Back to school is around the corner. For violin students brushing up on violin playing and who would like online violin playing tips, here are two suggestions to get you started.
While it is not intended to replace a violin teacher, it provides important concepts and offers a chance to observe a great violin pedagogue, Kurt Sassmannshaus, and students. I studied with Mr. Sassmannshaus one summer when he was an assistant to Dorothy DeLay. Many ideas that DeLay herself taught are found on the website, which can now be viewed online for free.
Need help on improving technique? Can’t get that bow to spiccato evenly? How about checking the Quicktime videos? Look under “Master Classes”, then choose “Right Hand, “Spiccato” and “Exercises”. The exercises are demonstrated at all levels from beginner to advanced. Select the level that’s best for you. One caveat: those students demonstrating have largely polished the technique. It is not their first try!
If you think you need to slave away for hours each day working on some specific technique, think again. You need a practice strategy. How about three minutes a day? This is possible if you follow “The Power of Virtuous Moments” which emphasize that the most important lessons in our lives happen in short moments. Organizing 20 virtuous moments in a one hour practice session, each lasting three minutes, will maximize your time. A practice schedule, timer and a metronome are required.
You can even book a virtual lesson as video exchanges and in real time.
Kurt Sassmannshaus and student demonstrating spiccato.
Todd Ehle has nearly 22000 subscribers on YouTube, and numerous videos on violin playing that are helpful. The Professor V link above will land you to his subscriber page and you can browse on the lower right hand corner for videos that may interest you.
Or, to access his links to video playlists as arranged by technique go to http://www.toddehle.com/id71.html
A sample of Professor V’s video tutorials:
There are numerous online tutorials out there, so if you happen to know one that you highly recommend, let me know. Some day I hope to have time and quiet space to make a couple of tutorials.