I was wondering if there are any good books for practising shifting, or if there are any pieces which are good for shifting/have a lot of shifting



Btw...
check this out =|
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2wZ_1-i1AKM&...feature=related Amazinggg. One of my fave pieces. I can play the first four bars... hah! One day, one day....
Her version of caprice no.5 is incredible too x_x

I know I'll get knocked for saying this but I find most chinese 'prodigies', particulary violinists, utterly devoid of passion, emotion and any musical structure. I put it down to the huge cultural divide between European music and the chinese cultural background: they just wiggle their fingers very fast but have no personality. This girl just looks like one of those Victorian automaton toys. Boring. Devoid of character!

I'm afraid I like my European music played by Europeans!

*hides her head as the blows rain down*

I do totally agree!
Like the child 'prodigies'... i don't mean to sound racist cause i'm far from that. But they're called prodigies, and they obviously do have talent BUT they've been playing their instrument from the age of like 2, forced to practise for hours a day, etc. Hope i don't sound offensive Obviously that's not always the case but it usually seems to be =/ They're brilliant yes, but that came with stupid amounts of work from a very very young age. If we all practised 4 hours a day from the age of 3 imagine how great we'd be

I just liked that piece and her technique is perfect

I'm working on the adagio for strings by barber at the moment and that has lots of shifting as it gets to the high climax. I go up to 8th position there.

Shweethearts, you may not want to sound racist, but what you are saying *is* racist, so why not have the courage of your convictions and be honest about it?

When I hear comments about "all Chinese instruments", "most Chinese prodigies" etc., I can't help laughing! I live a lot closer to China than either of you, and all I can say is that it's a big country, with all kinds of manufacturers and all kind of musicians.

Yes, people learn a lot when they practice a lot. And perhaps it's not going too far to assume that people mostly practice a lot when it's something they actually enjoy doing. It's fine to say that "we" might be great if we practiced 3 hours a day, but if "we" choose not to put the time in, and somebody else chooses to work that hard, more power to 'em! And you might be surprised to find out how much practice the top western players get through...

Obviously, not every classical player has the same cultural background - that's as true within the UK as it is between different countries, but please don't imagine that Chinese children grow up wearing coolie hats and play violin without understanding what it is.

And yes, prejudice and racism are ugly. What you see as soul-stirring artists vs. passionless automata, somebody from another background may view as sloppy fudging vs. skilled control of delicate shades of expression...possibly both views are correct, to a certain extent, but why not simply enjoy the approach you like, without cheapening your enjoyment by denigrating what's different?

Neil Mackay's, 'Position Changing for the Violin', published by Oxford University Press, is an excellent book if you want plenty of shifting pratice using different fingers and..... want to develop the correct technique for shifting.

I used the book myself when I was learning to play the violin and I've used it since with many pupils of my own. It works.

Thanks i'll try it Where would i get it from? :s I don't really know where to get string music from - i've only ever got the ABRSM grade books! x_x

Phone your local music supplier/shop? Chappell's in London (Google for this, they've got a website) would probably be a likely stockist with it actually 'in stock'.

EDIT: I've just checked Here that they do have it in stock. £5.95 plus the p&p, so if you can find anything else you want as well, order it at the same time and the postage will still cost the same.

barbican chimes are always great for sheet music, takes about 2 days usually for stuff to come through.
http://www.chimesmusic.com/barbican/
x

I think it has absolutely nothing to do with nationality and everything to do with age. There have been many fine classical musicians originating in the far east for many many years now and if you go to any of the major conservatories around the world you'll find them stuffed with very able young asian musicians. Western classical music has been in vogue out there for donkeys years, it's not a new phenomenon.


Anyhow, I'll admit my bias. I go to a young Chinese oboe teacher and she is highly musical. It's worth the fee just to stand and listen.