I posted these videos of various performances but will now be adding technical videos concerning bow control, tone and vibrato as well as other subjects. These will not be my legacy! I want to put out some ideas to students of how to improve your handling of string crossings and loosen the grip on the bow as well as the left hand. If you have questions please contact me through my web site at seattlecellist.com. All the best, Don Larson BA Juilliard
His form at the cello was so like Casals-absolutely no tension in the upper body at all-and his recommendations to raise the elbow and play lighter, without ever digging, are very interesting. His right elbow angle hits a sweet spot-in a private lesson I had with him he criticized Starker’s for being too high to create the sound he was after-where both sound and fluency combine. His Boccherini A Major snippet mirrors Starker’s to a remarkable extent, though-pretty much the same angle height-so it seems he wasn’t doctrinaire; he moved anywhere he had to go, depending on the situation. Thanks for posting this-what a gift to us all!
You can be a great teacher without being cruel. Some teachers instill fear in their students and they work really hard to get a crumb of acceptance from their teacher.
Every time I listen to these videos of Mr. Shapiro, I learn more. What a marvelous teacher and what a great artist. (And the expletives undeleted? they are a refreshing delight!). You cannot imagine how devoted and caring he was of his students.
I spent 2 years as his student at Juilliard and he was the only teacher I have studied with who more than doubled my technique in 1 year . Brilliant photographic memory and old school as you can get. The most important person in my life.
Dear Don, Thank you so much for posting these videos. I studied with Harvey in the 90's at Juilliard. This brings back so many memories. Having these makes me realize that Harvey is still with us and is still teaching us after all these years. Is there any way you could possibly fix the sound issue for the remainder of the videos where the sound cuts off? It would be invaluable to be able to hear the whole class.
Hey Don. Loved the Bach and watching your other videos. I’m jealous of your studying with Shapiro. I just discovered three of his videos master classes what a character he was and what a great cellist. I wish I’d have a chance to study with him. I look forward to more uploads from you
Stephen, My thanks for your kind message. I was really going nowhere wile at Juilliard until my 4th and 5th years there. After my first lesson with Harvey I learned more in 1 hour than I had in my previous 14 years of lessons. He got me to extrovert my playing and gave me extra lessons as well as helped me get credit to purchase a car through the musicians union. So many stories. He was colorful to say the least. He wouldn't be allowed to teach now. Swearing and making a point with jokes that would make you blush. I admired his confidence and blunt honesty. Some didn't care for his yelling when a student would ignore his advice. He made me laugh a lot ! He was the largest influence in my adult life. All the very best.... Don
@@DonLarsoncellist what a very nice reply Don, It’s his Outspokenness and “old grumpy Jewish man demeanor“ that I find the most charming and endearing to be honest. Cheers from CHICAGO!!
I wish I could have worked with him… he is so the point and is only about improving the student. No long and sense-less talk, that many professors are doing.
He once advised me at Juilliard and I never forgot his wisdom. He came over to me in the hallway as I was walking to speak with me. While complimenting me as a musician as he heard my performances at Juilliard, he advised me on the practicality and his philosophy of teaching. I understood it only years later but will forever think fondly and gratefully of this great man. He used to leave his cigars on the piano and the energy of his teaching was still there long after he left.
Hi, Ivan! Zara Nelsova and Mr. Shapiro were both teaching at school at the same time and were friends. When together, they had a wonderful rapport and mutual respect for each other…though they had very different approaches.
One of my favorite Shapiro moments was playing a jury Once when Zara wasn’t there. Before I played, Harvey said “Zara’s not here so you don’t have to play so damn loud!” They were both pretty hilarious individually and together!
Don, what great class. There is one with Alan Stepansky teaching that is quite good - he was a Shapiro student - and later in the NY Philharmonic - and another very good one with Laurence Lesser, but this one is from the master who really knew how to teach the technique of producing sound and the finest of artistry. Technique as opposed to facility.
This whole class- including the Boccherini and Rachmaninoff sonatas, and Schumann concerto, is absolutely brilliant. Shapiro was fully committed to his students. When I knew him, he would take phone calls from his students to diagnose their questions in addition to their weekly lessons, and despite his normal fee, I saw him give a student free lessons but 'not to tell anyone' which told me that he was doing it for more than one, a He left an indellible mark
He once took it to the luthier complaining of its sound being muffled. The luthier dumped out about a pound of cigar ash et voilà, the sound was better again.
He was brutally honest and taught us just as much about ourselves. He was also the most generous, kind man I ever had the great honor and pleasure to know. Rostropovich called him “The greatest cello teacher!”
9:31 that sequence of shifts was seriously one of the most exquisite things I've ever seen. I had to literally pause the video there and take a moment to collect myself .. also I'd like to echo the comment about the sound cutting out in the latter half .. would love to be able to hear the rest!!
I will work on getting the audio working for the whole video. I have another video I have not uploaded which is another amazing video of his cigar smoking while talking and playing the cello all at the same time. There are so many stories about Harvey as his colorful language which nowadays would result in being fired. I will try to get the next video up next week latest. Thank you for your comment about the shifting!!
Not just the shifting per se but the extraordinary nuance and shape of the line to produce such a marvelous narrative experience. Shapiro was a superb artist who, as a person was always grounded, and as a teacher extraordinarily kind and committed.
Wonderfull explanation! And thanks for the masterclasse of your teacher Shaphiro! It was an incredible man! I would be so glad, if I could find more from Shapiro! Thanks!
