Books › The Violin: How to Master It, 1880 › scan 7
Scan 7
The Violin: How to Master It, 1880
6 lines. Read by computer on 18 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1attainable on no other instrument. In another and more scientific sense, the violin is the only perfect instrument. A piano cannot be tuned perfectly, and the flute that will play in tune on all its keys has never yet been made. Where these and other instruments stagger and limp, the violin springs to the front without an effort. Volumes might be written on its majestic powers, but what good? The violin reached perfection two hundred years ago—for except in the setting back of the neck a little to increase the pressure of the strings, on account of our heightened concert pitch, and give greater command of the high notes, and a slight thickening of the bass bar, no alteration of importance has been made on the Cremona models—and at the same time became king of all. Its reign is undisputed, and therefore needs no demonstration.
3Self-Tuition Possible.
5The question is often asked by ardent lovers of the violin, Is it possible to learn to play it without a teacher? I have no hesitation in answering that, with steady application, quickness and observation, it is. But, just as a person may learn to read French by the aid of books alone, but must hear the language spoken before a complete mastery is acquired, so the student of the violin must at least see good players performing. With hundreds it is impossible to get near a competent teacher, but even these may at intervals see a good performer, watch the style of fingering, the straight sweep of the bow, the graceful bend of the fingers of the right hand, the position of the instrument, the wrist and the fingers, and the apparently marvellous manner in which the left hand may fly up and down the string with perfect precision. All these things must be seen to be understood: how they are accomplished it shall be my endeavor to explain. This proviso understood, the proper books being studied, and the proper amount of hard work being given, there is no reason why a student should not teach himself. The spring and incentive to all knowledge must come from within; all that a teacher can do is to indicate how the same difficulties have already been mastered, and prevent the formation of bad habits. Whether all teachers do so is quite another question. Teachers are not all competent; and even when competent are not all honest. They must live, poor souls; their bread depends on their pupils continuing
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