This event has passed, but you can still Access the Recordings and PDF’s from the workshop! To receive the “Comfort in the Stratosphere” event, enter your information in the form at the bottom of the page.

Discomfort in the Stratosphere

Like most violists, I was never comfortable playing in the high positions. Sure, I dutifully practiced Flesch, Sevcik, and the other standard exercises, but I never felt solid.  Up at the edges of the fingerboard, my fingers felt like they were balancing on a tight-rope, my intonation was inconsistent at best, and the sound coming out of my instrument was well, let’s say, less than ideal!

I decided to learn everything I could about playing in the high positions. The work of Paul Rolland taught me intuitive ways to approach shifting and the movement of my arm in more natural ways. My teacher Nathan Cole, a violinist (gasp!), showed me fingering tricks for the higher positions. And countless other sources filled in the gaps with useful tips, tricks and exercises.

Armed with that information (and a lot of hard work!) I’ve learned ways to be (more) comfortable in the high positions. So now, passages like this, from the Paganini Sonata for the Grand Viola are within my grasp.

In talking with other violists, including many professionals, it’s clear that I was not alone in my struggle: most violists are uncomfortable playing in the high registers!

Now, you might say, “I don’t really need to know how to play up high, I’m fine sticking to the low positions for the music I play.” And while it's true that many of our orchestra parts lie in the relative safety of the low positions, once we get to pieces like Don Juan or Ein Heldenleben, the whole fingerboard is fair game! And that’s not to mention our solo repertoire!

In short, if we haven't prepared ourselves for playing in the upper registers, when we encounter it in our music we can feel like we're on a mountaintop with no air to breathe!

I want to share what I’ve learned so you don’t have to struggle in the same ways I have, and can feel more comfortable in high positions ASAP! This is why I put together this free two-day event, which I’ve called “Comfort in the Stratosphere: A Violist’s Guide to Playing in the High Positions.”

Here’s What We’ll Cover:

What are the keys to playing in high positions? To my mind, these are the most important ones:

1. Free motion in shifting → Learn simple exercises for effortless shifting through all positions.

2. A strong inner ear → I’ll teach you a simple strategy for hearing up high.

3. A crystal clear map of the fingerboard → Discover ways to draw your own detailed mental map.

4. How to draw a beautiful sound with the bow →  Hint: it’s not the same as in 1st position!

Over our two days together, I'll give you simple strategies I've learned from legendary teachers like Paul Rolland and Demetrius Dounis, among others, along with my own exercises.

We’ll look at some excerpts from the solo and orchestral repertoire and talk about how to tackle them. I’ll also give you a structured way to practice these concepts so that you can continue to incorporate them into your playing after the workshop is over.

So, if you'd like to be able to run up and down the fingerboard with more ease, please sign up for this free event using the form below.  See you there!

FAQ

I can’t attend the live Zoom events, can I still participate?
Yes! Register for the event and you’ll get access to recordings of the workshops as well as PDF’s of the materials shared. 

Can I join Mid-Event?
Sure!  If you register you can follow along on your own schedule and watch the videos at your convenience.

I’m a violinist, can I participate?
Sure!  The majority of the concepts we'll cover are helpful for violinists, too!