by Eric Rosenbluth

Thoughts along the Path to Musical Artistry

This book reveals that there are innumerable thoughts and ideasaside from those that one learned during ones early period of studywhich can be helpful in the pursuit of ones technical, musical and artistic goals. These helpful ideas can be extremely diverse, and the many choices which an aspiring musician/ artist needs to make should ideally be intimately connected with his or her own individual personality, temperament and physique. This approach will produce a broad outlook and multiple benefits for ones professional and artistic future.

Foreword by Gunther Schuller

Observations and Recollections by Mark Ptashne, Ben Sayevich and Ariadne Daskalakis

Acknowledgement

Chapter 1. Opening Thoughts

Chapter 2. Matters Primarily Involving the Left Arm

A. General Observations

B. The Thumb and Closely Related Topics

C. Topics Related to Finger Activity

D. Shifting

E. Vibrato and Expressive Emphasis

F. Fingerings and Choosing Fingerings

Chapter 3. Topics Related to the Functioning of the Right Arm

A. General Thoughts

B. Fundamental Assumptions

C. Bow Speed, Contact Point, Weight of the Arm, Inclination of the Bow

D. The Role of Each Part of the Right Arm

E. Articulation

F. Bowings

G. Chords

Chapter 4. Posture and Physical Relationship to Playing the Violin

Chapter 5. concluding Thoughts

Appendix 1. “On Practising” (and Additional Thoughts on Practicing)

Appendix 2. Quotes from “Violin Fingering: Its Theory and Practice” by Carl Flesch