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"Take Up Your Violin And
Come Fly With Me!"
Introducing: Practice Secrets That Give you Mastery Over Two Cherished Violin Works
Dear Friend,
You've probably known of these masterpieces for years. Maybe you thought they would be beyond your reach forever. Or maybe you've "had a hand" at playing them but never been satisfied with your practice results.
Let me ask you something. In your ear, can you hear the soaring opening lines of Fritz Kreisler's "Praeludium and Allegro," but in practice find yourself struggling to fine-tune the intonation? Does your pulse quicken as you contemplate performing the exhilarating and thrilling "Preludio" by Bach, only to be dragged back to earth by the difficulty of coordinating your left and right hands?
If you have experienced this, you needn't any longer. There IS a way you can play these works with the authority, power and persuasiveness of a true artist. And in less time than you may think!
I ought to know. Many people who hear me play, and know of my accomplishments in music, think I must possess extraordinary natural ability. In fact I don't.
What I do possess are powerful, unique insights into playing and performing this repertoire. More than THIRTY YEARS of insights, gathered from my own experience as well as from extensive coaching from legendary violinist Nathan Milstein.
The benefits of this kind of knowledge to a serious player can't be overstated. But before getting to them, I'd like you to know a little of the amusing and dramatic turns my violin odyssey has taken over the last four decades. You'll appreciate the reason for this once you've had a look.
How I Won The Girl!
When, at the age of 13, I was given "Praeludium and Allegro" to play, it wasn't the first I'd heard of Fritz Kreisler. Several years earlier my teacher gave me a 'long play' record of him playing his own works. Even at eight years of age his tone and magical compositions had their way with me!
Of course I enjoyed the challenge and thrill of playing one of Kreisler's best known compositions.
Little did I know, however, it would also have another UNFORESEEN benefit — it helped me win the affections of my first real girlfriend! She loved listening to the piece, so of course I was in 'seventh heaven' playing it for her.
As you can see, the debt I owe Mr. Kreisler goes even beyond music...
A year later I began my lifelong dance with Bach's monumental unaccompanied violin works. My teacher rightly saw the "Preludio" from the "Partita #3 in E Major" as the gateway to the six sonatas and partitas. Over a period of several years I played it and all the rest of them. Well, I thought I was playing them... until I found my way to the Milstein Masterclass.
Then, In an Instant, the Way I Approached the Violin Dissolved...
This Grandmaster of the Violin opened my eyes wider than they had ever been. In fact they almost POPPED OUT OF MY HEAD when I first saw him play at his Masterclass in Zurich, Switzerland!
As I watched and listened I quickly realized it was time to discard much of what I regarded as violin 'truth'. After the first day of class I immediately went to him and blurted out, "I have to study with you!" It was my great fortune that he consented. And for 3 years I drank in what he had to teach me.
While He Played for Me, Only 3 Feet Away, I Stood Transfixed
The sheer economy of movement, the resonance of sound, the freedom of expression left me amazed. It became my mission to duplicate as many of these qualities as I possibly could.
His cryptic statements like, "Play from the shoulder" became my constant companions. The process of absorbing his knowledge and remaking my playing went on for several years.
In the process I grew into an artist of considerable accomplishment.
Had this been a fairy tale, I might be writing "...and he lived happily ever after." But this isn't a fairy tale and I was not finished being challenged to grow and evolve.
A Physical Challenge Almost Had Me Collecting A Disability Pension, And My Violin Gathering Dust In A Bank Vault!
In the mid-nineties I began noticing a disturbing and insidious development in my left hand. It's painful to contemplate and acknowledge the reality of it even now, more than ten years after the symptoms first appeared. What it boiled down to is this. I had begun exhibiting the tell-tale symptoms of a nerve based, functional control problem known as 'dystonia.'
This diagnosis is normally a death warrant to a performing musician.
Well, I wasn't ready for my playing to die. Nor am I today. What I have learned to do, through my newest practice methods, is harness the power of multiple brain areas. Bottom line, with them I have more than compensated for the functional loss that normally accompanies 'dystonia.'
You see, every one of us goes through stages in our playing. Where we want for insights to move us forward to the next level. I've passed through many such stages, always taking with me newly found knowledge and techniques. The greatest challenges to my playing have led to my most profound insights.
How YOU Can Benefit From This Accumulated Knowledge!
Mind you, I only mentioned my 'dystonia' to illustrate how potent and effective the practice system I've acquired truly is. If someone with my average ability and tough physical challenges can do what I do on the violin, just think what YOU could accomplish using the same methods!
And guess what? The methods I have developed, from years with Milstein as well as from recent necessity, are EASY TO ADOPT and IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE.
The Bach and Kreisler for Violin Artistry course will show you how to acquire:
- a 'seamless' quality to your playing that leads your listener from note to note
- sparklingly clear articulation in fast passage work
- an absolute confidence in your ability to perform these works
- laser-like intonation that says, "this player knows the fingerboard like the back of his/her hand"
- an authoritative and rich tone that melts hearts and commands attention
- a compelling musical effect, or musical narrative, that leaves your listeners clamoring for more
- an outward ease of playing that relaxes your audience and leaves them wondering how you make it all look 'so effortless'
- consummate control of time and rhythm that keeps you and the audience in the 'groove' of the music
What Others Are Saying About "The Haslop Method":
Now, you might be thinking to yourself, "This is all well and good. But have other people had results with what you're teaching?" I can certainly appreciate this question. Before you order the Bach and Kreisler for Violin Artistry package, take a look at what others have said about my teaching DVDs:
"When the first Kreutzer package came I opened it right away, followed the simple instructions about breathing, counting, fingering, intonation, etc., and noticed an immediate and surprising ease of playing... Waddaya know, old dogs CAN learn new tricks!" Nick Ittzes "I have already seen a part of your instructions on how to achieve a high degree of ability to play on the violin. I must confess that what you are doing is really fantastic and must be appreciated by all musicians, particularly those concerned with the violin. You are doing a great job and I have recommended your DVDs to all my students." Dr. A.R. Rassar "Thank you, Mr. Haslop for bringing this material together in such a simple, easy to understand fashion. I look forward to growing more competent as I put the things you teach into practice." Teresa Stickler |
What Comes With The "Bach and Kreisler for Violin Artistry" Course?
This revolutionary course has two main components.
1. First and foremost are the 2 instructional DVDs that make up the heart material of the program. On them I take you section by section through Kreisler's "Praeludium and Allegro" and Bach's "Preludio" from the "Partita #3 in E Major". I explain what to do, how to do it, and just as importantly, why to do as I ask. These verbal explanations are supported both by live demonstrations and written notes that come with the package.
2. The other invaluable part of the package are the live performances of each work which serve to inspire and give additional direction to your practice.
In short you will receive 2 jam-packed DVDs, written notes, violin parts for both works fingered and bowed as I perform them. But that's not all. You will also receive a CD with both performances on it as well as a surprise master performance that will become a valued part of your CD library.
Your Prelude to Effortless Playing
Preludes are simply musical introductions to larger works. The "Bach and Kreisler for Violin Artistry" program is similarly your introduction to the effortless performance of two masterworks for the violin. The kind of performance that gets your violin ringing like the Liberty Bell, and your listener's hearts pumping like a child's on Christmas morning.
By virtue of your having read this far, I know what I have said resonates with a deeply held aspiration within you. Do you think there is a better time to get started realizing it than RIGHT NOW?
And don't forget. By ordering now you also receive the FREE BONUS CD containing the 'live performances' of both the Kreisler and the Bach AS WELL AS a surprise 'live performance' of a work that will knock your socks off! This is easily an additional $20.00 value!
Best Regards,
Clayton Haslop
P.S. Fritz Kreisler said, "The violinist...must follow the call of a siren voice - the voice of the magic piece of wood that dominates his destiny." Today your 'siren voice' calls for fresh insights into the performance of great violin repertoire. Heed that call RIGHT NOW!