The Course
Ever wondered how a single melody can capture your heart, tell a story, and stay stuck in your head for days? There's a certain quality of the violin sound that compels us to hold the breath! In the family of diverse characters and sounds that different instruments produce, it's the length of the bow that reigns supreme when it comes to continuous, warm and heart captivating violin sound. But to master playing with the bow doesn't stand a short fix. And neither is connecting a single bow to the next. This course dives deep into the art of just that - connecting bows and as a result - of crafting compelling melody lines. You'll see how aligning your hand to the variety of patterns of bow movement, we begin to weave the fabric of the melody seamlessly thus infusing your music with emotion and character. Starting from the slow but deep connections and moving on to a variety of rhythmical patterns, it becomes apparent that the nature of the bow movements is already embedded in the way we move our hands. Our job is to reveal it, and the beautiful melody line - is the confirmation of the find.
What You Will Learn
It's really all about practice and application! You'll be asked to listen on a deeper level and watch closer what your hands are doing and, as a result, will become aware what is the essence and what are the extras in the way we produce sound with the bow. You'll be engaging in exercises that will challenge you to listen, analyze, and create. You'll walk away with a clear understanding of what exactly captivated your heart to begin with and the practical ability to apply it in your playing the instrument.
The Course is packed with clear, step-by-step guidance, and each lesson builds on the last, ensuring a solid foundation before we move on to more complex tunes. You'll discover how to set a pace in nurturing the skills which will serve as your stepping stones for a rewarding musical journey. I've included plenty of practice exercises, too, so you can hone your skills at your own pace. And don't worry, I've organized everything so that you'll always know what to tackle next, making your learning experience as smooth and enjoyable as a well-composed melody.
Your instructor
Hi there! My name is Rena Lerner, and my life has been entwined with the violin's strings since childhood. The art of playing, though as essential as breathing, didn't come to me naturally when I was a young child. There seemed to be an insurmountable gap between what I wanted to hear and what my hands produced. My teacher, intuitive to my frustration, suggested looking elsewhere. The journey took me to different places, introduced different mentors and also led me to start teaching others from the age of 19. With a violin in hand, I embarked on a quest to conquer the common yet challenging affliction of playing off-tune; it was a quest not just for precision, but for the captivating resonance that comes from a melody played just right.
Through years of relentless dedication and under the mentorship of renowned maestros, I've honed a skill set I consider the master key - a secret of seamlessly following the melody line. Today I want to offer what I know to a wider audience, outside of the physical classroom. As my journey continues, it is here that I am honored and excited to extend my knowledge and passion for teaching, within the online community, my friends - melody chasers.