"THE REAL SECRETS"

To Ending ALL Your Violin Technique Errors

Instructional DVD Encyclopedia of Classical Violin Technique Gives precise "How To" for Every Known Skill!!

Clayton Haslop and Michael Giacchino

Dear Friend,

Have you reached an impasse over a technical skill while learning the violin - and remained lost about how to proceed? Have you ever searched for fresh insights, clear explanations and visual demonstrations to tip the scales of progress back in your favor?

I bumped hard against these challenges at one point in my development as a violinist.

They certainly did not make for good times.

My 'Trials by Fire'

In my earliest years I was fortunate to have benefited from very good instruction, right up until I left for music school at the University of Southern California at the age of 17. By then I was even playing at the level one might expect of a Masters Degree recipient - a level commensurate with 'professional' status.

Within a year of arriving in Los Angeles I landed myself a position with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, then led by the most recorded conductor in the world, Sir Neville Marriner. I appeared on tour as soloist in the following seasons.

However, though an accomplished player in many ways, I had a number of technical bug-a-boos.

Shifting accurately and confidently into the upper reaches of the instrument was one such skill. Producing a convincing up-bow staccato another.

There I was, learning program after program of difficult music the hard way while simultaneously searching for solutions to technical weaknesses I was only too aware of - and desperately trying to hide!

At that time my new teacher and I weren't a good match, and I simply didn't receive the guidance I desperately needed.

As a result I felt, quite literally, that I was on my own.

Yet the show had to go on. I did make some progress for a year or two. Yet gradually, even while appearing under the 'bright lights' in a wide variety of professional venues, I reached a serious impasse with my playing.

After a couple of years struggling in this way I even came close to giving up the instrument, feeling that the mastery of certain skills would forever remain beyond my reach as a violinist.

A Golden Opportunity

Fortunately, I was not meant to give up the violin.

Through a most remarkable chain of events I was given the opportunity of a lifetime - to travel across the 'pond' and place my future as a violinist before the legendary Nathan Milstein.

I am visually and aurally oriented, so I make connections when I see and hear masterful demonstrations in conjunction with verbal cues.

Milstein was more than generous with both. Over a period of three years, I drank in the virtuosity of a true grandmaster. Through Milstein I grasped technical connections that would have remained completely elusive had I searched for them on my own.

Very soon I found myself mastering the most challenging virtuosic music written for the violin. In one, three-month stretch I learned and performed Paganini's D Major Concerto - a concert aired several times on public television back in the early '80s.

Back in Los Angeles I quickly became a 'first-call' player, and the concertmaster for many major motion pictures.

I realized, as Milstein himself once said to me, "anything is possible on the violin, providing you understand the nature of good violin playing."

"Dear Clayton,

"I want to take this opportunity to give you some of my thoughts on your teachings. First of all I can definitely say your course has changed my life, as advertised. I'm 54 years old and I can say unequivocally that studying an instrument has never been as rewarding an experience as it is now. I look forward with great anticipation to every month's teaching. As you may recall, my background is as a professional clarinetist turned string teacher in the public schools.

"The first thing that comes to mind is that I'm learning about learning, not just violin playing (not to take away how amazing that is). The principles of breathing and relaxation are fundamental to "doing" anything. Most teachers just shout out: "relax!" and that is as far as it usually goes. You explain why breathing correctly is the precursor of relaxation. And you show that relaxation is the only state in which real motor-brain function can occur. This is indeed life-changing.

"I love the way in which you focus on little problems of playing and analyze possible causes and solutions. I could keep going on and on but I want to say one more thing. You mention several times that practicing/playing is a meditation. I always knew in the back of my mind that this was true but did lots of things to counteract "my practice." I will never again engage in playing scales while watching TV.

"My practicing has become very mindful, productive and restorative."

Enrique Lasansky
Phoenix, Arizona

Sharing Milstein's Wisdom

Now I have placed ALL of my playing knowledge at your disposal. In this 3-volume series (one each for Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced skills) I cover everything from holding the violin to playing effects like double-stop harmonics. No element of 'classical' violin technique has been omitted.

Having difficulty with left hand pizzicato? drawing a straight bow? getting control over arpeggiated flying-spiccato? No problem, it's all there, first in a detailed explanation of the technique itself, and second in specific exercises you can use to quickly assimilate the technique into your playing.

And since the No B.S. Guide to Violin Technique is organized as a handy reference tool, you only need to review the Table of Contents, find the skill you would like to master - and leave the rest to me. (Well, not quite. Practice is not included!)

Who the No B.S. Guide to Violin Technique Is For

It's for active professional violinists who want an extremely handy, practical guide for trouble shooting technical issues.
It's for dedicated amateurs wanting to improve, yet without access to a qualified teacher in the city or town in which they reside.
It's for teachers hungry for fresh insight into the often confusing and contradictory world of violin pedagogy.
It's for players of all levels looking to replace longstanding bad habits with pure, efficient ways of 'getting it done' on the violin.
In short, it's for Anyone who could use an approach to violin playing that 'just plain makes sense.'

All-in-One Super Convenient Package

The No B.S. Guide to Violin Technique contains three volumes, sold separately or as a complete set. Each volume contains 2 power-packed instructional DVDs, my written notes on every subject discussed, as well as a Table of Contents for quick reference.

1. Volume I includes all topics relating to holding the violin and bow; making a full, rich tone; basic bowing strokes; left hand position and use of the fingers; pizzicato; clean string crossing; and much more.

2. Volume II includes shifting; off-the-string bowing (brush stroke, spiccato, etc.); vibrato; double-stopping; chord playing; extensions; harmonics; and special bowing techniques (i.e. flautando, ponticello, and tremolo).

3. Volume III contains: virtuoso bowing techniques (up-bow staccato, ricochet, flying spiccato, etc.); expressive slides; left hand pizzicato; double-stop harmonics; tenths and fingered octaves; practice techniques for velocity; and more.

Wait, There's More

And just to 'seal the deal,' for a limited time I'm going to include Two Bonus DVDs with each and every order. The first hold my secrets to highly effective practice and greater playing enjoyment. The second is a detailed guide on instrument care and maintenance. Together these constitute a $48.00 value and are yours FREE when you order today.

Remember, this is an introductory offer and time is of the essence. Right now the entire set of 6 DVDs, written notes and 2 bonus DVDs is on special for just $197.99, plus $12.00 S/H ($24.00 S/H international.) Individual volumes may be purchased now for $87.00, plus $7.00 S/H ($14.00 S/H international.)

If you prefer you may pick up the phone and dial (818) 914-6587 to place your order, or, you may send a check or money order to Music Dreaming, Inc., 4872 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Suite 143, Woodland Hills, CA, 91364 (simply specify on the 'memo' line of the check which volume is being purchased, should this apply.)

I look forward to hearing from you, and wish you all the best in your violin playing adventure!

Sincerely,

signed Clayton

Clayton Haslop

P.S. The great English violinist, Yehudi Menuhin, once said, 'To play great music one must keep one's eyes on a distant star.' And, when all the technical challenges of violin playing are resolved, this is indeed quite true. Yet until such time it's a good idea to have something a little more tangible at your immediate disposal. My No B.S. Guide to Violin Technique is just such a tool.

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