Violin Alive
“Fintan Murphy’s ‘Violin Alive’ series lives up to its name and brings the AMEB Technical Work to life. Described as a ‘masterclass in audio, video and text’, each Volume boasts CD quality sound and easy-to-use video controls (including slow-motion and repeat view). Of course, these excellent CDROMS do not need to be used exclusively for those preparing for exams – there is a wealth of information that can be applied to all students wishing to improve their violin playing. However, for those practicing towards exams, the author knows what he is talking about! Fintan is the Editor of the AMEB Series 7 Grade Books and a String Specialist Examiner for AMEB in Victoria. Each CD contains two grades (Volume 2 : 3rd & 4th, Volume 3 : 5th & 6th and Volume 4 : 7th & 8th) and covers a selection of scales and all of the exercises intended for those grades. There is also a variety of practice tips for both left and right hand technique including intonation, vibrato, shifting and all the bow strokes needed at each level. All exercises are beautifully demonstrated by Fintan, Andrea Keeble and Jennen Ngiau-Keng (as one of my students exclaimed – ‘they make it look so easy!’) Additional features include right-click at any time for menus, thorough cross-referencing of all material, a biography and web-links of useful supplementary material. I would recommend the ‘Violin Alive’ series to all students who are serious about improving their technique and playing with great ease of movement. I have also benefited from the practice ideas in both my playing and my teaching and suggest that teachers (especially those just starting out) also invest in these wonderful resources. As a comment on the back of the CD case sums up: ‘Violin Alive and regular practice will…improve your violin technique and enhance your music performance skills’.”
– Kirsty Humphrey, violinist and teacher in Toowoomba, Queensland. Stringendo, Journal of the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA), vol 27, no 2, October 2005