How Not to Get Lost on a Fingerboard

I know, the title of this one is rather curious. Let me explain.

This morning I spent time with the scales in tenths in Paganini Caprice #24. I also reviewed some similar passages like the descending octave chromatic scales in #13 and the ascending chromatic octaves in ‘Rondo Capriccioso.’

Now, to do these passages consummately, that is, with confidence and virtuosity, one thinks the way I world-class gymnast or diver does whilst flying through the ethers.

You know, it doesn’t ‘just happen.’

First there is form.

Secondly there is knowing-where-you-are-in-the-air.

And finally there is spotting-the-landing.

All three must be so securely in mind that they can be held in mind in real-time, when you’re actually doing the trick, in fractions of a second.

And when it all comes together it is a splendid feeling indeed.

Now, it would seem, what with our feet firmly planted on terra firma, that we have certain advantages over the gymnast; crashes certainly don’t hurt as much.

Secondly, we can practice our ‘tricks’ slowly. Gravity will exact a heavy price indeed flying gymnast trying such a thing.

Yet there is a way for the gymnast, diver and acrobat to make up a lot of this disadvantage. It happens ‘in the theatre of the mind’, as Maxwell Maltz might have stated it.

In this special place one can systematically assemble the pieces of the puzzle, place them in order, and run them until they flow through the brain like greased lightning.

Of course there are special tips and techniques the great coaches possess for bringing the elements into focus and increasing their ‘staying power.’ These are the kinds of things I picked up from Milstein in the years I coached with him.

Naturally I’d like to share as much of this knowledge with you that I can. For violinists ready for some of the ultimate challenges the instrument presents there is Paganini for Violin Virtuosity. If these Caprices are indeed in your sights, you may secure one heck of a useful ally in your practice by heading over to http://www.violinmastery.com/paganini.htm

All the best, Clayton Haslop