Teaches Violin

Itzhak Perlman

Meet your new instructor: Grammy Award-winning violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman. Mr. Perlman tells you how this class will differ from traditional violin master classes and how through teaching others, you can teach yourself.

Introduction

Mr. Perlman starts with discussing the bow and its mechanics, including speed, pressure, and various bow holds.

The Bow

Building on bowing fundamentals, Mr. Perlman moves into advanced bow strokes and playing techniques, such as double-stops, harmonics, and higher positions.

Advanced Bowing and Left-Hand Techniques

Perfect your intonation by training your ear to recognize sharp or flat notes. Mr. Perlman shares techniques for staying in tune and for tuning with other musicians.

Intonation

Your vibrato is like your fingerprint. Learn how it can add richness, color, and emotion to your playing.

Vibrato

Playing the violin is a physical experience. Learn Mr. Perlman’s methods for staying comfortable and avoiding injury.

Comfort and Posture

Mr. Perlman demonstrates how to produce musical “color” through bowing techniques, varying dynamics, and shifting.

Color and Tone

Mr. Perlman invites his current and former Juilliard students to a game that explores how to change an audience's perception of a phrase or piece by using musical color and other playing techniques.

The Color Game

There is a subtle art to playing a piece in various musical styles. Using selections from Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Bach, Mr. Perlman demonstrates romantic, classical, and baroque styles of playing.

Playing Different Styles

From overcoming anxiety to achieving total focus, Mr. Perlman shares his tips for performing for a live audience.

The Performance Mindset

Practice is an essential part of growing as a violinist. Mr. Perlman discusses his methods of practicing that help improve technical ability.

Practice Essentials

Mr. Perlman breaks down his practice schedule hour by hour, exploring scales, exercises, études, and repertoire pieces.

The Three-Hour Practice Schedule

Mr. Perlman and students from Juilliard discuss their personal tips for improving memorization.

Memorization and Practice: Student Q&A

From communicating with a conductor to finding balance within an orchestra, Mr. Perlman shares how he collaborates with other musicians.

Collaboration

Mr. Perlman discusses the realities of standing out as a professional musician and how you can follow a variety of paths toward building a career in music.

A Career in Music

Anyone can become a great violinist with practice, dedication, and talent. Mr. Perlman shares his personal story and reminds you to separate your abilities from any barriers you may face.

Overcoming Barriers

Mr. Perlman offers his parting words and wishes you luck in pursuing the violin.

Parting Thoughts

Finding the right teacher with the right teaching style can make all the difference. Mr. Perlman gives parents and teachers advice on how to nurture talent in aspiring violinists.

Bonus Chapter: For Parents and Teachers

Mr. Perlman introduces you to his famed violin, the 1714 Soil Stradivarius, and explains how to select the right instrument for yourself.

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