9 Exercises to Transform your Violin Technique

In this masterclass, we're going to look at an almost entirely unknown set of excellent violin exercises. These come from a great teacher and researcher of the violin, Samuel Applebaum, from his out-of-print book series "The Way They Play". While simple in their directions, these exercises will help you feel a new level of ease and comfort in all parts of the fingerboard.

Join our exclusive community for violin lovers, access many other mini-masterclasses, and our monthly Q&A/Studio Class on zoom.

Free PDF download of these exercises:

All of my Violin Masterclass videos:

VIDEO CHAPTERS
=====================
00:00 - Introduction
00:29 - Summary [TL;DR]
02:11 - Who is Samuel Applebaum?
03:01 - The Way They Play
03:33 - Exercise No. 1 (part a)
08:46 - Exercise No. 1 (part b)
12:16 - Exercise No. 2
19:40 - Exercise No. 3
23:14 - Exercise No. 4
28:14 - Exercise No. 5
32:13 - Exercise No. 6
35:57 - Exercise No. 7
40:36 - Exercise No. 8
42:59 - Exercise No. 9
=====================

Check out my latest album of WORLD PREMIERE recordings:
Rhythm & The Borrowed Past, with pianist Constantine Finehouse

Support the channel through crypto:
ETH: 0x3880842448b74D306F5154b4B71181E0E03F9795

#violin #technique #classicalmusic #violintechnique #violinlessons #paganini #practicing #100daysofpractice #violinist #violintechnique #concerto #virtuoso #practicing #howtoplayviolin

[constantinelevin]

I don't know if this is just in my head but right off the bat I'm feeling a difference in my playing with these exercises. It's like I'm slowly getting more confident playing the harder pieces. This video is awesome thanks!

[cee-stringschristiana]

This improved my violin playing 😢.
Thanks so much.
Being a self thought hasn't been easy😊

[larrythegreatest]

I played for 20 years since high school amateurly. I play quite well but not good enough and I never had the time to find a proper teacher who can teach me in a systematic, scientific way. I wished I was like other kids who went through the whole Susuki which sets a good foundation. You’re now my teacher. Thank you

[gamerhatch]

I am a violinist of 7 years. Being a sophomore in high school, im realizing that the violin is my biggest passion by far, and I dont think I could ever see myself in another career. With 2 left of highschool, im working to be the best violinist I can be by high schools end, and I want to try and be the best violinist I can be. Im currently on vacation, so can't practice my violin, which makes me sad, but im excited to come back home, and try these exercises. I truly believe that these will be a huge help for me to correct any bad habits I have made in past years, and help me improve my technique massively.

[lynx_phoenix]

god damn those are the clearest harmonics I’ve heard in a while

[ronaldhurwitz]

Excellent exercises! When I first went to study the viola around 1968 with the great violinist Oscar Shumsky at his home, these are exactly, the same exercises you are showing here. They are a wonderful reminder, and I will go through them again tomorrow. Thank you. Ronald Hurwitz

[dillonharris]

I love that you offer Tonebase videos to further support yourself, but I sincerely hope you keep uploading here to YouTube because I cannot afford Tonebase. The whole reason I subscribed to you is because you offer for free (and with amazing quality) what I could not afford growing up as an underprivileged musician, and what I cannot afford today even as an adult. Please keep adding valuable content here and keep up the awesome work. As a self-taught violinist, your videos have helped me exponentially! Almost like having a private tutor.

[엄린튜브]

딸이 바이올린을 전공하고 있고 제 나이는 53세이고 바이올린을 딸에게 배우고 있습니다.
훌륭하신 가르침 잘 보고 갑니다~👍😊💕

[chrisgleeson]

Hi Daniel, I'm an adult beginner started just 10 weeks ago so probably way out of my league even watching your videos, but just want to let you know how much exercise 1 is helping me just getting flexibility in my left hand and releasing tension in my thumb, many thanks for your effort and time you put into your lessons you have a brilliant but very humble way of teaching. much thanks from Australia

[kyriacosklavariotis]

I'm deeply impressed and thankful!

[QWeirdness]

Nicely done, Daniel. In my youth, my occasional recording session-playing stand partner was Marin Alsop, now better-known as a conductor. (Baltimore Symphony, Vienna Radio Symphony, others.) I was, and am, more of a jazz-rock-country player than classicist. We were neighbors, so I offered to trade lessons. I asked her once how I could play better in tune in higher positions. Hand position? Muscle memory? Sight? Ear? She answered, "Use everything." Some of the best advice I ever got.

[ariellefentress]

Hi, I'm a violist but your videos still help my technique so much!! I was wondering if you could possibly do a video on smooth bow changes/connecting notes to create a clean phrase. Thanks!!

[soooofiiiiiaaaaacarnelli]

Mi profesor virtual favorito y el que resume a TODOS en UNO. Gracias querido Daniel 🇺🇾

[pritamroy]

Thank you daniel, I'll follow you for my violin study, ive studied violin for 10 years, but after my teacher passed in 2017, i stopped learning from a professional. After watching your video I'll start and follow you onwards

[mohamedbenameur]

Thank you much for your valuable videos, The world is better with people like you.

[chipcurry]

I am a working Fiddler, I get a lot of benefit out of your videos and refer back to them often. These are truly great exercises and part of my practice.

[indigomoon]

i have auditions for my city's symphony youth orchestra in a few weeks and i felt like i was stuck in my progress with my excerpts but i found this video and it helped me tremendously and my excerpts have been taken to the next level they needed THANKYOU!!

[sarabande]

I am very thankful for this. You are an amazing violinist and educator, but also most generous for sharing your knowledge with us. Thank you!

[sucrier]

Wow! The best tutorial ever. So many questions I had unanswered waiting to be and it just happened ! Fresh air coming in! Thanks 😊

[DoraHornung]

Hi, I found your tips really helpful, I've been practicing only for a few weeks with some of the exercises, and my violin playing and confidence has already changed a lot. These are really useful and I can see how much effort You put in this video. Thank You so much. You may feel that it takes so much time and energy but we appreciate it and we really need your guide to improve a better violinist. I think this way never ends. 😀