The Twelve Lesson CourseIs it enough tolearn violin or viola?Come to the workshops on the New Approach by Kato Havas. Where? When?
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The twelve lesson
course is actually the title of another book by the great
violinist
and teacher Kato
Havas.
The book applies
the principles explained in the New Approach to playing, to eliminate physical tensions
and other problems. It doesn't actually
claim that you can
become an accomplished performer with a twelve lesson course, that's
obviously not possible, but through these lessons you can learn
most of what you need to know. Then, of course, it takes some
practice... The book is
organised in 12 lessons
like the courses Kato Havas gives especially to people who go to see her
from far away and stay for a short period. The real meaning of the title is that each lesson covers one aspect of playing a string instrument. Yes, because the basics are the same, especially for violin and viola, what's really important is how you use your body, since the instrument and the bow by themselves cannot do anything, they don't play. Each lesson includes some exercises
for the student only and some to be played by student and teacher
together, so even from the very beginning a student can make some
"ensemble music". There are also some folk tunes and Notes to the advanced player.
Indeed, the book is not for beginners only, but also for more or less
advanced players who want to change something in their playing because
they are not happy about it. Contents of the bookWhen you use this book, bear in mind that some indications are slightly different from what is in Stage fright, written years later. Kato Havas herself in Stage fright explains the reason for this. One example is about the left hand. In The twelve lesson course she says that the wrist has to be straight, but in Stage fright she coined the expression the "giving hand", with the left wrist slightly bent, in a natural way, toward you. It's because she realised that some things needed to be changed, in order to eliminate even the possibility of the slightest tension.Another example is about the "violin hold" and "bow hold" mentioned in the previous books and the "no violin hold" and "no bow hold" mentioned in Stage fright. So, if you notice differences, follow what's written in Stage fright. Apart form these details, the Twelve lesson course is a very useful book, because of the many practical exercises. Lesson
I The fundamental balances Lesson
II The down stroke Lesson
III Lesson
IV Lesson
V Lesson
VI Left thumb Lesson
VII Descending intervals Lesson
VIII The fourth finger Lesson
IX Londonderry air Lesson X The scales Lesson XI The bowing technique Lesson XII Sweet Betsy from Pike Organize a workshop on the New Approach Book a twelve lesson course with me or Online violin lessons or viola lessons Buy The twelve lesson course Read about other books by Kató Havas, here: Stage fright A new approach
to violin playing Kató Havas' autobiography, with the story of how the New Approach came to life and the correspondence, which went on for years, among readers on The Strad magazine Acquista i libri di Kato Havas Acquista il video didattico su DVD (in inglese) Vai a Kato Havas (con video di un seminario) Vai a Libri sul violino e la viola Vai a Insegnante di violino e viola Vai a Inizio |
