The nice thing about viola studies....

is that you don't have to play them in public. :)

(Does that sound like a viola joke?)

Still working on the Mazas' Rapidity and liking it. But I figured I needed *another* study (yes, a sucker for self-punishment). So I went to my storage boxes and looked for something else.
Pulled out the Lillian Fuchs 15 Characteristic Studies. Sight read three of them. Decided I didn't like any of them. And finally realized why. (Short answer...I find them boring...even for studies. Long answer....well maybe later.)

So I went back to the box and pulled out the Gavinnes 24 studies. I had never worked on any of them. Could tell this by the lack of pencil markings. (I had bought the book probably around 1993....I hadn't been to this particular violin shop since then.)

After reading through a couple of them and decided I could benefit from them. First, they're really difficult. For some reason that's a plus for me. Second, there's a lot of fast shifting in the upper register. This is also a plus. So I decided to work on No. 4.

I think teaching violin and viola has changed my view on studies. For many years I thought that studies were something only to endure for the inevitable annual RCM exam. So naturally I balked when my grad school teacher not only wanted me to relearn the first twelve Kreutzer studies, but also analyze them. He believed that every study had a particular left hand and right hand technical focus. Of course I didn't do it-I was a rebellious student. (BTW-now I realize that he was right about everything. Maybe I need to write more about this....hmmm.)

Now fifteen years later after seeing new students come to me for lessons and seeing how they had treated their pieces as studies (with the resulting frustration that comes with that), I realize the true importance of studies. Granted they are boring. But better them than the repertoire the student will be studying. A study is a perfect vehicle to work on a technical focus without worrying about the musical ramifications. It's the bridge between technique and concert repertoire. And you do not have to perform it. Well maybe for your teacher, he he...

Now for something different.

Some enjoyable reading.....

The finale of Charles' audition story.... won't spoil it.

the Heifetz vs. Cher Gershwin contest.

and Jen is an amazing teacher!

Have a great day everyone...