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building up strength

December 14, 2005 at 7:32 AM

I'm amazed at how much violin playing is a matter of strength and stamina. In my memory, being supple, subtle and delicate is much more important than strength, but now it seems one cannot get to those without first building up strength again.
For example: a shift up from a sixth g-e (on the D and A strings) to b-g', with the third and fourth fingers -- I find it very difficult to do!
I'm practicing Kreutzer 9, and planning to go on with other 'marathon' etudes such as 15, 16, 20, 22, 27. I 'd be grateful for further ideas about what to practice.