News by E-mail

Question about Carl Flesch's Scale Book

Practicing: Notations, and how to use the book.

From Marco Rodriguez
Posted September 19, 2004 at 06:54 PM

Hello,
I recently purchased Carl Flesch's Scale System and am very please and impressed with how thorough it is. I'm a little unfamiliar with some of the notations. For example, with some of the scales, there are the fingerings marked above the notes in bold dark numbers which I'm used to, and there are some numbers underneath some of the notes which I guess are supposed to be an optional fingering, but I'm not sure. Also, in certain places in the scale book there are Roman numerals marked above some of the notes; I suppose you would need to see the book yourself to see what I mean. But the book itself doesnt say what this notation means, and I've never really seen it before. Also, If you have been through this book or have taught from it, what is your advice on how to approach it? Just start on the first page and go straight through it to the end? Or... something else?
Thanks in advance,
Marco

From Emily Grossman
Posted on September 19, 2004 at 09:29 PM

There may be a preface by the editor in the book which explains the fingerings beneath the notes. The editor seems to claim that Flesch's fingerings have been updated to meet the needs of modern violinists (which, to me, defeats the purpose of publishing a scale book under the name of Flesch if you did not intent for the buyer to use the Flesch fingerings). The Roman numerals usually indicate the string on which the note is to be played. I stands for E, II for A, III, for D, and IV for G. These are added when it may be unclear which string is intended.

I don't teach from this book yet, as I do not have any students who are ready for it. This is not the best book to begin scale work. When I practice from it, I try to change the scale and bowing regularly and limit the amount of time I spend practicing the scales arpeggios, and double stops. Try to do a little from each area each day. Do something relatively easy and then try something that is a little more challenging for you. You don't have to go front to back, although finding a system that works with your practice time is a good idea, so you don't just wander around with no agenda. Think of the things you want to gain from it, and find what will best train you in those areas.

From Stephen Brivati
Posted on September 19, 2004 at 10:38 PM

Greetings,
the book is agreat work but I sonetimes feel it is introduced too early. I think if you have not worked systematically through for example, the book by Hrimaly first, it might be better to wait a while. You will probaly be paliyng the Flesch until you die so there is not so much hurry to begin it...
Cheers,
Buri

Support Violinist.com

Become a Sponsor

Search Violinist.com

Interviews

Violinist Jennifer Koh talks about her latest projects involving 21st Century music.

Regina Carter has so much to say on the violin, sometimes she's had to reinvent the language of the instrument.

Mikhail Simonyan's "Beethoven, Not Bullets" supports efforts to bring music education to the children of Afghanistan.

More interviews...

Editor's Blogs

Laurie Niles
Violinist.com's editor is a professional symphony violinist and former newspaper reporter who interviews top violin performers and pedagogues, as well as reports on her experience in violin music and education.

Plus: The Weekend Vote