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Recent Top Blogs

The Buri Bow Burp

By Stephen Brivati
January 2, 2010 20:15

for good musical reasons every note in a group of four 16ths has a slightly different value although the difference may well only be at a subliminal level. This value may be to do with length, volume or articulation. We are greatly aided in our understanding of this by old mother gravity which makes our down bows stronger than our up bows. However, in order to perfectly control this degree of nuance (which is more often than not ignored) we have to develop our skill at playing exactly equal notes though practicing a huge amount of variety within our most simple exercises, especially scales. First Flesch, then Galamian and Simon Fischer have shown increasingly clearly how one does this by manipulating the factors of rythm , accent and dynamics. However, I suspect that many players focus primarily on rythm without actually listening to the core sound itself simply because that is the natural instinct of violinists: to pay more attention to the left hand than the right. Somehow the brain likes it this way. I would like to offer up a small exercise I invented as a New Year gift which if practiced with focus and keen attention will help to develop a better and more nuanced detache. Its very simple and can be integrated into any scale practice (assuming you do scale practice ;). Read more...
0 replies

Happy New Year 2010

By Pauline Lerner
January 2, 2010 19:12

Happy New Year!
A litany of good wishes from Stanley Kubrick (1968), Herbert von Karajan and the Vienna Philharmonic (1987), and me (2010)

One of the ways the Viennese traditionally celebrate New Years is to listen to Strauss waltzes, especially "The Blue Danube," and dance. Here is Herbert van Karajan conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in their 1987 New Year's concert. The dancers are from the Ballet of the Vienna State Opera.

Happy new Year-concert on 5000 m artificial ice

By Bram Heemskerk
January 2, 2010 05:54

Here an unknown but beautiful walse during the new year skating race on the 5 km artificial ice track in Holland:

Recent Discussion Threads

'Proper' names of movements of concertos

From Leah Jozwiak
Repertoire: Please help me edit the names of two mvts. of concertos...

2 replies - Last 2010-1-4 03:43

violin hold with vibrato problems...

From Nasel Arcayan
Technique: Hi, i'm having problems with my vibrato. when holding the violin, you let it rest between your chin and collarbone right? however, if i do a vibrato, my violin shakes with it. any tips? thanks!

11 replies - Last 2010-1-4 02:41

The violin and singing

From Jeroen Chua
Practicing: My teacher suggested I learn how to sing to help my violin playing. I just recorded myself and it was horrifying to listen to. How do I improve?

3 replies - Last 2010-1-4 00:55