Anne-Marie Proulx on Violinist.com

Advice from Masterclass by Vadim Repin

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:17:49 GMT

I had the luck to watch, in February, as an audience member, a masterclass by Vadim Repin at Montreal conservatory. It was very interesting to see how this very talented violinist teach. Making everything clear and mimicks when words aren't ennough to explain well. In fact, I have saw two 3 hours masterclasses with Repin over the years. & nbsp; I just wanted to share a few tricks he told and mention that it's all things regularly discussed here on v.com! & nbsp; A very good new according to me. & nbsp; & nbsp;

- Even advanced students still have slight posture problems with lifting the left shoulder, tension, not using all the bow parts and such. So Repin was very clear about the fact that one had to lift the violin from the left shoulder and hold the scrool slightly up since it's the only way to gain a flexible left hand able to do variet and coulours in vibrato. (and shift smoothly) The violin is mainly hold by the left hand; it should be seen as an extension of the left hand.

- One has to FIGHT this natural tendency the body has to tense the left hand when you play forte and energically with the bow...

- exagerate creshendos when needed. Do not just play short notes as if you don't care.

- never do a same melody that repeats twice the same

- In Brahms, don't play for your grand-mother as he said so well... & nbsp; Do it magistral, grandiose. Hungarian music is like dance so really put this energy on the notes that need it. It's important to end well the short notes. In Brahms, also don't slow tempo when not written

- super important for sound (as students sometimes played well but with not ennough sound & nbsp; according to Repin...) Good contact with the strings... use this index on your bow hand...

- When playing at the bottom (heel) part of the bow, always make that hand/wrist movement energically. At the tip, you do it but with less amplitude.

- Scales are the starting point... It's pointless to try to master a concerto if you don't practice the basics in scales. One should do at least 2 hours a day of scales or moore if needed... you never do ennough... Just a little story, a student came up very out of control and Repin kindly and patiently made him do scales unstead of playing his concerto... Insisting on the impotance of basics... A good lesson to all violin students I think!

- Follow your little finger. He's the & quot;boss & quot; in octaves and decimas (tenths) and indicates the place you should be. & nbsp; Never stretch you hand from the weak pinky side. Unstead, stretch more from the stronger index side...

- In triplets, the second not is the most important. (also for counting issues)

And the main message, play with confidence and conviction in your message (be clear in what you want to say to convince people you're doing the right thing...) He often said, & quot;it will be ok just if you convinced me it is (when you play)... & quot; & nbsp;

& nbsp;

So, it's pretty similar to things regularly discussed here, no? Really, for those who think there is a & quot;secret & quot; with these super violinists, I can really say there aren't from what I saw. Every good teacher in a serious conservatory or established school has similar ideas to masters as Vadim Repin. We are not in a world where information is confined to specific countries as it might have been before (???). & nbsp; Of course, I'm not talking about born physical talent, ear, context, opportunities, frequencies and leghts of lessons. & nbsp; But, stricktly talking about pedagogy and violin learning methods, it's really not that different!!!

So, in my humble opinion, everyone who wants master tricks, find a good teacher and read v.com... ; )

& nbsp;

Also, I have found (sorry if you already know this article) a very interesting article about David Oistrakh by Rimma Sushanskaya, a very talented violinist who was his last pupil. I think the article is quite recent since I had never seen it before.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7146/is_200807/ai_n32285351/?tag=content;col1

Enjoy!

Once again, it shows the talent of this great artist to perform, teach (on regular basis, not just masterclasses), conduct and play viola at the same time!

Have a nice day,

Anne-Marie

& nbsp;

Thanks you for the book suggestions!!!

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:15:36 GMT

Hi, in all the posts here have often been mentioned the book & quot;Basics & quot; by Simon Fisher and also, sometimes, Technical Fundamentals of the Soviet Masters. I bought myself the two for Christmas as I said I would find a way to have them before Christmas & nbsp; since I wouldn't survive to wait longer ; )

& nbsp; and they arrived today!!! You were all right, really REALLY good books, they are addictive... and everyone should have them (especially those who don't have a teacher or have a not that good teacher if this saddly happens sometimes) But even with a good teacher, they will be so useful!

Thanks for your advice!

Anne-Marie

Season greetings to all! Any dog lovers?

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:42:17 GMT

Hi, Merry Chrismas or season greetings if you don't celebrate Christmas to all of you and also... I admit... & nbsp; as an exuse to show you this christmas video : ) & nbsp; Hungarians don't just train good violinists... & nbsp;

I am amazed by such achivments and congratulate the performers and teachers, especially that they all do this as amateurs for a hobby!

& nbsp;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUtPKbMwnRo

& nbsp;

and here if you want to see how they train them + a & quot;beach & quot; show

& nbsp;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkPNa4DBFHI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-M7aAAiSAU

& nbsp;

Best whishes,

Anne-Marie

PS: don't show this to your kids if you don't want them to ask a doggie to Santa!!!

& nbsp;

Never underate this little rotation!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:36:13 GMT

Dear v.commers, as I often say, I am maybe a little too obsess with & quot;sound & quot; issues and every technique related to it. & nbsp; I know I shouldn't be because & nbsp;my sound is very & quot;ok & quot; for my situation since I do not earn my life out of music or anything the like but I can't help it : ) & nbsp;Though I do earn my joy out of music so bad sound = not happy!!! & nbsp; & nbsp;

Thus, one of the things I'm very obsessed with is vibrato (maybe also because it's not the easiest thing for toothpick sized fingers). & nbsp; I agree that the bow is the articulation of music and the most important thing but there is no music without rich vibratos either... I happen to love finger and wrist vibratos for their very personnal and smooth & quot;unstiff & quot; sound. & nbsp; & nbsp; But since a while, & nbsp;I was really not happy with mine and with the winter comming up here (cold and humid), I found they got narrower and narrower. & nbsp; & nbsp;I always knew by reading on the net and Buri mentionned it too when we had these controversial posts about the & quot;king & quot; that rotataing lightly the left forarm and wrist was an important skill to aquire in order to vibrate well. & nbsp;But instinctivly, without realizing it, I just went back and forth (without going up the tone) with a very poor rotation... When I foccused on this slight rotation, the sound and all the resonating of my violin immidiately got improoved. (not perfect but much better than with & nbsp;poor rotation). & nbsp; & nbsp; I was shocked to realize that our mind is uncounsciously so focused on this back and forth motion of the finger that we forget all the other important things in vibratos... & nbsp; Then I suppose my bow will take bad habits while I work on my left hand... & nbsp;I'll check & nbsp;this! & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp;No, & nbsp;the violin journey is never finish and each time you tell to yourself: how come I didn't realize x and y znd z & nbsp;were bad & nbsp;sooner. & nbsp;But & nbsp;this is violin!

Have a nice day and don't forget this little rotation... & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp;

Anne-Marie

Hope I won't do rotation night mares...

Must see!!!

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:56:11 GMT

Take a look & nbsp;at this! & nbsp; It is not exactly violin but just like music, it takes a lot of coordination and uses hands! & nbsp; Very impressing and guess what... & nbsp; the girls are suppose to be totally deaph and non-talking. & nbsp; They only follow instructions from an instructer to do this complex show. & nbsp; A truly great video and sorry for those who already know it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgHmSdpjEIk

Have a nice day and happy Easter weekend!

Anne-Marie

Musicotherapist, a profession?

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:44:14 GMT

Hi,

yesterday on a practice with a pianist that is always of a very good advice, we were talking about my futur plans... & nbsp; & nbsp; She told me that musicotherapist was a very nice job for those who have a big & nbsp;affinity with music but not a world star talent... & nbsp; (I qualify!) & nbsp; A musical therapist is from what she told me, someone who works with disable people, old folks etc to divert or even (cure???) certain things etc & nbsp; Yes, I believe we all need music (classical or other styles) at some point, that it can help us to pass hard periods, prevent criminality, suicide, give hope, develop new mental/motor skills etc etc & nbsp; but can one really earn his/her life with this??? & nbsp; In these economical hard times, I am almost sure that they would cut off musicotherapists jobs before everyone else's job because it is considered quite superficial or non necessary compared to many other jobs... & nbsp; Of course, I would be very happy, in my futur life to do volounteer work in hospitals and places where music can divert and help a little people because it is such an occasion for normal musicians to apply the real purpose of music but I am sceptic that it can really become my job! & nbsp; (maybe part time but for a full-time?) & nbsp; Studies cost much and I don't want to try again a risky path and return in something else after... & nbsp; & nbsp; It's so difficult for me in sciences now that I want to enter in something at university being 100% conviced that it will work and that I will not have to spend the next 7-10 years of switching from one program to another! I am truly anxious to do more music and I want to go straight to the point! & nbsp; I was thinking that I really should go in something like occupational therapist or nursing at university because it is more secure even if musicotherapist would be very cool as a & nbsp;job :)))) & nbsp;(nursing and occupational therapist & nbsp;requires sciences at college anyway here) and try to incorporate music if the situation is ok for this. Ex: music is a tool that many occupational therapists sometime use to cure certain things, a nurse can play music on the holiday season to the sick... etc

So do you know musicotherapists? & nbsp; Is it a real job and do you think there will always be jobs for them? Just curious, as usual to see what you think about this! & nbsp; Of course it seems great but I try to remain objective and... realistic (hate this word though!)

Have a nice day! & nbsp; & nbsp; Thanks for any comment!

Anne-Maire

The student or teacher you had the longest.

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:52:40 GMT

Hi,

yesterday, I saw a program on a & nbsp;good conservatory here and among the comments, a teacher said that what he loved was to have students for a very long time and see their evolution. He said it was so rewarding. & nbsp; He had a boy that had started & nbsp;doublebass with him at 7 and now, this student & nbsp; was maybe 20 or more (by the look). & nbsp;

I was wondering what was the student or teacher you have had the longest? & nbsp; Do you often have a young children or adult that you keep for 13 - 15 years? & nbsp; It must be funny to have almost been the & quot;mom & quot; or & quot;dad & quot; of a young student and learn to interact different as he or she grows up! & nbsp; Since violin is a life long journey, some v.commers must have many similar stories to what this teacher was talking about. & nbsp; A young teacher that starts a young kid could have the same pupil for 40 years... that's amazing, no?

Have a nice day,

Anne-Marie

non consistent practices = quit?

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:48:42 GMT

Hi,

first of all, I wish everyone a nice & quot;Obama & quot; day! I am really happy for the USA and the world!

I just wanted to comment a little on what a great cello teacher said (I took this sentence from Pauline's blog on adult & nbsp;students that is really good by the way if you haven't seen it!)

The cello teacher said:

Ms. Cullen says that a major reason that her adult beginners are early quitters is that they can not manage to practice consistently.

I know that consistent practice is what creates motivation and brings the student to a good level etc... But many persons just don't have the perfect life to play violin. It's sad but true. & nbsp; Does having a & quot;non suited for violin & quot; life makes that one will quit the violin? & nbsp; I know that my teacher told me that the students that were studying (college and university) in something else than music often quited because they lacked time. & nbsp; I am now in this period of my life myself and I admit it is so frustrating to miss time and to play awfully on some weeks because of this but would I quit? NEVER! Yes, & nbsp;I get discuraged and even phoned my teacher this week to ask her if she thinks it worths it, & nbsp;talk about my worries concerning this situation, my fear of loosing it all forever and stop to make progress & nbsp;etc. & nbsp; She told me that it was normal to have the impression to do very poor practices and playing when you are exhausted by your day at school and homework, to feel like if you were under drug effect when you play, thus to have a very bad violin & quot;life & quot; during this period of my life. & nbsp; But, she is categorical on something, QUITTING IS NOT THE SOLUTION AND WILL ONLY MAKE THE PROBLEM WORST BECAUSE IT WILL BE 90% HARDER TO START OVER. I am too convinced of this even if it is terrible and maybe to painful for some persons to stand this & quot;bad period & quot; temporarly. & nbsp;

I was just curious about knowing the opinion of violin teachers on this: what would you say to loaded people (with school or work) that are not able to practice well or much but who want to play more consistently when they will have more time? & nbsp; Do you also think that it is better to maybe play awfully and miss & nbsp;time & nbsp;but to not stop even if it is psychologically difficult to see yourself playing like this? & nbsp; Do you think that to stop completely will only worsen the problem? & nbsp; Itzakh Perlman said it was like bicycle but I think the dammage is bigger if you are 10 without violin than bicycle when you start over! :)

Did your loaded students or workers all quited? & nbsp; Please say no or I will be so discouraged! & nbsp;just kiding, & nbsp;tell the truth!

Have a nice day!

Anne-Marie

Who practices on Christmas day?

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:03:03 GMT

This is a funny yet interesting question. I have to admit that yes I practice on Christmas day... but the & quot;take a break & quot; option is just as valuable. I write this blog because yesterday, I caught my brother doing what I consider a & quot;crime & quot;: doing maths the 23 of december when he should be enjoying his holidays! I grab his books and calculator 30 sec and said him a little speach about how I find it could be bad for his psychological health & nbsp;to do scolar things for fun on dec 23... But, he really like maths so I was kind of joking! & nbsp; He said to me that it was totally crazy too to spend my vacations playing violin all day long! (yes shame on us too to practice compulsivly!) & nbsp; How funny to realize that what tortures someone is an enjoyable thing for another! & nbsp; So I was just wondering how much of us consider it is a crime to practice on Christmas day (if you don't have Christmas gigs or such things, of course) and how much of us consider it is just normal. I also want to mention for those who could call me selfish that I don't have children because of course, it would be selfish to neglect your own children on Christmas day to do your violin practices!

Merry Christmas!

Anne-Marie

lasts days of DFO's 100

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:07:12 GMT

Just a few words to remember to every Oistrakh fan that we & nbsp;are in the lasts day of his 100th year! & nbsp; Time passes and we often don't realize a specfic event will never comme back again. The Oistrakh's 150th and 200th are to come but there is just one year to celebrate Oistrakh's 100th birthday & nbsp;(thus his 100th year) & nbsp;and we are lucky to be alive to celebrate this event! What an incredible artist and human being! Their is no words strong ennough to express the beauty of his sound, the very special musicality, the incredible will and hope his music projects, the perfect technique and the most solid and clean double stops ever!

??????? !!! (thanks!)

& nbsp;

please visit http://visualrian.com/lists/item/23467 & nbsp;the wonderful site where the images come from!

& nbsp; & nbsp; I had a nice little presentation but failed to upload it sorry!

Anne-Marie