One of the major frustrations of my professional musical life has been the continual reminder of how few talented young string players, even those with exceptional instrumental skill, seem to truly understand the importance of reflecting their very own personal emotional experiences within the fabric of their musical interpretations and performances. Consequently I have devoted a great deal of my teaching efforts to helping these potential artists better understand the critical importance of this element and to develop the skills necessary to facilitate the natural merging of their inner-most emotions with their instrumental facility. My original purpose for authoring this book was to create a lasting way in which to share my resulting theories and methodologies with regards to this ever so critical ingredient to the process of successful musical communication. Interestingly, after a reasonable amount of academic research, it quickly became apparent to me that in spite of the existence of numerous available publications dealing with the need for musicians to play their instruments in an expressive manner... and a myriad of additional books and articles attempting to describe and analyze the elements of "sensuality" ...no one had previously made any detailed connection or addressed, in writing, the impact of "sensuality" on music performance from either a technical or musical perspective. Now that this project is complete I must agree with the opinion of a number of my trusted colleagues and friends: "many theories, concepts and methods described in this book could indeed provide benefits to a far broader audience than those exclusively focused on string playing."I am hopeful that performers from all of the arts as well as any interested and receptive individuals from all walks of life may find the thoughts I have expressed in this publication helpful in achieving the lives of their dreams.

MALIBU MAN is the autobiography of the legendary first young virtuoso of the violaAlan de Veritch. Making his first of many solo appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 13, by the age seventeen he had already collaborated in chamber music performances with such artists as: Jascha Heifetz, Gregor Piatigorsky, Josef Gingold, Pinchas Zukerman, and Itzhak Perlman to name but a few. By age 32, Alan de Veritch had exchanged his life as an internationally known concert and recording artist for what was to become that of an extremely successful businessman, community leader, guest speaker, author and world-renowned musical pedagogue. This autobiography clearly describes the background and many aspects of his amazingly unique existence from age 5 to present times while it comfortably guides its readers on a most enjoyable and informative journey through the highly eventful life of this truly extraordinary individual.

One of the major frustrations of my professional musical life has been the continual reminder of how few talented young string players, even those with exceptional instrumental skill, seem to truly understand the importance of reflecting their very own personal emotional experiences within the fabric of their musical interpretations and performances. Consequently I have devoted a great deal of my teaching efforts to helping these potential artists better understand the critical importance of this element and to develop the skills necessary to facilitate the natural merging of their inner-most emotions with their instrumental facility. My original purpose for authoring this book was to create a lasting way in which to share my resulting theories and methodologies with regards to this ever so critical ingredient to the process of successful musical communication. Interestingly, after a reasonable amount of academic research, it quickly became apparent to me that in spite of the existence of numerous available publications dealing with the need for musicians to play their instruments in an expressive manner and a myriad of additional books and articles attempting to describe and analyze the elements of sensuality no one had previously made any detailed connection or addressed, in writing, the impact of sensuality on music performance from either a technical or musical perspective. Now that this project is complete I must agree with the opinion of a number of my trusted colleagues and friends: many theories, concepts and methods described in this book could indeed provide benefits to a far broader audience than those exclusively focused on string playing.I am hopeful that performers from all of the arts as well as any interested and receptive individuals from all walks of life may find the thoughts I have expressed in this publication helpful in achieving the lives of their dreams.

Spotlighting the four women of the Lafayette Quartet, a leading Canadian ensemble, Rounds offers both a comprehensive history of the beloved instrumental form and an inside view of the complex world of professional quartet players, revealing the exultation and heatache that are the performing artists' daily fare. A treat for every music lover, whether player, listener or composer.