Visual display of the A lecture and demonstration lesson on tone given by Shin'ichi Suzuki at the American Suzuki Institute, Stevens Point, WI., August, 1976
Video
A lecture and demonstration lesson on tone given by Shin'ichi Suzuki at the American Suzuki Institute, Stevens Point, WI., August, 1976
Stevens Point, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point Telecommunications for the American Suzuki Talent Education Center
Summary
This is a condensation of lectures and lessons recorded at the 1976 Summer Institute at the University of WI.--Stevens Point. Part I: Dr. Suzuki discusses the production of a full, resonant tone. Good tone in bowed notes should have the same full and resonant qualities of the plucked open string. Dr. Suzuki encourages students to duplicate this freely vibrating sound when playing all notes. This is called Tuning Tone because it resembles the tone one achieves while tuning the violin. Producing a full, deep tone is like walking; with the weight centered in the middle of the body, the arm, elbow, and hand can move together. The motion can follow throughout the body and not be stiff and robot-like. One should think of the bow as an extension of the arm to simulate the smooth ride of an expensive car. Keeping the elbow low and allowing the weight of the bow arm to relax into the string creates the effect of playing with the horsehair only, or Horsehair Tone. Breathing also affects tone. Inhaling on up-bows and exhaling on down-bows helps to relax and involves the entire body. Dr. Suzuki makes use of coordination between mind and body to develop an expressive, beautiful tone.