Dounis: Principles of Violin Playing with Daniel Phillips

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Dr. Dounis had a unique background in medicine and music which gave him the tools to address the efficiency of violin playing in novel ways. Hard work, while necessary, should be geared toward getting the most for minimum effort. This is the main aim of Dounis’s scientific method, one that Daniel Phillips explains in great detail throughout this course.
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WHO IT’S FOR
Beginner — Advanced
This course is aimed at violinists of all levels, from the young player just starting to explore their technique to the professional who would like to see it in a new light.
WHAT YOU WILL GET
23-Lesson Course + 45-Page PDF Workbook
In addition to over 3 hours of in-depth video content with Juilliard Professor Daniel Phillips, this course also comes with a detailed 45-page PDF workbook.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Dounis's Scientific Method of Violin Technique
The road to mastery is economy. Hard work, while seemingly necessary, should be geared toward efficiency: getting the most for minimum effort.
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What's Inside the Course?

23 Video Lessons
45-Page Workbook
  • 1. Introduction: A Musician's Journey to Dounis (23m 30s)
    In this lesson, Daniel Phillips introduces us to Dounis's ideas, beginning with how to move the bow in an arc rather than a straight line.
  • 2. A Different Way of Thinking of the Bow Hold (8m 57s)
    The bow should not hinder our ability to express ourselves. This is the aim of a good bow hold, and Phillips shows us a simple way to find one.
  • 3. Power from Pronation (10m 26s)
    Phillips urges us not to confuse pronation with raising the arm or shoulder. He goes on to illustrate a simple way to find a natural movement of the bow from frog to tip.
  • 4. The Brush Stroke (9m 36s)
    It is easy to assume that a fuller tone requires power from the fingers, but Phillips explains in this lesson how the opposite is more accurate. He also describes the difference between active and passive strokes.
  • 5. Arm Levels and Bow Weight (23m 24s)
    When we play a drum, the arm is suspended above the contact point. For this lesson, Phillips explains how this concept translates to the violin, and why bowing levels are important.
  • 6. Tension and Support-Lessons from Milstein and Dounis (7m 33s)
    Daniel Phillips studied with Milstein for a year and witnessed the great ease with which he was able to play the violin. Later in life with the lessons learned from Dounis, Phillips was able to put things together and play with greater ease and support on the violin.
  • 7. String Crossing (6m 21s)
    Phillips discusses string crossing lessons he learned from Gingold to Ysaye to Dounis. He demonstrates using the arc of the bridge and letting the hand lead for a smooth string-crossing.
  • 8. Bow Changes (8m 40s)
    Using a loop to get smooth bow changes and a discussion of the movement of the hand, Phillips describes ways of making a smoother bow change.
  • 9. Structuring the Left Hand (17m 14s)
    Daniel Phillips discusses principles on movement from Dounis in how to use the left hand. This includes the anatomy, alignment, as well as movement of the joints in the hand and arm.
  • 10. Vibrato and Legato in the Left Hand (21m 25s)
    Maintaining the frame in the left hand helps to improve the ability to maintain legato with the left hand including vibrato. Phillips discusses ways to improve comfort in the left hand and maintaining a continuous vibrato.
  • 11. Absolute Independence of the Fingers and Shifting (10m 24s)
    One of the most challenging exercises by Dounis allows for the fingers to play with much greater ease on the instrument. Phillips continues by reframing shifting both structurally and psychologically including “leapfrog” shifting.
  • 12. Left Hand Agility and Alignment (5m 18s)
    Playing with fingers closer to the strings improves agility on the violin. Focusing on alignment of the arm and hand on different strings allows for more facility on the violin.
  • 13. Straight Line Shifting (9m 17s)
    Shifting more efficiently allows for more ease and virtuosity in changes of positions on the violin. Utilizing flexibility in the wrist and thumb, Phillips showcases components necessary for shifts of different speeds.
  • 14. Shifting Less (2m 30s)
    Daniel Phillips discusses how to shift with greater support and situations where it is possible to shift less yet still play the same notes.
  • 15. Playing with Close Fingers, Finding your Thumb Position (8m 12s)
    Your thumb is often smarter than your conscious mind. Phillips discusses different ways of practicing to improve your hand position, and find your thumb position.
  • 16. The Chromatic Independence Exercise (6m 28s)
    George Neikrug who studied with Dounis shared an exercise with Daniel Phillips to develop the “sideways” movement of the fingers. Phillips walks you through how to practice the exercise.
  • 17. A Finger Lifting and Dropping Exercise (3m 21s)
    Along with the Chromatic Independence Exercise, Daniel Phillips recommends this finger-dropping exercise as a way cover many aspects of left-hand violin technique more efficiently.
  • 18. Grouping and Impulses for Agility (5m 26s)
    Regardless of whether a passage is slow or fast, Phillips shares recommendations on how to achieve a passive drop that’s clear without pounding the fingers onto the strings.
  • 19. Practicing with Multiple Bows per Note (2m 48s)
    Practicing in groups and with different impulses is a good way to build up your agility on the instrument. Phillips walks you through how he would recommend practicing in groups and impulses.
  • 20. Expression in Sound (9m 44s)
    Preserving the correct bow-stroke but playing with multiple bows per notes helps to improve coordination and precision in both hands.
  • 21. Articulation (4m 47s)
    Daniel Phillips shares some thoughts on expression in sound. He shares a unique ways of practicing to help allow your talent to come out on the violin.
  • 22. Some Final Thoughts (2m 10s)
    Daniel Phillips shares the most important part of Dounis’ approach to violin playing to keep in mind, the integrated and expressive technique.
  • 23. Bonus: Personal journey with Dounis (3m 7s)
    How did Daniel Phillips encounter Dounis and what was his path as a violinist and musician? Phillips shares his journey and some of the important lessons he’s learned on the way.
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Course Preview: Lesson 1 of 23 — Principles of Violin Playing
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What You Will Learn

Daniel Phillips breaks down Dounis's renowned method:
Principles on movement and how to use the hands
Ways of making a smoother bow change
How to shift less and with greater support
And much, much more!
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MEET YOUR NEW INSTRUCTOR

Daniel Phillips

Current faculty member at the Juilliard School, Queens College Aaron Copland School of Music, and the Mannes School of Music and the Bard Conservatory, Daniel Phillips is a versatile and experienced soloist.
Daniel Phillips, Professor at Juilliard School of Music
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Daniel Phillips
Professor at Juilliard School of Music

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