Robert Lipsett

August 30, 2005 at 09:49 PM · He is a Fantastic teacher with a long list of 1st class players to his name, including Leila Josefovitch and Jennifer Frautschi (click here to sample some of her latest recordings) http://www.jenniferfrautschi.com/info.asp?pk=309

Mr. Robert Lipsett holds the Jascha Heifetz Distinguished Violin Chair at the Colburn School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, California. His students have consistently won important competitions including the Julius Stulberg Awards, the Yehudi Menuhin and Irvine M. Klein International Violin Competitions, and several have received highest honors from the National Association for the Advancement of the Arts, and been recognized as Presidential Scholars. A number hold principal positions with leading orchestras including Concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony, Principal Associate Concertmaster and Assistant Concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic and Concertmaster of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Mr. Lipsett received his B.A. in Music from California State University-Northridge. Principal teachers included Ivan Galamian, Ruth Lasley, Zelman Brunoff, Melvin Ritter, Endre Granat. He also serves on the faculty at the University of Southern California Thornton School and Encore School for Strings and has given master classes at major schools around the world. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Teachers Award from the White House Commission for Presidential Scholars. He is also a solo artist, chamber music performer, orchestral musician and freelance commercial musician in motion pictures, television and recording industry.

August 30, 2005 at 10:10 PM · I haven't studied with him directly, but several people I know have. What they tell me is that he's great and also very demanding. He's the type who'd say here, learn this Paganini caprice (or 2 or 3 or...) by next lesson which takes place in 2 days! I also remember reading a lengthy article about him (may have been in The Strad or Strings), which described him as 'no-nonsense,' making use of every second of time. Also, I agree with the above; he has some amazing students.

September 9, 2005 at 02:12 AM · a friend of mine heard Leila J. playing the Beethoven. She, and her Russian teacher, both concluded that Leila was literally bowing with a hacksaw. So, to each his/her own.

September 9, 2005 at 10:34 PM · I've only met a few students of his and I have seen Leila live a few times. I think the "hacksaw" bowing thing stems from having a very fast bow speed. They use a lot of bow and less pressure, which works for some and doesn't work for others. I heard one of his students, who is now the co-concertmaster of the American Youth Symphony in LA and she was quite a fine player. His students all have very excellent left hands as well- very clean and intune.

September 12, 2005 at 04:22 PM · Hi,

I wouldn't jump on the conclusion that Leila's bowing necessarily stems from Lipsett. She also studied with others as well. I don't recall her as a hacksaw. However, I have not heard her in a long time.

As for the subject of more bow and less pressure - that also contributes to good intonation (not only the left hand). Excess pressure affects both the vibrations of the strings and the pitch.

Cheers!

September 15, 2005 at 03:35 AM · Oh no, you misunderstand me, I don't think it's a terrible thing. Heifetz did quite well with a fast bow speed (I am a fan of much of his playing). It's just something that I've noticed with quite a few of his students- and their bow arms do remind me A LOT of Leila's, there's definitely a correlation. It's nothing that's bad, but sometimes you lose the warmth to the sound. All of his students are excellent violinists though, from what I have seen of them.