Violin Playing as I Teach It

The name of Leopold Auer may not be as familiar to the present generation as it was earlier in the century when a considerable number of the leading violinists of the period were the products of his instruction. Renowned throughout the world as the leading teacher of his age he is credited with the development of such virtuosi as Mischa Elman, Efrem Zimbalist, Jascha Heifitz, Kathleen Parlow, Eddy Brown, Toscha Seidel, Mischel Piastro and others too numerous to mention. In this little book one finds a distillation of the principles Auer advocated. If one discovers little that is new or startling it can only be because, like all great teachers, his instruction was founded on sound basic principles. If one is looking for some secret, hidden method it will not be found for an artist teacher's secrets lie within him-deep in his personality and artistic background. These are scarcely to be revealed in the written word. For all that there is much here that is worth careful reading and study by all aspiring violinists and teachers. Curiously the present volume bears a copyright date of 1960. The first edition was published by Frederick A. Stokes in 1921. It has been set in smaller type, has no illustrations, and is priced in keeping with the times.