Scan 38
The violin : solo playing, soloists and solos, 1905
6 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 22. See the scan on archive.org.
1vigorously practice. They become mechanical machines. They are next door to a total wreck regarding their constitution. Their nerve has gone. When they make their first appearance on the return to their native country, they suffer agonies from nervousness, which more or less is brought about by ill-health. Again, I say, health is primary—practice secondary. Never overdo your energy. You may have miraculous gifts completely ruined.
3There are certain eminent men who either have or had the world at their feet, and have shown perfection in every detail to which human nature is capable of attaining by the aid of prudent, careful, and regular practice. To be a fine player it is not necessary to imitate the fourteen hours' practice a day of Paganini. How many violinists of the present day adorn and edify the concert platform by their beautiful playing, whose lives present nothing extraordinary in common, except the strict regularity with which they practised, and their obedience to the laws of health? I can mention August Wilhelmj, Joseph Joachim, Pablo de Sarasate, Eugene Ysaye, Emile Sauret, Cesar Thomson, Adolf Brodsky, and a host of others. Why not follow their example? It is a most remarkable circumstance that their precedent is followed by so few rising young artists. All are capable of copying it, having practically the same education to assist them, and the same promised reward to encourage them. A position of some repute as a soloist and all its attendant pleasures belong not to any one class of mankind or womankind exclusively, but is open to all, in every sphere, who sincerely aim at the attaining of it. This truth is confirmed by the lives of the above eminent violinists.
5Nothing is more calculated to remove the prejudices one may have as regards too much practice, and to correct false notions, that technique is the only thing worth striving for, than to think of Joachim and his career. He is an edifying example of one who occupies a pre-eminent position, and who has justified it by his perfection of playing. Yet I doubt if he ever practised all day long. His health could not have stood it. To
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