Ilya Kaler Masterclass

March 30, 2021, 9:13 PM · Thanks for sharing, Mr. Brivati. I'll watch it later tonight.

Be well.

March 30, 2021, 9:57 PM · I think it's a mutual 2-way consensus.

March 30, 2021, 11:27 PM · you are starting to sound like my wife…

March 31, 2021, 5:53 PM · Still on the first player-- wonderful class.

Edited: March 31, 2021, 6:27 PM · Buri, my guru dance instructor had a favorite quote:

"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."

Seems to work here too....

March 31, 2021, 7:49 PM · Hi Elise (Not Lydia),
I have always loved that quote. This student has already studied with people like Aaron Rosand. From what I saw of her and much study of Rosands ideas on Youtube he is one of the greatest violinsts of all time but a little idiosyncratic and vague as a teacher. Better as a coach in my opinion. Kaler is, to me , obviously both a comparably superb player and a very perceptive and dynamic teacher.
Personally, as time went by there was progressively very little I could tell her. The one lesson I did pass on to her (very severely actually) was that if you want to be a professional one of the most important things to be able to do is to play a major movement of an unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita -perfectly- at the drop of a hat. I hope she still remembers my advice ;)(Pretty sure she can play them all from memory these days anyway)
Cheers,
buri

March 31, 2021, 9:49 PM · Wow great master class, I didn't have time to watch it all, but yeah he really digs into the student -- in a good way! And what a great violinist too. Even though I will never play those piece, it's very useful to see him correcting the student's technique in ways that I can apply to my own playing.

March 31, 2021, 11:10 PM · Exactly Paul.
How many teacher’s are there that would know to point out the connection between Gotherdemerung and a motif in the Sibelius? That reminded me of the way Szigeti and Henryk Szeryng talked about the violin. Linking concepts and ideas across the whole musical spectrum.
Cheers,
Buri

Edited: April 1, 2021, 10:39 AM · It is a very impressive masterclass, and all done in a very welcoming and encouraging tone.

I just listened to the Vadim Gluzman masterclass at the same university (whose playing I love and who I've seen live a number of times), and while Gluzman's advice is truly excellent and correct, he is pretty consistently a jerk and rude to the students, although his methods produce results.

Kaler seems to be able to get great results in his students by being kind, and not once does he feel the need to grab the student's scroll while they are playing (as Gluzman does) - Who would have thought you could eschew such a thing and still get a point across?

His students at CIM would appear to be quite lucky.

April 2, 2021, 2:41 PM · Buri, I am truly glad for your former student! But having briefly studied with Rosand years ago, one of the many things that struck me was how precisely he expressed himself on matters both technical and musical.

April 2, 2021, 9:43 PM · Mr. Lesniak,

I mean no offense to Mr. Gluzman, but many, many years ago, I also witnessed in person a masterclass in which I can confirm an attitude similar to what you described above. I am sure that's his personality and individual upbringing at work, but also wonder if a bit more warmth would really do any ill to the students at his masterclasses. Do not mean to insult him in any way, to be sure.

April 2, 2021, 10:14 PM · Hi Raphael,
sorry this wa slate. I forgot the send button...
Anyway, I stand corrected. No offense intended to without doubt doubt one of the greatest masters of the 20c,
Cheers,
Buri

April 3, 2021, 5:49 AM · No offense taken!

April 3, 2021, 9:43 AM · Beautiful masterclass. Also really appreciate how he demonstrates without being arrogant or pretentious, just enough to get his point across.