Taught by renowned violinist
Daniel Phillips
Dr. Demetrius Constantine Dounis had a unique background in medicine and music which gave him the tools to address the efficiency of violin playing in novel ways. Hard work, while necessary, should be geared toward getting the most for minimum effort. This is the main aim of Dounis’s scientific method, one that Daniel Phillips explains in great detail throughout this course.
<p id="">Introduction: A Musician's Journey to Dounis</p>
<p id="">In this lesson, Daniel Phillips introduces us to Dounis's ideas, beginning with how to move the bow in an arc rather than a straight line.</p>
<p id="">A Different Way of Thinking of the Bow Hold</p>
<p id="">The bow should not hinder our ability to express ourselves. This is the aim of a good bow hold, and Phillips shows us a simple way to find one.</p>
<p id="">Power from Pronation</p>
<p id="">Phillips urges us not to confuse pronation with raising the arm or shoulder. He goes on to illustrate a simple way to find a natural movement of the bow from frog to tip.</p>
<p id="">Power from Pronation</p>
<p id="">Phillips urges us not to confuse pronation with raising the arm or shoulder. He goes on to illustrate a simple way to find a natural movement of the bow from frog to tip.</p>
<p id="">Arm Levels and Bow Weight</p>
<p id="">When we play a drum, the arm is suspended above the contact point. For this lesson, Phillips explains how this concept translates to the violin, and why bowing levels are important.</p>
<p id="">(More Principles Coming Soon)</p>
<p id="">For his upcoming series on the left hand, Phillips discusses the joints the fingers should actually move from, how to find a comfortable hand setup, and how to just about guarantee proper intonation on a wide shift, among much more.</p>
<p id="">Tension and Support-Lessons from Milstein and Dounis</p>
<p id="">Daniel Phillips studied with Milstein for a year and witnessed the great ease with which he was able to play the violin. Later in life with the lessons learned from Dounis, Phillips was able to put things together and play with greater ease and support on the violin.</p>
<p id="">String Crossing</p>
<p id="">Phillips discusses string crossing lessons he learned from Gingold to Ysaye to Dounis. He demonstrates using the arc of the bridge and letting the hand lead for a smooth string-crossing.</p>
<p id="">Bow Changes</p>
<p id="">Using a loop to get smooth bow changes and a discussion of the movement of the hand, Phillips describes ways of making a smoother bow change.</p>
<p id="">Structuring the Left Hand</p>
<p id="">Daniel Phillips discusses principles on movement from Dounis in how to use the left hand. This includes the anatomy, alignment, as well as movement of the joints in the hand and arm.</p>
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Unlock Course →Current faculty member at the Juilliard School, Queens College Aaron Copland School of Music, and the Mannes School of Music and the Bard Conservatory, Daniel Phillips is a versatile and experienced soloist.
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