Violin Junkie

Phantom Phone Call by Tim O'Brien

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:16:00 +0000

YouTube video of musician Tim O'Brien, singing his song about the phantom phone call syndrome.

Phantom Phone Call
From Chameleon

Have you felt that phantom phone when it calls
Have you felt that phantom phone when it calls
You feel it vibrate, you reach for the cell
But no one's there, that's how you tell
You felt that phantom phone when it calls

I read all about it in the morning news
I read all about it in the morning news
Doctors are hearin about it a lot
Phantom phone syndrome is what you got
I read all about it in the morning news

Have you felt that phantom phone when it calls
Have you felt that phantom phone when it calls
You feel it vibrate, you reach for the cell
But no one's there, that's how you tell
You felt that phantom phone when it calls

Phantom phone calls weighin on my worried mine
Phantom phone calls weighin on my worried mine
Six months since you went awy
Six times I felt you call today
Phantom phone calls weighin on my worried mine

Have you felt that phantom phone when it calls
Have you felt that phantom phone when it calls
You feel it vibrate, you reach for the cell
But no one's there, that's how you tell
You felt that phantom phone when it calls

The mobile phone is a threat to the human race
The mobile phones is a threat to the human race
Up by your ear it's bad for your brain
In your pocket it's a sperm count drain
The mobile phones are a threat to the human race

Have you felt that phantom phone when it calls
Have you felt that phantom phone when it calls
You feel it vibrate, you reach for the cell
But no one's there, that's how you tell
You felt that phantom phone when it calls

Gavari's Semi-Acoustic Violin

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:49:00 +0000

I know you want those centuries old Stradivarius or Guarneri but I'm sure you can't afford one. Maybe it's time to look into the future of violin with Gavari's modern violin.

GAVARI SEMIACOUSTIC VIOLIN

This design creates a new modern form, moving away from the baroque style. Key aspects such as sound criteria, analogies, sledge, boat and corset as well as feminine curves of a woman gave rise to the design of the Gavari violin.
It was a challenge to create a new modern form for the 21th century, maybe they will change the classical music busines

[via Gavari]

An Inspirational Ad: You can shine!

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:23:00 +0000

This TV commercial was created by Grey Thailand for P&G’s Pantene Chrysalis brand.

Nice Hair! You can shine! LOL!

[via Daily Contributor]

YouTube Symphony Orchestra @ Carnegie Hall

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:04:00 +0000

The world's first collaborative online orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall on April 15, 2009. Selected by the YouTube community and several members of the world's most renowned orchestras, the YouTube Symphony Orchestra is made up of over 96 professional and amateur musicians from 30+ countries and territories on six continents and represents 26 different instruments.

Video: Watch The YouTube Symphony Orchestra performing at Carnegie Hall

The YouTube Symphony Orchestra's "Internet Symphony" mashup video

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:02:00 +0000

Watch the world premiere of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra's "Internet Symphony" mashup video

YouTube presents the world premiere of the Tan Dun composition "Internet Symphony, Eroica" as selected and mashed up from thousands of video submissions from around the globe.

"The Internet Symphony" Global Mash Up

Great Editing! I can't wait to watch them at The Carnegie Hall! (Just on YouTube. LOL!)

Presenting the YouTube Symphony Orchestra

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:12:00 +0000

The YouTube Symphony Orchestra is now assembled and they will be performing at the Carnegie Hall on April 15.

Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage (Seating Chart)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 7:30 PM

Tickets from $25 - $50

Program Details

YouTube Symphony Orchestra
Michael Tilson Thomas, Artistic Advisor and Conductor
Mason Bates, Composer and DJ
Measha Brueggergosman, Soprano
Joshua Roman, Cello
Gil Shaham, Violin
Yuja Wang, Piano
Students from Lang Lang's International Foundation
·· Anna Larsen, Piano
·· Charlie Liu, Piano
·· Derek Wang, Piano

Congratulations to all the musicians who made it through the cut!

You can check them here:
http://www.youtube.com/symphony

If you are interested, Tickets for April 15 is available. Go to:
http://www.carnegiehall.org/article/box_office/events/evt_13015.html

Hilary Hahn on YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:39:00 +0000

If you are a Hilary Hahn fan, then you should subscribe to her channel on YouTube

Just go to http://www.youtube.com/user/hilaryhahnvideos and click the subscribe button.

Watch some of Hilary Hahn's past performance and videos.

Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma's performance at Obama's Inauguration

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:53:00 +0000

A classical performance of “Air and Simple Gifts,” arranged by John Williams and played by Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Anthony McGill and Gabriella Montero.

source: Aretha Franklin, Yo-Yo Ma grace Obama’s inauguration

Join the YouTube Symphony Orchestra

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:35:00 +0000

Join the world's first collaborative online orchestra.

From the YouTube Symphony Orchestra page: http://www.youtube.com/symphony
We invite musicians from around the world to audition for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra. Your video entries will be combined into the first ever collaborative virtual performance, and the world will select the best of you to perform at New York City's Carnegie Hall in April 2009.

1. Prepare - Select your instrument to access the sheet music and rehearse with the conductor
2. Submit - Upload your performances and submit them to join the YouTube Symphony Orchestra
3. Entries - Browse videos to get ideas and check out the competition

Here's the catch: "The best and the bravest of you will be invited at the Carnegie Hall"

Watch the video below:

They also have violin masterclass videos for the YSO audition:

Here's the violin part:

What are you waiting for? Join now! Go to the YSO website, hit the Get Started button, pick an instrument, and download your piece.

Submission of videos is up until January 28, 2009.

Merry Christmas Junkies!

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:03:00 +0000

Merry Christmas to all Violin Junkies! To all my readers and visitors! Thank You and Happy Holidays!

I wish you a Merry Christmas!

Vanilla Mood - We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Miri Ben Ari - Female hip-hop violinist

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:21:00 +0000

Another chick violinist. She is Miri Ben Ari, a hip-hop violinist.

Watch some of Miri Ben Ari videos here:

"People tell me when I play, they don't even think it's the violin- it transcends to be another voice," she says. "That's my voice. I feel like a rapper when I go onstage. I express myself similarly, my voice is the violin."

-Miri Ben-Ari

Miri Ben-Ari On Apollo video

I think she's cool and hot at the same time!

Cello Rock Groups: APOCALYPTICA and Cello trio Melo-M

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 04:16:00 +0000

They are not violinist but I want to share some Cello Rock!

Here's APOCALYPTICA! A cello rock group.

PATH music video

The Cello trio MELO-M with the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra (Latvia)

Final Countdown with some headbanging!

What do you guys think of them?

Violinist: Janine Jansen

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:46:00 +0000

Janine Jansen: The Dutch Violinist

Janine Jansen is one of the most promising violinists. She's Dutch and oh let me correct the heading, she's not just a violinist. She can also play the viola with equal brilliance.

Her recordings:
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos
Bach: Inventions & Partitia
Mendelssohn & Bruch: Violin Concertos
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
Janine Jansen Album

Her Bach: Inventions and Partita album is a great album. You can listen to her recording even if you're studying. She provided me a daily dose of Bach and I always listen to it before I sleep. :D

I first saw her on YouTube when I searched for some Bach violin music at the site. I watched the first video and I found myself searching for more videos of her, typing Janine Jansen on the search bar. I have embedded some of her videos here from YouTube for you to watch. Enjoy!
I hope you'll like this beautiful and great violinist.

She uses Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1727 violin.

I heart Janine Jansen! :D

Jansen: The Bach Album

Dutch violinist Janine Jansen brings a fresh chamber approach to Bach's two and thee-part inventions. The centrepiece of this recording is her thrilling D minor partita for solo violin. (source: DeccaMusicGroup)

Mozart Violin Concerto 5 in A Major
The Mozart Violin Concerto videos: (courtesy of DrMontague)

Biography from her website: janinejansen.com
Janine studied with Coosje Wijzenbeek, Philipp Hirshhorn and Boris Belkin. She was a previous BBC New Generation Artist and in September 2003 she received the Dutch Music Prize from the Ministry of Culture – the highest distinction an artist can receive in The Netherlands.

She received numerous awards including the Edison Classic Public Award three times, an Echo award for her Vivaldi recording in 2006 and her Mendelssohn/Bruch album in 2007 as well as the NDR Musikpreis for outstanding artistic achievement in 2007.

The outstanding instrument being used by Janine Jansen is the violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1727, ‘Barrere’ – on extended loan from the Elise Mathilde Fund through intermediation of The Stradivari Society® of Chicago.

You should also see her picture gallery on her site to see more of her pictures. She's very beautiful! Really beautiful! Here's some of her pics. (from janinejansen.com)

The Daily Contributor: Your Daily Contributor for News, Technology, Sports, and Entertainment

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:28:00 +0000

I just want to promote my new blog. It's called The Daily Contributor.

My new blog was officailly launched on September 27.

The blog covers topics such as:

World News - Fresh news from around the globe

Technology - The latest technologies, gadgets, and things on the web

Sports - Updates on hoops, the boxing ring and other Sports

Entertainment - The Latest Buzz on Music, T.V., Movies and Hollywood

Fun - Funny and weird things, pictures, news on the web

The Daily Contributor is currently a 4 Man blog but if you are interested to be a contributor, just post a comment here and I'll get back to you.

You can subscribe to our feeds via a reader or by e-mail.

Thanks!

My Violin Group: Class picture at the MPO Office

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:15:00 +0000

These pictures was taken at the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) Office. We are conducting our lessons there every Saturday.

Group Picture 1: (From left to right) Ron, JJ, Ate Jessica (The Teacher), Me

Group Picture 2: (From left to right) Ron, JJ, Me, Ate Jessica (Sensei)

ME and Our Teacer (Jessica Trinidad) - She owns a Violin made by a famous Filipino Luthier, Amador Tamayo.

We are 5 in our class but unfortunately the other 2 is absent. This is the last lesson for our group class. After learning some pieces, the 3 of us have decided to re-enroll to further our learning. =) Class starts September 27.

It's fun learning the violin!

Video: Suzuki Violin School: Volume 1

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:44:00 +0000

I 've managed to collect videos on YouTube and posted it in here for easy reference. This collection is a good reference for those using the Suzuki Method and the Suzuki Violin School book, Violin Part, Volume 1 by Suzuki Method International.

Most of the videos here were played by a female violin player from South Korea. I am a subscriber of her videos on Youtube. The pieces were played using an electric violin.

The other 2 videos (Lightly Row and Andantino) were posted on Youtube by violinspieler from Germany.

Enjoy Watching!

1. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Variations, Shinichi Suzuki

2. Lightly Row, Folk Song

3. Song of the Wind, Folk Song

4. Go Tell Aunt Rhody, Folk Song

5. O Come, Little Children, Folk Song

6. May Song, Folk Song

7. Long, Long Ago, T.H. Bayly

8. Allegro, Shinichi Suzuki

9. Perpetual Motion, Shinichi Suzuki

10. Allegretto, Shinichi Suzuki

11. Andantino, Shinichi Suzuki

12. Etude, Shinichi Suzuki

13. Minuet 1, J.S. Bach

14. Minuet 2, J.S. Bach

15. Minuet 3, J.S. Bach

16. The Happy Farmer, R. Schumann

17. Gavotte, F.J. Gossec

The CD that comes with the book is of course the best reference for the Volume 1 pieces but a visual reference is also a great help.

You are encouraged to bookmark this page. :D

Special thanks to sori1004jy and violinspieler.

A Suzuki Recital with Mr. Shinichi Suzuki

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:27:00 +0000

A rare video of Mr. Suzuki's students in a recital.

These kids are great! Maybe all of them are now accomplished violinists in Japan.

They are playing "Bach A Minor Concerto 3rd Movement" of Suzuki Book 7.

OMG!

I wish I had a great teacher like him when I was I child! hehe

Violinist: Hilary Hahn

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:22:00 +0000

She's on my list. One of the best violinist of this generation. At 28 years of age she had already traveled so many countries, touring for concerts and album promotions. She is Hilary Hahn.

photo credit: Kasskara courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon

Hilary Hahn is an American violinist born November 27, 1979 in Lexington, Virginia.

Hahn began playing the violin one month before her fourth birthday in the Suzuki Program of Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory. She participated in a Suzuki class for about a year. Between 1984 and 1989 Hahn studied in Baltimore under the direction of Klara Berkovich. In 1990, at the age of ten, Hahn was admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where she became a student of Jascha Brodsky. Hahn studied with Brodsky for seven years and learned the études of Kreutzer, Ševčík, Gaviniès, Rode, as well as the Paganini Caprices. She also learned about twenty-eight violin concertos, recital programs, and several other short pieces.

"At the age of 28, Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn is one of the most compelling artists on the international concert circuit. Renowned for her intellectual and emotional maturity, she was named "America's Best" young classical musician by Time Magazine in 2001, and appears on a regular basis with the world's great orchestras in Europe, Asia, and North America." - HilaryHahn.com

Her Instrument

Hilary Hahn plays an 1864 Vuillaume violin that was formerly owned by the Russian violinist Samuel Lande who was a friend of Klara Berkovich, Hahn’s first teacher. Hahn uses Dominant strings and bows by French bow makers Paul Jombar and Emil Miquel.

Some of my favorite Hilary Hahn videos on YouTube

Hilary Hahn - Sibelius Violin Concerto (Allegro Moderato) - she is still very young on this video. She recorded Schoenberg & Sibelius Violin Concertos with Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra this year.

Hilary Hahn plays Der Erlkoenig

Hilary Hahn Plays Paganiniana

Visit Hilary Hahn website to know more about her. hilaryhahn.com
She's got an online journal and she writes some articles there. That's what she said in an interview before.

Enjoy!

references:
hilaryhahn.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilary_Hahn

Hip-Hop Violin: Nuttin but Stringz

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:35:00 +0000

Meet Damien and Tourie Escobar. They call themselves as Nuttin' But Stringz. They are brothers and both studied at the Juliard School of Music and Bloomingdale School of Music. They play an intense blend of classical music, jazz, R&B and hip-hop. They can rap too!

These guys are amazing! They've put the violin into a different genre. Do not imitate their bow hand though. haha!

They were discovered on America's Got Talent June 2008.

Then later created an album, music videos and I saw them on Step Up 1.

THUNDER

They're ain't nuttin' for me!

Check out their website: http://www.nuttinbutstringz.com

Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:42:00 +0000

They belong to my list of The best of the best violinists ever existed.
Perlman and Zukerman Duo is just great!

Watch the two of them as they play the Handel-Halvorsen: Passacaglia.
Perlman is playing the violin while Pinky is playing the viola on this one.
The video is quite old though but you should watch it. Enjoy!

violinjunkie on friendfeed

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:43:00 +0000

I have created a room for you violin junkies!
Just go to this link http://friendfeed.com/rooms/violinjunkie and click JOIN.

See you all there and share your violin love. :D

Paganini Avatar

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:08:00 +0000

I got this avatar making site from a multiply post and I tried to create one for our long lost friend Niccolo Paganini. After a few minutes of work, here it is. I've included a Paganini picture for reference.

Haha! Are they look-alike? :D

Do you want your own Avatar? Click here!
It does'nt look like manga though.

Violinist/Composer: Niccolò Paganini

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:23:00 +0000

Niccolò Paganini (born Genoa, October 27, 1782, died Nice, May 27, 1840) was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. His 24 caprices is among his best known compositions, and serves as inspiration for other prominent artists from Johannes Brahms to Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Paganini's signature violin, Il Cannone fabricated in 1742 by Giuseppe Antonio Guarnieri del Gesù, was his favourite. He named it "The Cannon" because of the powerful and explosive resonance he was able to produce from it. Its strings are nearly on the same plane, as opposed to most violins, the strings of which are distinctly arched to prevent accidentally bowing extra strings. The stringing of Il Cannone may have allowed Paganini to play on three or even four strings at once. Il Cannone is now in the hands of the City of Genoa, where it is exhibited in the town hall. It is taken out and played by its curator once monthly, and periodically loaned out to virtuosi of today.

I enjoy watching violinists on Youtube playing Paganini's Caprices. Here is Jascha Heifetz , one of my favorite violinist (I will feature him soon here) playing the Paganini Caprice #24. Enjoy!

Dr. Shinichi Suzuki and "The Suzuki Method"

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 11:26:00 +0000

The Suzuki method (スズキ・メソード), also called Talent Education, mother-tongue method, or Suzuki movement) is an educational philosophy which strives to create "high ability" and beautiful character in its students through a nurturing environment. Its primary vehicle for achieving this is music education on a specific instrument. The 'nurture' involved in the movement is modeled on a concept of early childhood education that focused on factors thought then to be present in native language acquisition, such as immersion, encouragement, small steps, and an unforced timetable for learning material based on each person's developmental readiness to imitate examples, internalize principles, and contribute novel ideas.

The term "Suzuki method" is also sometimes used to refer solely to the Suzuki repertoire of sheet music books and/or audio recordings which have been published as part of its music education method.

Shinichi Suzuki

"I want to make good citizens. If a child hears fine music from the day of his birth and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline and endurance. He gets a beautiful heart."
-Shinichi Suzuki

Shinichi Suzuki, the man who developed the Suzuki Method, died on January 26, 1998, at his home in Matsumoto, Japan. Though he lived to be 99 years old, Dr. Suzuki always seemed young. He was full of energy, and was cheerful and loving to everyone he met.

Shinichi Suzuki was born on October 17, 1898, in Nagoya, Japan. He was one of twelve children and his father owned a violin factory. Shinichi and his brothers and sisters played near the factory and saw instruments being made, but the children never realized what beautiful sounds could come from a violin. When he was seventeen, Shinichi heard a recording of Schubert’s Ave Maria, played by a famous violinist named Mischa Elman. He was amazed that a violin could make such a beautiful tone because he had thought it was just a toy!

After this, Shinichi brought a violin home from the factory and taught himself to play. He would listen to a recording and try to imitate what he heard. A few years later he took violin lessons from a teacher in Tokyo. Then, when he was 22 years old, he went to Germany and studied with a famous teacher named Karl Klingler. Shinichi also met his wife Waltraud in Germany. They married and moved back to Japan, where he began to teach violin and play string quartet concerts with his brothers.

Shinichi had always loved children and became very interested in teaching them. He thought that children could learn music just as they learned to speak—starting when they were very young and hearing music all around them. He believed that all children have the talent to learn if they are taught well by loving parents and teachers. These were very unusual ideas at that time. If children did play an instrument, they started learning when they were ten or eleven. Also, most people thought that musical talent was a special thing that only a few people had.

Dr. Suzuki’s young students learned to play very well and everyone was amazed when they performed. No one had ever seen so many young children playing music so beautifully. At first people thought all the students were musical geniuses. They did not understand Suzuki’s idea that all children can learn if they are taught in the right way.

For many years Dr. Suzuki continued to work on his teaching method. He chose music that would help children learn to play. He even wrote some pieces himself (like the Twinkle Variations, Allegro, Perpetual Motion, and Etude). Teachers from many countries came to Japan to learn about his method of teaching, and Dr. Suzuki and his students traveled to play in other countries. Over the years, more and more teachers and parents became interested in Suzuki’s ideas and began to teach children with his method. Now there are thousands of children around the world who have learned to play instruments through the Suzuki Method.

Through his teaching, Dr. Suzuki showed teachers and parents everywhere what children could do. He also believed that hearing and playing great music helped children become good people with beautiful, peaceful hearts. Dr. Suzuki hoped that these children would help bring peace and understanding to the world.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_method

http://suzukiassociation.org/about/suzuki/

Violinist Around The World

noreply@blogger.com (Randy) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:42:00 +0000

Are you now inspired up by those Itzhak Perlman videos? Or do you now want to break that David Garret world record as the fastest violinist someday?

If you are still trying to find who your favorite violinist is going to be, here's a link for some of the famous violinist around the globe. The lists includes those legendary violinist or those people that you will not be able to see in person because they are long gone.

Go to these links:
http://www.theviolinsite.com/violinists/index.html
http://www2.osk.3web.ne.jp/~wistaria/violinists.htm

The second link includes personal website/s of the violinist.