Fintan Murphy

B.A.(Hons). M.MUS (Catholic university of America)

Reviews

Kirsty Humprey

by

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

Julie Hewison

by

Violin Alive

“Twofold Media has produced another engaging set of CDROMs, this time presenting the violin syllabus of the Australian Music Examinations Board. Volumes 1 and 2 of Violin Alive are now available, covering the technical requirements up to grade four. The remaining grades are to be released at a future date. These CDROMs are an invaluable reference for students, teachers and parents. Fintan Murphy is well qualified to present this material, as he is the String Specialist Examiner for the AMEB. His thorough understanding of violin technique ensures that each exercise is presented clearly and comprehensively. The Warm Up exercises, which include ideas for bowing and left hand set up, are clearly demonstrated and promote a relaxed and natural style of playing, emphasising flexibility and ease. Maybe these Warm Ups could have been placed at the start of the CD to make sure that they were not overlooked by students. Navigating the menus is extremely intuitive and straightforward and the demonstrations themselves are not overly wordy. Accompanying each exercise is some quite detailed text, which may be too technical for a young student, but is of definite benefit to parents and teachers looking for greater depth. The tempo chosen for the scales on the first CD is rather on the brisk side and may not encourage students to produce their optimal tonal quality. I would have liked a little more direction for students when they first play C and G major scales. How do you get those third fingers to be in tune? However these are small complaints given the benefits of having the often dreaded technical section of the exam made so engaging for young students via the means of a computer. Volume two, covering grades three and four, presents some helpful advice for the more demanding technical requirements of this level. There are many good ideas throughout, including hints for double stop preparation, bow strokes and vibrato. The attention to detail by the producers is quite amazing and makes both CDs excellent teaching aids. It would be very useful, for instance, for a teacher to be able to direct a student to explore, for example, the vibrato exercises in volume two, with a view to coming back and discussing them in the next lesson. With these CDROMs students can now view and listen to an expert demonstrating what is required, whenever they wish, rather than relying on their memory to retain visual and aural images presented to them at their weekly lesson. There are many possible applications for these CDs, and everyone involved in learning and teaching the violin would benefit from their careful and detailed approach to the demonstration of the AMEB technical requirements.”

– Julie Hewison, Head of Strings at Ivanhoe Girls Grammar. AUSTAVIC News, Journal of the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA), September 2004

Mary Nemet

by

Violin Alive

“Here are all the exercises required for the early AMEB Violin Grades on one handy CDROM. Fintan Murphy, Editor of the AMEB Series 7 Grade Books and Senior Lecturer in Strings at Monash University School of Music together with John Quaine, Editor of the new Violin Technical Syllabus (2001) have put together everything needed for an excellent start on the violin. Both Fintan and John bring their performing and teaching experience to this ingenious project. Violin Alive explores every facet of basic string-technique from literally every angle in colourful video presentations and attractive graphics that cannot fail to engage the young student. This CD is user-friendly and takes one through all the available options on a menu that includes a Glossary, useful websites, and a complete rundown of every facet of technique that will be needed to embark on these AMEB requirements. The young student can watch and listen in between lessons. Fintan or John very carefully plays each scale, arpeggio and exercise for these early grades, with close-ups and different angles to guide the student to the correct method. Additionally there is a suggested warm-up routine and many useful tips and explanations on how to practice each action such as chain bowing, string crossing and shifting. Due regard is given to ensuring a stable left hand frame as well as a flexible bow-hold. The excellent visuals will indeed make the violin come alive for youngsters who are feeling slightly jaded with their technical practice. From the point of view of educational resources for young string students, there has never been a better time to teach! Teachers will welcome this additional tool and students will enjoy exploring over 100 video clips and the CD quality sound to help them on their way.”

– Mary Nemet, violinist and teacher, Toowoomba, formerly Lecturer in Violin at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne. Stringendo, Journal of the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA), vol 26 number 2, October 2003