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| The Global-thinking and Violin Playing |
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| Written by Clayton Haslop |
| Sunday, 22 November 2009 09:30 |
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Recently I have been studying a very interesting strain of Chinese philosophy called Hwa-Yen Buddhism. It's actually the philosophical basis of Zen Buddhism. In the process I have learned something about the way Asian language systems, Chinese in particular, conceptualize and label the forms we see in the world about us. So this morning I was reflecting on this a little bit while I was practicing, and it struck me that my thinking about violin playing mirrors the Chinese approach to language and conceptualization very closely. I then had the thought that elucidating this essential difference between the Eastern and Western mind could shed some light on how the 'complete' violinist views violin technique. You see, in Chinese the word for 'train' translates, literally, as 'fire car,' automobile as 'gas car', and bicycle as 'foot-stepping car.' In English, however, we have quite different and distinct words for each of these things; etymologically they are seemingly quite unrelated. In the Chinese mind, then, their linguistic construction first identifies 'train' as a generalized term, a vehicle for transportation. This generalized term is then modified by an adjective to describe one requiring fire for operation - at least trains did in the old days. So even from the way our language systems are constructed you can see that the Western mind tends to compartmentalize, to identify in a specific and definite way. The Eastern mind, on the other hand, seeks to generalize first, and then to differentiate; this thing is both like these AND, simultaneously, containing in something quite different. Now let's talk violin playing. Many violinists I have taught have wanted to 'nail things down' when they came to me; this is THE way the fingers of the left hand articulate, this time, every time. And for such players it comes as a surprise that in one Kreutzer Etude I talk of fingers tapping the string, and in another of the combined four fingers as a constant motion machine; the former implying a digital type of articulation, the latter something quite analogue. And BOTH, in fact, must be available to you to reach the highest levels of performance. The world of form IS full of contradictions and the message of music is, by definition, transmitted within this same world of form. There is no escaping this. Now, don't get me wrong here. Because I say there are contradictions does not mean one becomes haphazard. There are, after all, ways of playing the violin that ARE more efficient, effective and conducive to getting all manner of music across than others. The point is, however, that your technique must be fluid, dynamic, and able to embrace and effortlessly expand through a great range of textures and expressions. So, as an example, there isn't just one way for the fingers of the left hand to articulate; and there isn't just one way to 'take the string' when initiating a tone. Which is not to say the left hand assumes a different position for the former, and the bow-hold something different in the latter. The challenge of a violin system, however, is to provide for all these 'contradictions' within something of a generalized framework, so hopeless confusion is avoided. In short, you need a method of approaching the instrument that is BOTH superbly straight forward and simple, AND supremely flexible and adaptive. When we listen and watch a truly great player effortlessly moving through a vast range of expression we often can't help but think, 'and they make it look so simple.' And so it has become, for them, and now for you. About the Author: Clayton Haslop is the Concertmaster on many Hollywood movie soundtracks including The Matrix movies, Titanic, Avatar, Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Star Trek, Up, Jurassic Park, Apollo- and The Perfect Storm. Clayton Haslop's bestselling Instructional DVD courses are used by beginning violinists to professionals worldwide. Kindly provided by MoneyHunter.org You are welcome to use this article on your own website, if you include the link just before this text. |
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