August 2009

VIOLIN TECHNIQUE/VIOLA TECHNIQUE: Practice / Audition / Perform

August 26, 2009 23:01

To a student before auditions—

PIECE OF CAKE

Okay, you jump out of an airplane at 15,000 FEET! You free-fall drop at 150 MILES PER HOUR!! You play the VIOLIN!!!

All of these can kill you

PIECE OF CAKE

If you cut yourself, you bleed

If the plane crashes, you bleed

If the chute doesn't open, you bleed

What's the problem?

PIECE OF CAKE

Sounds quite like you are human

Humans are NOT PERFECT

It is IMPERFECT of us to strive for PERFECT

Go have a PIECE OF CAKE — w/ICE CREAM!

Then PLAY

PLAY as if it is the greatest thing in the world

PLAY as if it is the easiest thing in the world

PLAY with absolute ease

PLAY with absolute commitment

PLAY with sheer enjoyment

PLAY as you know you can!

Love ya,

Drew

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VIOLIN TECHNIQUE/VIOLA TECHNIQUE: Practicing for musical results…

August 3, 2009 20:00

Expand your skills and knowledge every day—don't rush the process, but don't hold back your efforts for fear of making a mistake, either.

If something has not improved in 5 minutes, stop and think. What do you want to improve at that time—focus, focus, focus.

When initially learning the notes and rhythms of a work, constantly challenge yourself to play musically—even when you are not sure of the musical interpretation you want to choose. You will quickly learn the tonal results of your efforts.

Anything we accomplish on the violin will be used somewhere in the repertoire. Throw in a crescendo or diminuendo, etc., and listen……listen to what happens to the sound and the character of the phrase. Then do the opposite and listen to the incredible difference that results. With and without vibrato, varied vibrato; shifts and slides of varying speeds and textures……varied bow speeds, weights, points of contact, degrees of hair.

Keep thinking, keep experimenting, keep studying.

Do this with all your playing and you will accomplish artistic results that will be refined many times over throughout the years.

This is what enables the heart, soul and passion to transfer from your hands into the bow and instrument and out to you and your audience.

ENJOY!

God bless,

Drew

5 replies | Archive link

More entries: July 2009