Wohlfahrt Violin Etudes
I have been working on the Wohlfahrt Violin Etudes (Book 1), and am already set to do Book 2 after finish it in around November as planned.
My main question is, I am 16 years old and now a rising Junior this fall... is it appropriate or a waste of time to go back to Wohlfhart? When I was in the 5th grade, my teacher had my diddle through some of the first few.. then time progressed, I moved several times, found different teachers and did Kreutzer and Rode later.
My teacher has me on it again, so I can follow the correct progressing order of etudes and do them all. They are enforcing now the step by step system by filling in each step to feel more comfortable at the next step/level.
After I finish these etudes (all 60), would I probably end up going to Mazas, Kayser?
Do you recommend someone to use the Whistler Books 1 and 2 and the Double Stop books? Also, do you think I should maybe excercise/warm up with the Sevcik and Schradieck books?
I really want to build a more solid technique!!
Thanks,
Ryan Beauchamp
Replies (10)
All of this "I'm X years of age...is it ok to play X?" on this board is really amazing.
Does that mean it's appropiate for a 70 year old to play Paganini? Or a child prodigy of 7 to remain in the lower numbered Suzuki books?
It doesn't matter what age you are when approaching a piece. It's whether or not you can possibly benefit from doing something. If you think that you cannot possibly, in any imaginable way, benefit from the Wohlfhart, then don't do it.
Perhaps a way that more people can help you (instead of using your age), is to list stuff you CAN do instead of stuff you feel is too "young" for you.
I agree exactly with you, Bob. However, Ryan, I used those etudes until I loaned out my book and the girl lost it on me. :/ I liked them because they were very melodic, but they really had challenges in them. If I were going to play them again, though I know them, I would still have stuff to work on. I guess what I'm saying is, keep working on them, because they are probably good for you.
Ryan, The review of Wolfarht is good for bowing. Skip the second level of him, and go straight to Kayser.
Yeah, I'm not sure what my teachers motive is.. but they said Kayser after I finish this book. What do you all think of Schradieck? Should I use it while with Wolhfhart? I really want to use the Whistler books too... my teacher is out of town till the end of August, and I think practicing more would be helpful.
Thank-you Bob. Well put.
Preston
At the same time, be careful not to deny the reality that it's one of the most competitive things ever devised by man.
Yes, I think that's why people are asking that. So many of us started late and are worried we won't catch up by college age or so. (Me...)
It's not a matter of me starting late... it's sort of the procrastination other teachers did. All they ever wanted to do for years were the big pieces, now my teacher finally noticed I don't have the proper background, I feel like we're killing time.
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July 17, 2005 at 01:58 AM · I use Wolfhart more for sight reading stuff, I use Schradiack to build my technique.