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
4 replies
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
More entries: July 2009
