Masterclasses for String Players at www.violinmasterclass.com

How many young musicians have had the opportunity to take a masterclass with a world-class violinist?  Of the thousands of students who learn to play string instruments, the number is undoubtably quite small.  Thanks to a great website, www.violinmasterclass.com, anyone with a computer and internet access can take advantage of the expert instruction of Kurt Sassmannshaus.  Sassmannshaus is the chair of the string department at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.  In addition to teaching college students, Professor Sassmannshaus founded the Starling Preparatory String Project, a pre-college level program for young string students.  He mentioned his website during a masterclass I attended at Juilliard.

This website offers many masterclass videos divided into several topics: Stance & Violin Position; Right Hand; Left Hand; Scales, Arpeggios, & Double Stops; Intonation, and Putting It All Together.  Each topic is divided into a number of subtopics.  For example, if you click on Right Hand, you will find masterclasses on the following topics: Bow Grip; Bow Speed, Pressure and Sounding Point; Detache; Legato; Bow Changes; Colle; Martele; Staccato; Spiccato; Sautille; Ricochet; Chords.  Then, each subtopic is divided into video masterclasses demonstrating Definition of the technique; Exercises at various levels; Master Classes; and Performances.  Each video is concise and specific, showing Sassmannshaus working with a student who demonstrates the technique clearly and proficiently.  Recommended practice strategies are offered in each video so viewers can come away with valuable tips.

Sassmannshaus' affable, fatherly manner is endearing, as is his classic bowtie which is worn in each video.  The videos are brief and instruction is limited to one topic at a time.  Since the demonstrations show close-ups of students working on each technique, viewers can take what they see and apply it readily to their own playing.  The masterclasses go from very basic beginner techniques to advanced artistic nuances and skills.  The website includes performance files of numerous pieces in the violin repertoire, performed beautifully by Sassmannshaus' students of various ages.  Some of the performances are accompanied by piano, and some by chamber or full orchestra.

The site provides advice for practicing, including worksheets that may be useful to students and teachers, as well as graded repertoire lists, which include violin methods and etudes, repertoire for violin and orchestra, violin and piano, and violin solos.  A section on the site called Masterclass Kids! is geared especially toward beginning string players.

Violinmasterclass.com is funded through the non-profit Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation, which hosts the site free of charge.  The site is available in English, Chinese, and German.  If you are a string player, parent, or enthusiast, you will find plenty of useful information at www.violinmasterclass.com.  I recommend this site to my students as a reference, and have gained some helpful teaching tips through viewing Kurt Sassmannshaus working with his students.  Take a look for yourself!

http://www.violinmasterclass.com