Comments

In the examiner’s comments on my performance of the Allemanda from Bach’s Partita II, he criticised that there are “hidden voices” in which what is seemingly one melodic line (polyphony?), that I didn’t contrast these voices. For the Paganini’s Cantabile, he commented that sometimes the melody sounds disjointed and my vibrato was used intemettently.

I believe that if I hear the music in my heard as I play, I would have a clear direction of what I wanted to express and could have perform much better. So, I agree with you.

However, I was also affected by my nervousness and wasn’t 100% concentrating in the music. I was taking notice when the examiner was looking up, when he was looking down again writing his comments…. silly me!

Greetings,
but if you practice as I mention (as well a smyriad other ways...) then yoiu leanr to recognize that two things cannot exist simul;taneously as you perform. Your focus is on the music in your head and the nervousnes shas no place to exist.
Incidnetally, if you wnat to get a more consistent vibrato in the cantelina you might find it helpfukl to break what I consider a fairly importnat rule. taht is, watch your left hand to see the vibrato continues. Usually I am against watching the left hand at all.
Cheers,
Buri Why is watching the hand mot a good idea? Buri, if I ever meet you, I must buy you a drink. You always have something extreemly useful to say, and even though you don't know what's going on in my life, it always seems to be just what I'm looking for at that time.

How does prune juice sound?

"The brain has so much time to process all the complex data necessary that memorizing is automatic"

I love this statement! So true
Daniel

And that is why you should practice slowly. Your insights are always very useful. :) Hey Buri. You know I used to keep a folder of print-outs of your wisdoms? I found it when I was organizing my music library this summer. You do have useful things to say! Anyhow. Can I print this off and hang in on the "strings" board at MTSU? Would it be offensive if I corrected the typos? He he. I know your brain just works so incredibly fast that for the fingers to keep up all the time!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Warren ypost?
what tyops? How do you get intelligble spelling working from a hirigana keyboard anyway? Greetings,
watching the left hand triggers the wrong brain think and generally screws you up. The main point of observation within a wide but soft field of vision is the point of contact of the bow.
Of course there are some excpetions to this but in this instance I have only ever come across one top clas splayer who watches the left hand- Oleg Kryla.
Cheers,
Buri Ditto what Ben and Jennifer said, Buri. I know that my biggest obstacle to efficient practicing is my tendency to go on "auto-pilot" and have the notes go from paper to fingers to ear without ever going through my brain. Sometimes I play a whole page before realizing that I have no idea what I've played or how well in tune and rhythm it was.

My teacher, a former student of Burton Kaplan, always says, "Make it your own" whether it's about scales or etudes or pieces. You need to improvise, mess around with it, do whatever it takes so that you are conscious of what you are doing.

I agree with all above posts. Great insight! One more thing to add to my daughter's practice. Buri,
In all seriousness and with all due respect, have you ever considered writing a book? Or moving to LA so I can at least apply for lessons?