Kreutzer, Paganini, and Bach

Some months ago, before beginning my ‘Kreutzer project’ I worked out pretty exclusively on Paganini and Bach. And I mean Worked Out. I had a set of 12 Caprices I played daily along with the Bach Chaconne and other movements from the various Sonatas.

Once I got started on the Kreutzer project I added the first 12 of those to the mix. I was in pretty good playing shape.

For the last 2 months, however, I have dropped Paganini completely and have focused almost exclusively on Kreutzer.

The whole book.

Last night, after warming up, I decided to see what effect this has had on my Paganini chops. What I found was very interesting.

I found that my left hand was stronger and more ‘set’ than before. In the 5th caprice I more easily thought in ‘blocks’ of notes. In the 24th all the double and triple stops lay effortlessly under my hand. My intonation was more pure and consistent.

I couldn’t have been more pleased.

You see, Kreutzer builds you up. It is specific and rigorous in it’s way, but not overly stressful to the two hands. It will find every weak area and technical challenge to your playing and gently strengthen it.

But you must have patience, insight and passion for the process to work it’s magic. Slovenly playing, carelessness, lack of attention to detail, or incomplete understanding (vision) will severely compromise your results.

In short, you must reach for perfection. To achieve it you must be relaxed, efficient, and clear. You are flow, and flow is bliss. This is truly what my practice methods are designed to develop and support.

All the best,
Clayton Haslop

P.S. Breath, Count, Visualize. They work.