Product Details

• Actors: The Violin Virtuosi; Joshua Bell
• Directors: Hideki Isoda
• Format: NTSC
• Region: All Regions
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Studio: RIAX Productions
• DVD Release Date: July 24, 2006
• Run Time: 57 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000MZGNYK
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,812 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This Emmy-nominated PBS documentary is about excellence and what it takes to achieve it. So much of the public discussion about education is focused on mere competence and minimum standards. What Mimi Zweig (Indiana University Jacobs School of Music) and her program pursue is far greater than these; indeed, The Violin Virtuosi represent the greatest of commitments toward attaining the highest of goals. A television special which explores these children and their teacher will serve to demonstrate to all viewers what it takes to reach the top. Interviews include Joshua Bell and his mother, Shirley. Soundtrack performed by Sara Caswell. Music Informatics based production. Truly Inspirational - Highly recommended for all musicians, students, parents, and teachers!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding and inspiring documentary, March 2, 2007

By	Amazon Jams (Warrenton, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This documentary covers the music instruction for aspiring violinists from inception through teenage years. Particular focus is on the sacrifices made by students who are investing in such a worthwhile endeavor.

I purchased this DVD in order to inspire my daughter in practicing the violin, in hopes that she will see that there are achievements worth the sacrifice of dedicated effort and study. This DVD did not disappoint me in this respect. I will pass this on to her strings teacher, which is a good way to keep the inspiration spreading.

There is a definite political statement made on the back cover of the DVD that does not appear in the documentary itself. The documentary makes no statement concerning outcome-based education and so forth, which is a relief. Instead, the video sticks with its main purpose, and does so objectively, factually, and effectively.

The only drawback is that there is only one short piece performed by the Virtual Virtuosi as an extra. I would have preferred seeing an entire performance; after all, for this rather high price, such a performance is not too much to ask. The DVD is about five or six dollars over priced, in my opinion. Nevertheless, it is worth the price.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Circling around, April 1, 2007

By	E. D. Stauffer (South Africa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I agree with a previous reviewer - the documentary is good, but it was disappointing that there was so little of Joshua Bell (especially seeing that it was through his name that I found this DVD listed). It could have had more 'meat to the bone'. I originally intended lending it to my pupils in turn, but at this stage I know that several of them will not complete the entire documentary. Nevertheless, I am pleased that I bought it, excepting that the price was high, especially including the postage we have to pay from South Africa!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No Joshua Bell Here as Advertized, January 24, 2008

By	Bob Detmers "bldimages" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are looking for a video to watch and listen to Joshua Bell perform this DVD is not it. Joshua Bell is interviewed for about 1 minute and plays very little. The interviews of people attending the School of Violin are excellent. Joshua's Mom is also interviewed and is very interesting. The students do play a couple of pieces which are excellent, but this is not a musical video. I guess I was looking for violin concerts, with special features of interviews from the artists. To watch Joshua Bell grace a Violin is unbelievable! He will literally stop you in your tracks no matter what you are doing at the time! So I am still looking for some of Bell's videos.