I had the honour to study with Prof Schotten before and during my time at the University of Michigan. May your memory be for a blessing, Prof Schotten.
This is the best ever explanation and demonstration I have ever seen! I am playing the violin for almost 20 years and now learned I had some fundamental misunderstandings about bowing! THANKS!!!!!
Only 4.8k likes in 5 years!! This is all one could ever want or need in one's violin/viola learning. A total compendium clearly and succinctly explained and demonstrated. I will be 'glued' to this video, section by section. An incredible blessing. Thank you Mr Schotten. Thank you RUclips. G Ire adult student
The music at the beginning of the video is a Bach Concerto reconstructed for Viola, Strings and Continuo from BWV 169, 49 and 1053. The recording is from my CD “Bratsche” on Crystal Records.
This is the best and most true to bow technique available. He is so correct and detailed. A must! This video is the best educational video out there. This should be mandatory.
I have spent 46 years playing jazz guitar. I started playing viola in 2000 and have never looked back. I am very thankful that you produced this video as many of my questions have been answered. Outstanding teacher. I'm off to practice and will return often in the future. Yes, I will be playing jazz on my viola.
I am relearning violin after not playing for 44 years. I find I return to this video over and over again to find exercises to improve my bowing. I am improving fast and feel I am on my way to having a beautiful bow arm. Thank you for this wonderful video!
I remember going to hear you once in 1974 as soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony when you were the principal violist. I think you played Der Schwanendreher. I was in high school attending the Congress of Strings. Later, you gave a coaching session at EKU in Richmond, KY. I wanted to study with you but didn't know how to approach you. I had studied with Virginia Schneider, Joe Ceo, Milton Katims, Marcia Ferrito, Joseph Pietropalo and briefly with Walter Trampler.
Dear Orlando S, The exercises in the first five minutes of the video are designated to develop finger wrist flexibility. The motion is very exaggerated and in actual playing the action is a lot more subtle. Sadly, I can't take credit for this "old pedantic crap" since these exercises were taught to me by William Primrose.
Yizhak Schotten I believe (correct me if I am wrong) Primrose learned it from Ysaye who learned it from Vieuxtemps who learned it from de Beriot who learned it from Rode. It is “old pedantic crap” because it seems to work and you spend years on it because bow techniques can always be improved. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
This is the best educational playing video ever made. He is so correct and truly captures all of the techniques needed for bowing. THANK YOU!. This is a must for all string players!!!! Bravo!!!! We are very fortunate and thankful for this video.
I'm an adult beginner on the violin and I've been searching the net for help against too little control over the bow which makes the bow shake...watching this video and practising the above helped me understand the reasons for that problem and even helped remove it immediately. Thank you so much!
Thank you very much for taking all the trouble to produce this highly informative film. I myself never had the opportunity to learn from Primrose and am very grateful to be able to watch this demonstration of Primrose's approach now. I will send this video immediately to all of my students.
Thank You Sir. I have played violin for years, now just started cello, enjoying that immensely. Your instruction will definitely help me improve technique on both instruments.
I am learning how to play the violin as an adult (1 year), and I still have some trouble with my bow, because that's how I found your video. I am aware that this video is viola-specific, but I find your words useful in the violin context as well. It was a viola which first got me interested in playing a bowed stringed instrument, but I was lucky enough to have a decent (not fancy but still nice) violin in the family. All bowed strings are amazing instruments. Thank you very much!
The teacher I subbed for taught a specific foot placement to take care of the extra weight of the Viola. So like the foot under violin more forward and I think the other foot held straight under the body like it was the part of your spine (but that is curved as well so imagine a straight line) and there is where the support foot is the other for balance maybe.
"What is good for the violist is also good for the violinist, although the converse is not always true" William Primrose, from Conversation with William Primrose
Thank you so much for this video! I've only been playing violin for a few months, but I wanted to get past the "sawing" motion with my bow. This has helped me!
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS INTO A VIDEO!!!! My students think I'm crazy for having them do many of these exercises. Having them in a video from someone notable will help reinforce solid technique and tone in my studio. Forever a fan. Now to apply the exercises I don't know to my own daily practice routine.
Hello Yizhak. Lovely to see you, and to hear you speak and play... Beautiful... and the speaking and playing too (!) ... just like my dear father said.
I totally loved this video. I'm new on the viola, so this gives me material to practice for weeks! (and maybe even years, i don't know how good or bad i am learning the viola). Thank you, good sir!
I thought this was marvellous and so comprehensive. The compelling beauty of tone as the viola weaves a tapestry of song utterly verifies the technique. Thank you Yizhak Schotten.
I love this Video. You are so technical. This is what is required for the Beginners. I started the Violin late and I also started the Viola. Time for practice is an essential sacrifice in the rush of the days ! Thank you for your precious advice. Blessings.
this video is a big help. i have really double jointed hands, so holding the bow properly and moving it properly is a huge struggle for me because my fingers just bend all over like my bones are made of jello. but i hope seeing these techniques and how to properly practice them helps me more
Thank you Yizhak, wonderful video full of great advice. You produce a strong, round sound with little effort. I was wondering, do you have a similar tutorial video for the left hand? Particularly ways to avoid tension in the fingers, especially during fast passages, tricks for keeping the hand relaxed etc? I also have an arm vibrato as you do...what's your take on arm versus wrist vibrato for the viola?
I’m interested on putting spanish subtitles to your video, Mr. Schotten, as I consider it really valuable information for all violin/viola players around the world. In order for me to do so, you have to allow it configurating your video. Don’t let your incredible video to be restricted to english speakers only, and thank you for all your work put in this video.
That sounds very interesting and I like the idea. It is not clear to me how you are going th achieve it. Will this alter my original video, or you will produce a copy of it with the subtitles?
Yizhak Schotten It only will allow anyone watching your video to activate the subtitles in a similar way than on a movie. It’ll not make any copy and the subtitles could be desactivated at any time by the viewer
Yizhak Schotten That’s a shame. Maybe, if you allow me to, I can download the video and edit it with an external program. I could upload it and give you all credits. How does that sound like?
Absolute gold...... we can't thank you enough. Extremely thoughtful and well produced. This will be my go to resource for many years to come. How does the physical size of the player affect the bow technique? Does a smaller player need more of a raised elbow on the up bows for instance?
Thank you for the comment. I don't think the individual size of the player matters in this case. With smaller players the problem is keeping the bow parallel to the bridge when going to the tip.The solution is to bring the scroll closer to the front of the body when getting to the upper part of the bow.
This is an amazing video! It’s helping me understand a lot of the bow technique that my teacher has been trying to get me to understand for years now. Thank you so much for these awesome tips!
Thank you for sharing your knowlege, the video has been very helpful, I've got a lot of improvement on my sound the my technique since i started to apply these exercises :)
Hello Mr. Schotten. A big "Thank you" for this great lesson. One Question, which Bars are the first Paganinis excersise ? Its Caprice 5 as you said, but I cant find that Bars.
Je ne sais pas si il y a une vertion en francais de cette démonstration que je trouve tres intéressante meme pour une personne comme moi qui ne connais pas grand chose de cette instrument. Je suis heureux de constater le travail de ces musitiens? Mes félicitation à tous ces vertuoses pationnés et qui savent nous ébaillir et nous faire vivre par leur art.
Thank you for sharing this marvellous lesson in bowing technique. The explanations are so clear and the playing so inspiring. As an absolute beginner I do have one question: when bowing the adjacent string sometimes vibrates, giving a feint sympathetic harmonic echo. I have no idea how to prevent this without physically damping the string, which is awkward and I am sure wrong
I had the honour to study with Prof Schotten before and during my time at the University of Michigan. May your memory be for a blessing, Prof Schotten.
Your viola has the most beautifull sound I heard in my Life. Bravo!!!
Thank you, Jairo, it is a great instrument , and I learned a lot about producing a beautiful sound from playing it.
He sounds like that on every viola.
This is the best ever explanation and demonstration I have ever seen! I am playing the violin for almost 20 years and now learned I had some fundamental misunderstandings about bowing! THANKS!!!!!
Only 4.8k likes in 5 years!! This is all one could ever want or need in one's violin/viola learning. A total compendium clearly and succinctly explained and demonstrated. I will be 'glued' to this video, section by section. An incredible blessing. Thank you Mr Schotten. Thank you RUclips. G Ire adult student
The music at the beginning of the video is a Bach Concerto reconstructed for Viola, Strings and Continuo from BWV 169, 49 and 1053. The recording is from my CD “Bratsche” on Crystal Records.
Is a score available for this reconstruction? If so - where can I get one?
This is an excellent tutorial for both the beginner and the advanced student. Every violist should watch this.
Every violinist should watch and study this video too!
This is the best and most true to bow technique available.
He is so correct and detailed. A must! This video is the
best educational video out there. This should be mandatory.
Schotten is amazing. I love hearing his thoughts on viola playing!
Thank you for your insight and pedagogy! It's like the spirit of Mr. Primrose is speaking to me through you 🎻
Thank you, Mitchell, I appreciate it.
I have spent 46 years playing jazz guitar. I started playing viola in 2000 and have never looked back. I am very thankful that you produced this video as many of my questions have been answered. Outstanding teacher. I'm off to practice and will return often in the future. Yes, I will be playing jazz on my viola.
Did you stick with it?
I am relearning violin after not playing for 44 years. I find I return to this video over and over again to find exercises to improve my bowing. I am improving fast and feel I am on my way to having a beautiful bow arm. Thank you for this wonderful video!
Thank you, Claire. I am glad my video is helpful to you!
as a violin player, found this teaching very useful! thank you great teacher Yizhak
I remember going to hear you once in 1974 as soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony when you were the principal violist. I think you played Der Schwanendreher. I was in high school attending the Congress of Strings. Later, you gave a coaching session at EKU in Richmond, KY. I wanted to study with you but didn't know how to approach you. I had studied with Virginia Schneider, Joe Ceo, Milton Katims, Marcia Ferrito, Joseph Pietropalo and briefly with Walter Trampler.
Dear Orlando S, The exercises in the first five minutes of the video are designated to develop finger wrist flexibility. The motion is very exaggerated and in actual playing the action is a lot more subtle. Sadly, I can't take credit for this "old pedantic crap" since these exercises were taught to me by William Primrose.
Yizhak Schotten I believe (correct me if I am wrong) Primrose learned it from Ysaye who learned it from Vieuxtemps who learned it from de Beriot who learned it from Rode. It is “old pedantic crap” because it seems to work and you spend years on it because bow techniques can always be improved. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
This is the best educational playing video ever made.
He is so correct and truly captures all of the techniques
needed for bowing. THANK YOU!. This is a must for all
string players!!!! Bravo!!!! We are very fortunate and
thankful for this video.
I'm an adult beginner on the violin and I've been searching the net for help against too little control over the bow which makes the bow shake...watching this video and practising the above helped me understand the reasons for that problem and even helped remove it immediately. Thank you so much!
איזה רעיונות מיוחדים!! תודה רבה על האפשרות שאתה נותן לנו לנסות אותם בעצמינו! אין כמו מוח יהודי!!! תודה רבה !!
A thousand times thank you for this video!
Your sound is divine.
Thank you very much for taking all the trouble to produce this highly informative film. I myself never had the opportunity to learn from Primrose and am very grateful to be able to watch this demonstration of Primrose's approach now. I will send this video immediately to all of my students.
Dear LORD of the strings, thank you humbly , dear SIR for existing and great course;
This is amazing! Thank you for being so generous with your knowledge and understanding.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and mastery! I keep coming back to this video time and again!
What a great pedagogue!!
Thank you Benjamin, I appreciate your two comments!
Finally!! Viola is an amazing instrument! I love the instrument I play :)
Beautiful playing. Glad to see you are looking great and hope all is well with you. This is Norman (now David) Wallace. Best to you and Catherine.
Thank You Sir. I have played violin for years, now just started cello, enjoying that immensely. Your instruction will definitely help me improve technique on both instruments.
This is a wonderful class on bowing (I'm certain that these ideas can be applied equally to the violin my own instrument).
I am learning how to play the violin as an adult (1 year), and I still have some trouble with my bow, because that's how I found your video. I am aware that this video is viola-specific, but I find your words useful in the violin context as well. It was a viola which first got me interested in playing a bowed stringed instrument, but I was lucky enough to have a decent (not fancy but still nice) violin in the family. All bowed strings are amazing instruments. Thank you very much!
The teacher I subbed for taught a specific foot placement to take care of the extra weight of the Viola. So like the foot under violin more forward and I think the other foot held straight under the body like it was the part of your spine (but that is curved as well so imagine a straight line) and there is where the support foot is the other for balance maybe.
"What is good for the violist is also good for the violinist, although the converse is not always true"
William Primrose, from Conversation with William Primrose
Thank you so much for this video! I've only been playing violin for a few months, but I wanted to get past the "sawing" motion with my bow. This has helped me!
I’ve watched less than 5 minutes and i can already tell that your lesson contains top quality technique, thank you!
This is absolutely pure gold. Thanks a million.
Brilliant tutorial in every way. Thank you.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS INTO A VIDEO!!!! My students think I'm crazy for having them do many of these exercises. Having them in a video from someone notable will help reinforce solid technique and tone in my studio. Forever a fan. Now to apply the exercises I don't know to my own daily practice routine.
Hello Yizhak. Lovely to see you, and to hear you speak and play... Beautiful... and the speaking and playing too (!) ... just like my dear father said.
Thank you isn't enough. Wonderful instruction.
Thank you, Helena. I appreciate it!
Could we get a video entirely for the Left Hand in the future?
Thank you so much for this awesome tutorial maestro! ;)
Wonderful! Thank you for your perspective on right hand technique!
I totally loved this video. I'm new on the viola, so this gives me material to practice for weeks! (and maybe even years, i don't know how good or bad i am learning the viola). Thank you, good sir!
I thought this was marvellous and so comprehensive. The compelling beauty of tone as the viola weaves a tapestry of song utterly verifies the technique. Thank you Yizhak Schotten.
He has such a beautiful viola! 😍😍😍
I use Helicore Strings which are thinner to allow for quicker bow response along w/ a CodaBow Joule.
Excellent! A wonderful tutorial for violists!
Maestro Yizhak Schotten, Thank You so much for video!!!
Generously offered valuable techniques. Thank you for sharing. 🙏🏼
The demonstration is amazing....
Thank you SO much for these extremely helpful exercises! They are my basic exercises! Christiane
Mr. Schotten, Great video. Thank you for producing this valuable content. I am hoping you can do a video focusing on the bow hold.
I credit a great deal of my quick advancement as a "self taught" adult violinist to watching this tutorial early on in my learning.
I love this Video. You are so technical. This is what is required for the Beginners. I started the Violin late and I also started the Viola. Time for practice is an essential sacrifice in the rush of the days ! Thank you for your precious advice. Blessings.
비올라 선생님 감사합니다!!😀😀
This is an amazing tutorial. I wish I had seen it years ago . Now it will help me in teaching. I will come back to it often. Thank you!
Dear Sir, you're the best👍
Wonderful! Helped my daughter so much.
Thank you for sharing these concepts!
thanks for sharing your wisdom, sir!
this video is a big help. i have really double jointed hands, so holding the bow properly and moving it properly is a huge struggle for me because my fingers just bend all over like my bones are made of jello. but i hope seeing these techniques and how to properly practice them helps me more
Wonderful Maestro !!!!
When I hear Mr Schotten playing his viola compared to the sound I get from mine... oh God, it's like playing a totally different instrument.
This is phenomenal work, thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks a lot sir, for most valuable information and bow moving methods. So sweet sound of strings ever heard 🙏
Thank you for sharing this video with us!!
Thank you for this post.
"Ze bow must go up and down." - Stephane Grappelli
Thank you for your clear explanation. This lesson will keep me occupied for a few months.
Thank you dear!! This tutorial is to much!!! Blessings!!!
Thanks for helping my doubts
Thank you very much for sharing this great content video!
This is wonderful. Thank you again.
Sir,
Very good tutorial and well explained,,
Regards
Realy love your video , My favourite channel. Thank you thank you !
Thank you sir for this brilliant topic.
Thank you Yizhak, wonderful video full of great advice. You produce a strong, round sound with little effort. I was wondering, do you have a similar tutorial video for the left hand? Particularly ways to avoid tension in the fingers, especially during fast passages, tricks for keeping the hand relaxed etc? I also have an arm vibrato as you do...what's your take on arm versus wrist vibrato for the viola?
thank you, Stringburn,
I am thinking about left hand video or videos. By the way, I use both wrist and arm for my vibrato.
How nice to share the art of bowing!
Great Tips ! Thanks!!!
Thank you, very beautiful music
I’m interested on putting spanish subtitles to your video, Mr. Schotten, as I consider it really valuable information for all violin/viola players around the world. In order for me to do so, you have to allow it configurating your video. Don’t let your incredible video to be restricted to english speakers only, and thank you for all your work put in this video.
That sounds very interesting and I like the idea. It is not clear to me how you are going th achieve it. Will this alter my original video, or you will produce a copy of it with the subtitles?
Yizhak Schotten
It only will allow anyone watching your video to activate the subtitles in a similar way than on a movie. It’ll not make any copy and the subtitles could be desactivated at any time by the viewer
Yizhak Schotten You can follow the instructions given by RUclips for allow me to do so
support.google.com/youtube/answer/6052538?hl=en
I checked out the instructions and they are not updated, so I couldn’t figure it out.
Yizhak Schotten That’s a shame. Maybe, if you allow me to, I can download the video and edit it with an external program. I could upload it and give you all credits. How does that sound like?
Absolute gold...... we can't thank you enough.
Extremely thoughtful and well produced. This will be my go to resource for many years to come.
How does the physical size of the player affect the bow technique? Does a smaller player need more of a raised elbow on the up bows for instance?
Thank you for the comment. I don't think the individual size of the player matters in this case. With smaller players the problem is keeping the bow parallel to the bridge when going to the tip.The solution is to bring the scroll closer to the front of the body when getting to the upper part of the bow.
@@yizhakschotten4669 you have just solved a frustration I've had for many years. Thank you, thank you.
Beautiful video! I really enjoyed it! You play beautifully n I could listen all day!! Thank you for showing all the different techniques! 😃❤️👌🎻
תודה יצחק מאד איכותי.
thank you very much sir
This is an amazing video! It’s helping me understand a lot of the bow technique that my teacher has been trying to get me to understand for years now. Thank you so much for these awesome tips!
It is a beautifull viola sound.Thanks.
Thank you for sharing your knowlege, the video has been very helpful, I've got a lot of improvement on my sound the my technique since i started to apply these exercises :)
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Great!!! Thank You so much!🎻🤗
I am very grateful to you for this video!
Hello Mr. Schotten. A big "Thank you" for this great lesson. One Question, which Bars are the first Paganinis excersise ? Its Caprice 5 as you said, but I cant find that Bars.
Thank you, Robert. Caprice #5, beginning of the fast part.
very informative , thank you so much
באמת טוב מאוד!! תודה רבה
Thanks
That's exactly what I was looking for, thanks!!!
The size of my viola is 17 inches. YS
Yizhak, is it a da Salo?
I believe I have seen this viola before and it's by either Zanetto or Peregrino. It definitely looks like old-school Brescian...
Francesco Ventura Di Linarol, Venice, 1580
Excelente!
I love this video, it has helped me so much. Would you mind telling me what bow you play with in the video?
My bow was made by Francois Gaulard
Thank you!
Je ne sais pas si il y a une vertion en francais de cette démonstration que je trouve tres intéressante meme pour une personne comme moi qui ne connais pas grand chose de cette instrument. Je suis heureux de constater le travail de ces musitiens? Mes félicitation à tous ces vertuoses pationnés et qui savent nous ébaillir et nous faire vivre par leur art.
Thank you for sharing this marvellous lesson in bowing technique. The explanations are so clear and the playing so inspiring. As an absolute beginner I do have one question: when bowing the adjacent string sometimes vibrates, giving a feint sympathetic harmonic echo. I have no idea how to prevent this without physically damping the string, which is awkward and I am sure wrong
Don't prevent this...this shows that you are playing correct pitch and the harmonics make your instrument sing.
I would also like to know which shoulderest you use. Thanks.
Muchas gracias.
Mr. Schotten, could you tell me please, what kind of chinrest do you use? Thanks.