Gotta Love Those Wings

I’m pleased to tell, right now, that because you opened this newsletter you’re violin playing just got better. Read on.

A couple days ago I had an inquiry from one of my Violin Mastery Beginners Circle students wanting to know more about the one-finger playing and the shifting motion that makes it possible.

As a result I’m going to turn you on to something that’s not even in the ‘Allegro Players’; yet.

First off, let me ask you when the last time you tried to fly was. For most of you, some time, I imagine.

So it’d be a good idea if you rose out of your chair, bent over parallel to the floor, and got some air in your feathers, right now.

Go ahead, flap with an extended rigid arm a couple of times. Now slow it down and feel which muscle(s) raise your arm; those are the very ones you will use to move the left hand/arm up and down the fingerboard.

Only difference is, your upper arm is more wrapped around the front of your body to play the violin.

It’s a yoga-like thing; it all stems from the middle of your back.

Your arm, hand and fingers merely stay balanced. They maintain they’re ‘attitude’ to the string while your ‘wings’ do the flying.

Those muscles are very strong, mind you, once you have control over them they can do amazing things for you. And fast, too.

Now you have the real secret of legato playing, at least where the left side is concerned. You also have the secret of controlled, accurate shifts.

You see, it’s not ‘in the wrist’, as people like to say. So the next time someone compliments your beautifully expressive portamenti you will answer, ‘It’s all in the wings.’

All the best,

Clayton Haslop

P.S. I am going into this in considerable detail in the Allegro Players. They say a picture is worth a 1000 words. Just imagine what moving pictures of one who slides with the best of them could do for you. Especially when I do it in slow motion.