Where to Find the Music

Last night my wife Tania and I sat down and enjoyed a movie together. We laughed while trying to recall the last time we had done so.

The film was a Swedish production entitled, ‘As it is in Heaven.’ I don’t think it is even available in this country, which is unfortunate.

It’s a marvelous piece of work.

The plot revolves around a fictitious, world-famous conductor who is forced by stress and poor health to abandon his career. The man decides to return to the small, highly provincial town of his birth where circumstances conspire to make him the Cantor of a small parish church.

Now dealing with amateur musicians, he is forced to reinvent his whole approach to communicating through music.

There were a few things said by the main character that really struck me.

At one point during a rehearsal, he says to his little group, ‘We are here to listen. The music surrounds us all, and it is our job to open our ears to it.’

‘So, how do you know when you’ve heard it?’ you may ask.

Your heart and soul are stirred.

It’s that simple, really. Now, getting the music out through the ‘f’ holes of a violin might seem rather more complicated.

It is not.

Two things are needed. One, a player must ‘listen’ to his or her body. He must listen to his body and its movements for what is extraneous to the music. And let these things go.

Second, she must listen to her body for what are pure, affecting, and effective movements in bringing forth the music. And practice them in a way they become not second nature, but first nature.

This is not to say that a good coach, or teacher, can’t be of considerable assistance; first to accelerate the process of learning good fundamental skills, and second in raising the listening bar higher and higher.

I am thrilled that literally hundreds of players world-wide have found my courses and masterclasses helpful in these regards. Here’s a nice little comment I received over the weekend.

‘Because of your Kreutzer course, I am now playing with less effort, more relaxed and focused. And you’re right on about the breathing correctly.’ Rodney, Lebanon, Tenn..

So if you’re new to the newsletter, an intermediate violinist, and ready to lift yourself out of the doldrums of rote repetition, then Kreutzer for Violin Masteryis your ticket.

All the best,
Clayton Haslop

P.S. Now, if you’re an advanced player, but still wanting for new vision and insight, come refresh yourself with Paganini for Violin Virtuosity, Vol. 1.