The Violinists Handbook

This book is the only complete and up-to-date annotated bibliography available on women's activities and contributions in the creation and performance of music through the ages. Encompassing major books, articles and recordings published over the past five decades, the book examines a broad cross-section of contemporary thought, with each entry - with over 500 devoted to resources from countries outside the US - including annotation along with a critical description of content.

Carrying the torch of the Russian violin school that was handed down by towering performers like Jascha Heifetz and Nathan Milstein, Jay Zhong records his pedegogical findings on violin performance in A Violinist's Handbook, A Simpler Manual to Learn the Instrument. Mr. Zhong was a disciple of the celebrated violin master Elmar Oliveira and the noted Russian teacher Raphael Bronstein, an pupil of the great Leopold Auer. Mr. Zhong's talent was discovered and recognized by Nathan Milstein at age 14, and subsequently promoted by concert manager Harold Shaw. Mr. Zhong has performed as a solo violinist and chamber musician on four continents of the globe. He has held violin professorship at California State University, Los Angeles, Western Illinois University, and taught master-classes at Southern Methodist University, University of Delaware, University of Kansas at Lawrence, Beijing Central Conservatory of Music in China, among other music institutions.

Not your typical fiddle-tune book, these tunes range from variations of regular tunes to obscure Scottish polkas, classical duets, gypsy fiddle tunes, Cajun tunes and even two or three original tunes, with many in third and fifth position. Uncompromising care was taken in the transcription of these pieces, and virtually nothing was simplified. There are several classical piano pieces trimmed down to violin solos and duets, Americana, and even the author's own variations on 'Carnival of Venice.' Included is an extensive section on playing back-up fiddle to another instrument, dwelling on chord patterns, double-stops, bowing patterns, 'shuffles,' and all manner of accompaniment, and all fiddle tunes have chord symbols included.

What are the key topics that define Romantic violin playing?

This handbook combines all the most important technical aspects of learning violin positions, from second to seventh, as well as connecting them through position shifting - all in one place: preparatory exercises, fingering exercises, scales (one and two-octave), exercises for all six types of shifts, finger charts.

Despite the many books that have been published about violin techniques, there is a need for a book which gives specific mechanical instruction in how to avoid the many physical ills which heretofore have been considered occupational hazards of violinists. The purpose of this book is to present daily routines to the teacher, student, and accomplished artist, to follow as a way of life, no less important than the study of music and interpretation for the purpose of a superb performance. My thesis is that the artist may realize his potentialities with security, only as long as he can prevent such conditions as undue tensions, frustrations, headaches, cramped muscles, neck boils, swollen fingers, stiffened joints, and resulting neuroses.