Customer Reviews

Violin Mastery: Interviews with Heifetz, Auer, Kreisler and Others (Dover Books on Music)

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I had read this book in grad school on loan from my university's library and thought it was full of interesting, inspiring and helpful information. I always wanted to buy it, but couldn't find it for under $100(!) I'm really glad Dover has reprinted it.

It's interviews with the best violinists in 1916-18ish. Some things I found amusing were the focus on gut strings and especially, David Mannes saying that anyone who needs a chin rest or shoulder rest should play the cello! -whch rests on the ground... If only he could see the students at his school now. I'm sure there's not one that doesn't have a chinrest and very few that don't use both.

Martens also wrote a sequel called String Mastery that had interviews with cellists, violists etc. I hope Dover picks up that one too. I highly recommend this book to any violinist, especially to those of us that have chosen playing the violin as a way of life.

I'm only in the middle of reading this incredible book, and I have to say that it is amazing! It's very easy for anyone to read/understand and has so many helpful tips from the best violin players. I absolutely recommend this book to add to your library! - even if you don't play violin!

excellent, thanks for very fast handling of my order and i received it amazingly fast across the atlantic! great condition and great price.happy to be ur customer

As a student of two years, I purchased this book in hopes that it might contain helpful insights into becoming a better player. Instead I found a completely impractical collection of airy, pedagogical theory. In addition, I found myself less motivated to play; feeling inferior for not having the luxury of practicing 4+ hours each day. I'm not suggesting that the instructors themselves are poor, but that the questions asked of them were of little value to me.