July 31, 2005 at 5:09 PM

This week has been great, Monday started with an invitation for an interview for a teaching job. They wanted to hear me play, direct an ensemble, and have a formal interview. It was very short notice (they wanted me the day after), but the whole thing went great and they rang me up later on to offer me the job. Result!
Anyway I have had some comments about my picture, let me clear some things up. I dont usually play like that. What do you think I am, crazy? What I am doing is called the Paganini stretch, where you play 4 A's with 4 fingers. There was a thread on it a while ago and some people didnt believe that it was possible. Well it is! That's if you are lucky enough to be blessed with large hands like I am. It doesnt really mean anything though, its not like, 'if you cant do that then you cant play Paganini', its just a curious little oddity that looks pretty neat, well, neater than some lo-res portrait of me anyway.

From Rick Basil
Posted on July 31, 2005 at 6:35 PM

Paganini stretch eh?? Well that it explains it all. I'm going to try that when I practice today. hehe

From Pratik Desai
Posted on July 31, 2005 at 6:42 PM

Wow- I tried that Paganini stretch today while I was practicing, and it HURTS! I can get the A on the upper three strings, but stretching back for that low one on the g string is HARD! It is really cool, though- congrats! lol

From Pieter Viljoen
Posted on July 31, 2005 at 8:18 PM

I've got huge hands, and can stretch an octave (index to pinky) on the same string in any position 2nd.

However that's all irrelevant, because Sarah Chang was playing her tenths perfectly in tune when she was like 8 years old so the whole stretching thing is moot.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on July 31, 2005 at 11:59 PM

Congratulations on getting the job. I hope it works out well for you.

From Carley Anderson
Posted on August 1, 2005 at 12:05 AM

Whew! I feel better about you as a violinist! ;)

From Rick Basil
Posted on August 1, 2005 at 12:33 PM

Pieter, Sarah Chang was playing on a 1-4 size violin when she was 8!!

From John Lanceley
Posted on August 2, 2005 at 6:29 PM

Haha thats what I was about to say! Cheers for the responses, I hope my job works out too.
Ps I hope nobody hurt themselves trying out that stretch!

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