Violin Tutor
for positions I-V

This tutor, written by the late Israel Amidan (1921-1968), is one of his many attempts at initiating a fresh, improved approach to teaching. Unfortunately Israel Amidan did not live to see its publication although he almost managed to finish preparing it. Because of my constant contact with him, I was able to complete his work and even to add an appendix which is the realisation of his earlier drafts. Amidan's tutoris not just another routine method for teaching positions to violin students: it is rather a description of how to speed up the process of shifting positions and its inclusion during the very earliest months of study. It must be by ear, and only later comes the methodical repetition of the positions. The movement whereby undesirable pressure of the thumb (which usually slows down technical progress). The tutor is to be used at the teacher's discretion. The order of exercises is not binding. Difficult exercises may be skipped and reverted to a later date. The purpose of the exercises is to familiarise the student with Positions Two to Five during the very first year of study, while at the same time firmly consolidating the First Position. Simultaneously, the exercises are intended to develop the student's overall familiarity with the violin by ear and, in the final stage, to help him acquire the correct fingering of each position. The aural exercises for positions prepare the student for practising (from music) the Second and Third Positions at the end of the first year or beginning of the second year of studies, and the Fourth and Fifth Positions at the end of the second year. All movements should be slow, controlled and relaxed. They should not be performed at a speed exceeding the mental capacity or technical skill of the student. Increased agility is to be attained gradually, without tension. Remarks: a. Double bars do not limit the playing of the exercise to twic only` each exercise should be repeated as often as necessary. b. most of the exercises are written for one string only. The student should repeat them n each of the other strings as well.