We’ve all heard it, how the great Nicolo Paganini “sold his soul to the devil” in order to steal hearts and confound the ears of his day. Today we know this myth for the fiction that it is. Not that cagy Nicolo Paganini didn’t make full use of the imaginings of his flabbergasted audiences, he most certainly did. But selling his soul for his accomplishments? No way, he simply didn’t have to. What he did do was something extraordinary, however. He took a consummate understanding of violin fundamentals and then blew away his competition by creating a whole new world of possibilities from them.
In fact, everything that Paganini bequeathed the world of violin playing was drawn from a perfected knowledge of ‘classical’ violin fundamentals. The key to unlocking the world of Paganini is the key to understanding the process of violin playing itself.
Nathan Milstein as I knew him, ca. 1980
In my early twenties I hit a technical wall. I was putting in many hours of practice a day but was getting virtually no return on my investment. The more I strained to better my technique the tighter and more frustrated I became. Needless to say, the joy of playing was literally slipping through my fingers like desert sand. I was in serious need of fresh insight.
Help arrived in the form of a benefactor who offered to send me to work with one of the most fluid, effortless Paganini players of the 20th century, Nathan Milstein.
When I arrived at his masterclass in Zürich, Switzerland, I auditioned with three Paganini Caprices. “After all,” I figured, “I might as well show him, right off the bat, what needs fixing.”
Milstein listened patiently and good-naturedly to my fast and furious scrambling.
Once finished he said, “Why do you always run? Play it like Bach.”
Wow, what a concept! But this was just the beginning. Over the next several years, both at the masterclass and in numerous 3 hour plus private sessions, the Maestro showered me with an abundance of technical and musical insights.
As a result, the 24 Paganini Caprices became highly enjoyable and satisfying works for me to perform in public.
And, with my proven practice strategies, coupled with musical and technical insights from a 20th-century giant, they can be for you as well.
In 2006, 20 years after my time with Milstein, I began creating instructional DVD courses on violin playing. They were an immediate success and were soon used by hundreds of violinists worldwide. The principles found in them benefited students and colleagues alike — in fact, the results can only be described as awe-inspiring and PROOF that this system works, and works FAST.
At the top of the list was my Paganini for Violin Virtuosity, an in-depth course covering 8 of my personal favorite Caprices. Along with the richly detailed instructional videos came extensive written notes, my unedited performances on video, and the sheet music of my personal edition.
The program is truly unique in the field of violin instruction. The DVDs contain detailed verbal instruction, powerful practice techniques, and demonstrations, revealing to YOU the indispensable secrets of virtuosic violin performance. And it is all about preparation!
During the Winter of 2020 (who can forget), after a 10-year period of being unavailable, the entire collection of 8 instructional videos, my own personal edition, ‘live’, unedited performances and comprehensive written notes were uploaded to the internet and made available for a whole new generation of serious learners.
And now, due to the efficiencies of the internet, it has allowed me to do what I wouldn’t have dreamed of back then, something that might also seem foolhardy in this time of renewed inflation. I’m bringing the price to a third of the original $192 the package sold for in 2010! Today we offer this well-used, well-reviewed course for just $64, that’s $8 per Caprice, in case you haven’t already done the math.
And to seal the deal, because I am confident you will agree as to the value of the product, you may ask for a full refund within 30 days of purchase.
One more thing, if $64.00 is a steep entry price for you, take a look at the Monthly Membership below which gets you immediate access to the course for $9.00. There is simply not a reason for you to forgo the opportunity to work with this program!
All the best, Clayton Haslop
48 detailed instructional videos Unedited video performances of each Caprice Downloadable sheet music & comprehensive written notes (PDF)
Also understand that your purchase comes with a 30-day no questions asked, money-back guarantee.
I am that confident you are going to love this program!
