VIOLIN LESSONS

MASTERCLASSES

THE BOOK

Learning the violin requires years of committed practice and significant financial investment. In Australia, however, the AMEB lists of successful candidates show that only a small proportion of violin students progress to diploma level. EVAN ELSLEY addresses the reasons behind this problem. He has examined thousands of candidates for grade examinations, diplomas, competitions, eisteddfods, HSC performance examinations and tertiary courses.

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 differences can now be clearly identified, understood, and taught. In doing so, they address the Conservatorium problem: Teachers teach what can be taught, while students bring what cannot.

PROVEN RESULTS

EVAN ELSLEY BIO

VIOLIN DIPLOMA TECHNIQUE BOOK

 Principles of Talent

by

EVAN ELSLEY

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

MASTERCLASSES AVAILABLE

THE LOGIC OF TECHNIQUE

• 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 logic of technique is no more complicated than this question: 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?  

THE LEARNING PROCESS

Learn to think with the mind and not the fingers:

• First, train the mind how to think as a violinist.
• Then use the mind to master the physical exercises as sensations.
• This provides consistent and repeatable results.
• Defines virtuosic intonation and co-ordination .
• Captures diploma level technique when integrated with traditional pedagogy.

PARENTS

At the 2025 AMEB session, an eight year old obtained a 6th Grade Credit after learning for 18 months with one lesson a week. This is the practical component standard for HSC Music 1. The average method student, however, is still playing children tunes on marked fingerboards. If your child is practicing without progress, plays out of tune, and lacks co-ordination, then they are thinking with their fingers.

MUSIC DEPARTMENTS

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

CLICK TO CONTACT EVAN

Students don't necessarily need more practice; they need to understand and organise the technique of the mind correctly.