What You Need for a Bad Day

Several years ago one of my most accomplished colleagues, Endre Granat, said something I’ve remembered ever since. We were at Todd A-O studio recording music for “Apollo 13”, sometime in the mid-90s, I think. Unfortunately, that wonderful sound stage has now been bulldozed for office space.

Anyway, this is what he said. ‘Just about anybody can sound well on a GOOD day, it’s what happens on an off day that separates the great ones from the ‘also-rans.’’

The difference, he went on to say, boiled down to technique.

Now, I might take slight exception to his conclusion; after all, I’ve seen some players with less than picture perfect technique rise to a pressure situation.

Yet to disregard his point would be folly for any violinist with serious intentions. Let me give you an example of how it works.

Just one year ago, after several demanding days spent recording music for ‘Ratatouille’, the composer wanted to return to a cue we had done the first day. It had the most exposed, tricky violin solo of the entire score on it.

My hands we tired, and I had expended a great deal of emotional energy over the previous several days. To say I was running on fumes would not be hyperbole.

Yet I had one very important thing going for me. I work on my technique fastidiously. I do not let things slide in practice, not at all.

And that is what made the difference. No, I will not say I FELT my best, in those retakes. Yet after it was over – we did numerous takes, perhaps ten, and for reasons of orchestration – many players came up wondering how I could be so consistent after such a difficult week.

Naturally I did not say ‘technique’ to them. I left it at, ‘just try to do my best each time.’

Doing your best at a performance or a recording session must be just the tip of the iceberg, though, if you want stand out over and over, through thick and thin.

Fortunately, there is a course that will certainly make that path a lot more direct and rewarding.

All the best,

Clayton Haslop

P.S. The real essentials of violin are as simple as they are misunderstood, by many players. Come get yourself free of the extraneous, the meaningless, the misguided moves holding you back today. AND put some highly effective focus techniques in your playing arsenal at the same time.