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Violin star Nicola Benedetti's top tips for young players | Violin star Nicola Benedetti's top tips for young players |
(8 days later) | |
Acclaimed violinist Nicola Benedetti, sold out the Royal Albert Hall in September and at just 28, is probably the performer young classical musicians would most like to meet. | Acclaimed violinist Nicola Benedetti, sold out the Royal Albert Hall in September and at just 28, is probably the performer young classical musicians would most like to meet. |
A few days after the concert more than 30 teenage string players got that opportunity through the Albert Hall's Education and Outreach Programme. | A few days after the concert more than 30 teenage string players got that opportunity through the Albert Hall's Education and Outreach Programme. |
The focus of the session was Ms Benedetti's approach to Autumn from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, a key piece in her current Italy-inspired tour programme. | The focus of the session was Ms Benedetti's approach to Autumn from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, a key piece in her current Italy-inspired tour programme. |
The difficulty of the piece meant the invited students, aged 13 to 17, had to be grade eight or equivalent, and possibly considering careers as professional musicians. | The difficulty of the piece meant the invited students, aged 13 to 17, had to be grade eight or equivalent, and possibly considering careers as professional musicians. |
"The music is a vehicle through which you begin a dialogue on an array of personal, musical and violinistical issues," explained Nicola | "The music is a vehicle through which you begin a dialogue on an array of personal, musical and violinistical issues," explained Nicola |
Known as a risk-taking musician, she got the students to stand up and stamp their feet in time to the opening bars of the piece, which depicts a hunt. | Known as a risk-taking musician, she got the students to stand up and stamp their feet in time to the opening bars of the piece, which depicts a hunt. |
It was loud. | It was loud. |
"These are gunshots... like an explosion, sudden rather than nice, nice." | "These are gunshots... like an explosion, sudden rather than nice, nice." |
She took on the solo of the frightened animal running away from the bangs. | She took on the solo of the frightened animal running away from the bangs. |
"I am an animal that's running away and this should be like a chase. You kill me at the end. At the moment it's really far too polite. | "I am an animal that's running away and this should be like a chase. You kill me at the end. At the moment it's really far too polite. |
"Be less polite, almost break your strings - but don't break your strings." | "Be less polite, almost break your strings - but don't break your strings." |
These are talented and committed young musicians. Hugo, 13, got grade eight violin two years ago. | These are talented and committed young musicians. Hugo, 13, got grade eight violin two years ago. |
"But for me the grades are less important than the musicality," he said. | "But for me the grades are less important than the musicality," he said. |
In the question-and-answer session he asked about the technique of vibrato. | In the question-and-answer session he asked about the technique of vibrato. |
"I have this weird thing with my hand and she called me up." | "I have this weird thing with my hand and she called me up." |
Nicola gave him an exercise to relax the muscles in his hand which she promised would work over time. | Nicola gave him an exercise to relax the muscles in his hand which she promised would work over time. |
"Learning how to do vibrato is kind of mystical. People try to teach it to you. Just do the exercise and be chilled," she advised. | "Learning how to do vibrato is kind of mystical. People try to teach it to you. Just do the exercise and be chilled," she advised. |
"It's really inspirational to see someone who is so amazing, who will take time out of their practice to spend with people who look up to her," said Isabelle, 16. | "It's really inspirational to see someone who is so amazing, who will take time out of their practice to spend with people who look up to her," said Isabelle, 16. |
She was among those brave enough to perform a solo. | She was among those brave enough to perform a solo. |
"You are obviously an excellent violinist," Nicola told her. | "You are obviously an excellent violinist," Nicola told her. |
"But don't smile if you think you have made a mistake because your playing is absolutely excellent. Don't give anything away in your face." | "But don't smile if you think you have made a mistake because your playing is absolutely excellent. Don't give anything away in your face." |
She admitted being guilty of that mistake herself: "I do it all the time, my boyfriend says." | She admitted being guilty of that mistake herself: "I do it all the time, my boyfriend says." |
She took time to make minute adjustments to the position of Isabelle's bow hand. | She took time to make minute adjustments to the position of Isabelle's bow hand. |
"Sometimes I lift my wrist too high. I am trying to fix it," the teenager explained afterwards. | "Sometimes I lift my wrist too high. I am trying to fix it," the teenager explained afterwards. |
The students attend a wide range of schools, from Hackney's Mossbourne Academy to elite fee-paying schools like Westminster and Haberdashers' Aske's. | The students attend a wide range of schools, from Hackney's Mossbourne Academy to elite fee-paying schools like Westminster and Haberdashers' Aske's. |
Most are Londoners but others travelled from as far away as Lincolnshire. | Most are Londoners but others travelled from as far away as Lincolnshire. |
"It made me play my violin differently," said Esme, 17. | "It made me play my violin differently," said Esme, 17. |
"I think I was too tense. Now I am feeling the music more, trying to stop being so polite in the way I play." | "I think I was too tense. Now I am feeling the music more, trying to stop being so polite in the way I play." |
She said meeting Nicola was "amazing" as was meeting other students with "different experiences and backgrounds and learning to interact musically with them". | She said meeting Nicola was "amazing" as was meeting other students with "different experiences and backgrounds and learning to interact musically with them". |
A performance to a small audience of teachers and Albert Hall staff ended the session. | A performance to a small audience of teachers and Albert Hall staff ended the session. |
Nicola was pleased: "They just remembered the most unremembrable list of instructions. Well done! | Nicola was pleased: "They just remembered the most unremembrable list of instructions. Well done! |
"Not sure there was as much foot-stomping as I would have liked." | "Not sure there was as much foot-stomping as I would have liked." |
Afterwards came a chance for photographs and autographs, including on violin cases and GCSE music files. | Afterwards came a chance for photographs and autographs, including on violin cases and GCSE music files. |
The main message from Nicola for the young musicians was: "Just be as expressive and natural as you can be. | The main message from Nicola for the young musicians was: "Just be as expressive and natural as you can be. |
"In classical music you really so much rely on what the music says and what your teacher tells you - but don't let the teaching you receive squash your intuition." | "In classical music you really so much rely on what the music says and what your teacher tells you - but don't let the teaching you receive squash your intuition." |
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