EVAN ELSLEY

Violinist, diploma examiner, university violin lecturer, diploma mentor, eisteddfod adjudicator and author specialising in violin pedagogy. 

A question frequently raised by teachers is, “How can my students achieve diploma-level results?”

VIOLIN LESSONS

In the exam room, there are five technical differences between talented candidates who achieve their diplomas at young ages, and those who struggle to pass Grade levels. These technical differences are not from years of practice. They are based on the talent of having the correct mental approach to violin technique. As a result of examining thousands of violin candidates for over 46 years, these differences are now easily defined and taught.

ABOUT VIOLIN LESSONS

ABOUT EVAN ELSLEY

VIOLIN DIPLOMA TECHNIQUE BOOK

 Principles of Talent

by

EVAN ELSLEY

• NATIONAL LIBRARY of AUSTRALIA
• STATE LIBRARY of NSW
• VIOLIN SPECIALIST SHOPS

LEARN HOW TO THINK  WITH THE MIND AND NOT THE FINGERS

Traditional violin teaching emphasises physical exercises that teach the mind. This can take years. It is faster to:

• First, train the mind how to think as a violinist.
• Then use the mind to master the physical exercises as sensations.

ABOUT MASTERCLASSES

THE LOGIC

Do you tune the note before you play it, or after? It is like asking the question: Do you cook a meal before you eat it, or after you eat it? 

• Every violin technique requires time to do the action.
• Skilled performance depends on the brain organising actions in the right order and at the right time.
• Mistakes happen when this timing or sequence breaks down.
• Expertise develops when the mind turns these actions into physical sensations. 

THE LEARNING PROCESS

Using an organised thinking technique:

• Provides consistent and repeatable results. 
• Defines virtuosic intonation and co-ordination . 
• Captures diploma level technique when integrated with traditional pedagogy.

PARENTS

Learning the violin is expensive and time consuming.  At the 2025 AMEB session, an eight year old obtained a 6th Grade Credit after learning for 18 months with one lesson a week. Without these techniques of talent, there is only practice without progress.

MUSIC DEPARTMENTS

Capture linear technical progress. Explore how the mind can remove the variability and vagueness from beginner up methods. 

TURN PRACTICE INTO RESULTS (link)