. Have a quick look; Dear Mr.Haslop, I am learning to play the violin for the past one year. This weekend my teacher said I play all the notes correctly, but I give nothing to the music. He says I don’t feel the music. How do […]

Those of you that drive know what I’m talking about, namely a ‘stop’ that isn’t really a stop. I do them myself now and then, shame on me! Of course it’s one thing to bend the rules a little bit when you know you’re in full control of a situation – I don’t do California […]

On rare occasion, as you well know, even the best-laid plans have a way of going awry. Learning to deal with these bumps in the road is one of our greatest challenges, both as human beings and violinists. Not long ago I told you about a concert I once played where my pre-concert warm up […]

Yesterday was a day for seeing the Scottish landscape. From our digs at the base of picturesque Loch Lomond we drove north along it’s western shore; then we bore north-west over the rugged and dramatic mountains that separate the interior from the sea; and finally, we tumbled down to Loch Fyne and drove it’s northern […]

When I was a much younger lad, I spent a few years studying with Eudice Shapiro at the USC School of Music. When I arrived there I was very gung-ho and jumped right in by preparing several works on my own, only taking them to her after I’d done a considerable amount of practice. As […]

If you’re a violinist, I suppose the next best thing to lifting up thine eyes to the heavens would be lifting up thine fiddle to the heavens. Only thing is, I would ask you to do it with your left hand and not your shoulder, or chin. You see, there is still a little resistance […]

Yesterday I received an email from a woman in her sixties who has made excellent progress on the violin in three short years. She is, however, having some difficulty cultivating a vibrato, and asked my advice on the subject. Previously she had been told that it would ‘happen naturally.’ Well, it hasn’t and she asked […]

During my stay in Vermont I happened into the very excellent violin shop in Burlington. Good thing I did. After playing one of the luthier’s own instruments I remarked, ‘You know, the strings feel a little low on this instrument.’ He did a quick check on them, said they were spot on, and then measured […]

Greetings from Newark airport. Last night I completed the last of my performing duties at the Vermont Mozart Festival by playing the Mendelssohn Concerto, in picture-perfect conditions, on the grounds of the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. Yes, the same Trapp family of ‘The Sound of Music’ fame. After leaving Austria the family eventually […]

There are few things in this world more pleasing than a truly legato line played well on the violin. If you can do this deceptively simple thing you will never lack for enthusiastic listeners hanging on your every turn of phrase. But, as I said, this is a deceptively simple task to accomplish. It requires […]

I understand that one of the great fears many people have today is that of performing before other people. A couple weeks ago, just days prior to the Novice/Intermediate masterclass, I received a phone call from a participant who was having a severe case of cold feet over this very thing. Naturally I persuaded him […]

If you were reading between the lines in yesterday’s newsletter, you probably got the significance of the today’s title, ‘Pliancy Rules.’ But before I continue I want to thank all of you that have written, in recent days. I appreciate all your support, comments and questions. I do try to respond to as many as […]

Received something in my mailbox over the weekend that gave me pause for thought. Not much pause, really, but I thought you might like to have a look since it sums up the cynic’s view of my courses – Its quite obvious, by the way, that the fellow doesn’t own one. Here is what he […]

There’s no doubt the French have made a big contribution to the Art of the Violin. But I bet I’ve got a Frenchman in my fingers that would be the envy of almost all of you. His name is Jean-Joseph Mondonville – how’s that for a name – and he was the talk of Paris […]