Customer Reviews

Playing the Viola: Conversations with William Primrose

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Playing the Viola is a great book for beginners and experienced violists alike. Primrose gives his opinions about technique, repetoire, and a music career. It is much better than his autobiography which reads as one big pat on the back from himself. There is less pompousness in this book and more good ideas. I'd say this is a must read for all violists!

I have played violin for twenty-seven years, mostly for fun, occasionally for pay. A year ago, I picked up my viola and played some Bach on it for my fiance, a professional violinist. Boy was I surprised when he told me I sounded much better on the viola than on the violin, even though I never practiced the viola! I decided to find a teacher and learn to play correctly this instrument that touches my heart so deeply. Unfortunately, my lessons were expensive, but didn't get me anywhere. I decided to do what I have done in many other disciplines: See what I could learn on my own. So I bought this book.

Music is first of all about sound production. If you can't produce a beautiful or interesting tone, nobody will want to listen to you. Mr. Primrose states very clearly what he teaches his students about sound production. It was amazing! I finally figured out what I needed to do to get the sound I wanted! I tried it out, and right away my fiancee said that now I had a true viola sound: rich and warm and full. And it was much easier than what I had been doing before! I have never before been so surprised in my life: that a mere book could teach me so quickly what I had been struggling to achieve for so long!

There is much other useful information as well: Mr. Primrose gives excellent exercises on how to strengthen the fingers in your right hand so that you have easy and precise control of your bow. He writes out exercises for smooth string crossings, one of which comes from his teacher, Ysaye. His explanation of how to achieve seamless string crossings in the same bow stroke has helped me immensely. And his discussion on the difference between a violinist's vibrato and a violist's vibrato has shown me what to listen for in my own practicing. There is a lot more, too: information on how to hold the instrument to reduce the possibility of pain and personal injury, Mr. Primrose's thoughts on repertoire and performance practices, as well as other topics. And quite a bit of subtle humor!

I am learning so much from Mr. Primrose. If he were still alive, I would send him a thank you letter for creating this book together with Mr. Dalton (one of his former students). I will learn as much as I can from Mr. Primrose, and then take up lessons again with another teacher. After all, I want a live violist's feedback and advice on what I am doing!

I recommend the book to anybody who loves to play viola and would like to find out what Mr. Primrose did to play so beautifully. His advice really works!

Apparently William Primrose was himself trained in the classical European style of "if it doesn't hurt, you're not doing it right and it's not doing any good." Some of that can be found in his "Conversations", but overwhelmingly, Dalton portrays Primrose as the kind of teacher who motivates students with a carrot rather than a whip. Again and again Primrose is saying, "Look, why do things the hard way when you can accomplish just as much, or more, with less effort this way?" Primrose is a dedicated perfectionist, no question, but he is not a masochist or sadist. I was inspired by the book to re-visit patterns of viola playing that I have had for years because of his persuasive and reasonable tone.

My daughter is planning on majoring in viola performance. While checking out colleges she saw this book at the bookstore of the New England Conservatory of Music and she spoke of it ever since. Anyone interested in the viola- either a student or long time player or teacher would enjoy this book. It is basically an interview with Primrose himself. William Primrose was the first well known solo viola player. Many of his works were recorded (you can get them on Amazon as well). When you purchase viola music many times you are asked to get the Primrose edition- well that is this man. He showcased the viola as a solo instrument, and was a very gentle and humble man at the same time. In this book he gets a chance to share with you his experience talking about performing certian pieces, bow holds, and much more. Enjoy this wonderful book.

I spent a whole summer readind ant translated this book. It was a great pleasure, it's a violist book, everyone should have or read the verry interresting dialogues between the two lords of the viola.