i knew a violinist who was in Heifetz's class for a few months in the mid 70's. he was very talented, a very hard worker, very humble, and would have been any teacher's wet dream, yet he described his time with Heifetz as "a rocky road". if this guy had trouble with Heifetz, i can't even imagine what it would have been like for me.
while most people go around making Chuck Norris jokes, they do not in fact realize that all the jokes originated from Heifetz... such a good violinist
You know what? I just played this piece on my violin competition today!!! And now I'm watching this incredible video!!! I've never seen Heifetz teaching before. I really don't how to describe my feelings right now!!! This is more than amazing!!! I think I'd be better if I see this video earlier!! Oh and this guy is awesome! I don't think I could survive if Heifetz is teaching me or playing in front of me!!! Anyways, I'm very encouraged by this video! Thanks for uploading! :)
Anyone who is not taking private instruction should check this out... though it is extreme with Heifetz, a good teacher always has a constructive sense of, "This needs to be fixed now, and it should be right the next time it is played" A lot of people criticize Heifetz, but he was exemplary of the world of top-level music. Better, Better, always BETTER!!!
When I once told my violin teacher that I'd come to understand the Bach Partidas by listening to Mr. Heifetz, she said, "Oh no, he's a freak of nature!" Maybe so, but his grasp of technique, interpretation and musicality are unprecedented and, as far as I know, unmatched.
I would do just about anything to go back in time and have heifetz teach me. Yes he is harsh and demands perfection- but you would learn more from him that any other teacher. You KNOW if he's telling you something- he is right. And even if you never reached a standard where he was happy with you- you might come close, which would be good enough for anyone else
@siriljin That is Varoujan (later Varujan) Kodjian, who had a short career as a soloist. Under the tutelage of Zubin Mehta, he became a respected conductor, serving in that capacity for for the Los Angeles, Seattle, Utah, and Santa Barbara Symphonies, the last two as music director. He was also a well-renowed violin teacher. Mr. Kodjian died of pancreatic cancer in 1993.
Heifetz was an outstanding violinist but a horrible teacher. Except for Carol, he was far too harsh on all of them.
I knew Erick Friedman very well. I conducted some of his concerts before the auto accident ended his career. He said that Heifetz was too demanding and not tolerant enough. That was thankfully something Erick didn't do with his students.
@gospelkeys07 You do have a point there. I haven't looked at it from the professional's point of view, but only from my own view. It is correct that professionals want to improve everything, even the tiny details, and faults that aren't, exactly, a fault...
But still, Heifetz's austure, very serious and strict way of teaching will not be a solution for some people, professional or not. I've seen other clips, and Perlman, for example, is almost the opposite of Heifetz. I prefer his way.
@Aiglea "Heifetz's austere, very serious, and strict way of teaching will not be a solution for some people, professional or not."
I guarantee you that these are not the type of "students" that you'd find in your average violin class. Anyone who is not professional wouldn't be anywhere near this masterclass. With that said, I agree that if a beginning/intermediate/advanced violin teacher taught in this manner, it might be counterproductive with some people. But again... (cont.)
@oldsocrates ...these "students" are at the super-advanced level. It's like an NBA rookie having a chance to work with Michael Jordan. Regardless of Jordan's attitude, I doubt any young player would pass up such an opportunity.
And if I were a gambling man, I'd bet the farm that each and every person who took a masterclass with Heifetz would do it all over again.
@oldsocrates I understand what you try to convey, and I agree that only professionals/very advanced violinists would be accepted for a masterclass and many people would just grab the chance to see their idol. But even amongst professionals, there are people included who have... uhm... a somewhat heightened sensitivity toward criticism or a lower than an average self-esteem. I can be wrong here, of course, since my knowledge on this subject is limited.
@Aiglea "But even amongst professionals, there are people included who have... uhm... a somewhat heightened sensitivity toward criticism or a lower than an average self-esteem."
@oldsocrates Off the top of my head: Erick Friedma (one of the students in this class), Martha Argerich, Dorotha Powers, Sviatoslav Richter, David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Mitchell Lurie, Josef Hoffmann, William Steinberg, Wilfird Pelletier, Maria Calas, Harold Bauer, Camilla Wicks, Leonard Rose, Tandy Mackenzie, Jimmy Dorsey.
@oldsocrates Okay, okay, maybe I had the wrong thoughts, and may need to adjust it. I'm sorry if I've offended you somehow, that certainly wasn't my intention.
@oldsocrates And I understand that, to be able to be a professional, they should have a certain 'air' and attitude, and should not take negativity personally. But still, I don't think that Heifetz's way of teaching is the best way: 'punishment' works very well on the short term, but on the long-term, it can greatly effect the person receiving it. It's far better to have more patience, be gentle and wait for the result. But then again, most professionals only want perfection and are impatient...
@Aiglea "It's far better to have more patience, be gentle and wait for the result."
You still don't get it. Heifetz _can't_ wait. This was not some college course where these students were meeting with him every day for an entire semester. They had limited time with him and probably saw him only a handful of times. As I said before, you keep approaching it from the perspective of a regular violin student in a regular violin class, which this is not.
I couldn't even imagine getting up in front of Heifitz and performing under his critical eye; I'm sure the student was scared to death. I will say for as stern a taskmaster as Heifitz was, he's also a very good teacher, able to explain exactly what the student needed to do. Not all great performers can do that - it's like the difference between watching Pavarotti and Domingo give a master class; Domingo is able to express what he wants; Pavarotti always seems at a loss for words.
heifetz' personality is really a part of his music making.He had it as a little boy .The charisma and so much else .None of these players has charm which this music needs. He reaaly was greater than anyone else. Milsteinand Elman are something else too! One feels Milstein was intimidated by the personality as if he knew the mark was just a bit above his head. Oistrakh is completely himself. Good enough cuz he has it all too!
oh man, this boy's playing is totally without heart, maybe he's too nervous to meet the best violinist in the world. but I really see why people say Heifetz has a cold attitude.
Now, try not to scoff, I first heard of heifetz on youtube.
Strangely, my search (that became a quest) was inspired after watching a sherlock holmes "the red-headed league" with jeremy brett...and you tube searched Sarasate, then any solo violin and voila Heifetz and im in love with him over everyone. That was about a year ago. I feel most unworthy commenting as i also dont know about playing violin or most any. I get a new perspective and appreciation out of these videos tho, Thanks :)
@leonlixinfong LOL amazing yet scary thought..i just dont understand these pple you know? so freaking amazing like srsly HOW do they effing do it..im comparing my life with his now and i feel like poop..facebook must be like the deadliest sin for him HAHA.
JH asks for the final bar of the piano entry (2:39-2:41 or 4:26-4:28 on the rerun) to be more emphatic ("hammed-up" if you want). Of course the style of the piece calls for that, but there is another reason which he didn't give: look at the harmony. The last six notes are not some subtle chromatic progression, but (in the bass) E E E E E E, so it's all one big dominant chord. So the whole piano introduction is basically one huge imperfect cadence, and needs to be played as such.
No, I don't think Heifetz is cold. I think we're used to a much less formal tuition environment nowadays. (For example, look how they are dressed. This must have been ca 1955.) I don't think it's specific to Heifetz therefore. Do you imagine that in a conducting class under, say, Fritz Reiner, at that time, anyone would have dared to address him as Fritz? And not even in music either: it was the same in scientific disciplines too.
That said, I'd be scared to play in front of him too ...
i knew a violinist who was in Heifetz's class for a few months in the mid 70's. he was very talented, a very hard worker, very humble, and would have been any teacher's wet dream, yet he described his time with Heifetz as "a rocky road". if this guy had trouble with Heifetz, i can't even imagine what it would have been like for me.
cornel999 1 day ago
Why are they not using shoulder rests??
lordmedalion 2 weeks ago
'dont be freightened, I wont play'. class lol
Violincrazy 3 weeks ago
Varujan Kojian the violinist playing born in Beirut Lebanon
RIBALALTIST 1 month ago in playlist Varujan Kojian
man, i'll crap my pants before I even lift my bow!
addict245 1 month ago
while most people go around making Chuck Norris jokes, they do not in fact realize that all the jokes originated from Heifetz... such a good violinist
thebossXI 2 months ago 2
Not really fun to watch. Unfortunately, musical genius sometimes cohabits with a despicable human personality.
Curatica 2 months ago
@Curatica ??
SomeAnimeOtaku 2 weeks ago
You know what? I just played this piece on my violin competition today!!! And now I'm watching this incredible video!!! I've never seen Heifetz teaching before. I really don't how to describe my feelings right now!!! This is more than amazing!!! I think I'd be better if I see this video earlier!! Oh and this guy is awesome! I don't think I could survive if Heifetz is teaching me or playing in front of me!!! Anyways, I'm very encouraged by this video! Thanks for uploading! :)
bunnygirl118 3 months ago
Anyone who is not taking private instruction should check this out... though it is extreme with Heifetz, a good teacher always has a constructive sense of, "This needs to be fixed now, and it should be right the next time it is played" A lot of people criticize Heifetz, but he was exemplary of the world of top-level music. Better, Better, always BETTER!!!
PaperGrape 3 months ago
When I once told my violin teacher that I'd come to understand the Bach Partidas by listening to Mr. Heifetz, she said, "Oh no, he's a freak of nature!" Maybe so, but his grasp of technique, interpretation and musicality are unprecedented and, as far as I know, unmatched.
ElizR56 4 months ago
H. comes off as a bit of an ass in the video... but what a musician...!
bersa888 4 months ago
Tune to A major :D cus he's hiefetz
cello39mn 4 months ago 3
@cello39mn Supposedly, Heifetz's ear could tell A440 from A441. I wouldn't doubt it at all!
docmalthus 3 weeks ago
This makes me nervous just watching it…
pianoking53 5 months ago 6
even watching this scares me.
TheMrShuck 6 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
hahahahahha looks like your gonna make a leap!
ArbelBashLoberant 6 months ago
OF ALL TIME!
vargas4l 7 months ago
His violin sounds awful at very high notes ..maybe is the strings !
Vann7 7 months ago
Hahaha..I love that. "You're playing it too safe..Let's play it more dangerous, eh?"...Such a badass...
iToucheverything 7 months ago 2
thanks for uploading. Do you have more?
andyli929 9 months ago
cool
violinlurrve 9 months ago
I would do just about anything to go back in time and have heifetz teach me. Yes he is harsh and demands perfection- but you would learn more from him that any other teacher. You KNOW if he's telling you something- he is right. And even if you never reached a standard where he was happy with you- you might come close, which would be good enough for anyone else
Muzikman127 9 months ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
Heifetz sight reading!?
cjh37878 9 months ago
3:55 Sight reading!?
cjh37878 9 months ago
@cjh37878 well he heard it played a few secs befor, may enough with a few views on the sheet ;)
karazh 9 months ago
what's the name of the student?
siriljin 9 months ago
@siriljin That is Varoujan (later Varujan) Kodjian, who had a short career as a soloist. Under the tutelage of Zubin Mehta, he became a respected conductor, serving in that capacity for for the Los Angeles, Seattle, Utah, and Santa Barbara Symphonies, the last two as music director. He was also a well-renowed violin teacher. Mr. Kodjian died of pancreatic cancer in 1993.
TomBarrister 8 months ago
i would shit my pants.....twice....if i had to play in front of him
sportsfan1937 9 months ago
lol they all look so nervous around him... of course, its understandable
vinnyboonbots 10 months ago
Omg..his standards are SO HIGH.
-A lesson with me and Heifetz-
'Alright, play that piece you got there.'
-I start to lift my bow-
'That was terrible!'
'But I didn't even play yet!'
'I already know that you'll make mistakes! get out!!'
Lol jk. But seriously though. I would pee in my pants or something if he ever gives me that stare..
goodcommentguy 1 year ago 22
@goodcommentguy HAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHA
mrausar 6 months ago
Heifetz was an outstanding violinist but a horrible teacher. Except for Carol, he was far too harsh on all of them.
I knew Erick Friedman very well. I conducted some of his concerts before the auto accident ended his career. He said that Heifetz was too demanding and not tolerant enough. That was thankfully something Erick didn't do with his students.
pianistconductor 1 year ago
New site - contribute, please
musicacrossworld 1 year ago
oh shit i was scared when he banged that stick on the table!!
BlackIsOut 1 year ago
@gospelkeys07 You do have a point there. I haven't looked at it from the professional's point of view, but only from my own view. It is correct that professionals want to improve everything, even the tiny details, and faults that aren't, exactly, a fault...
But still, Heifetz's austure, very serious and strict way of teaching will not be a solution for some people, professional or not. I've seen other clips, and Perlman, for example, is almost the opposite of Heifetz. I prefer his way.
Aiglea 1 year ago
@Aiglea "Heifetz's austere, very serious, and strict way of teaching will not be a solution for some people, professional or not."
I guarantee you that these are not the type of "students" that you'd find in your average violin class. Anyone who is not professional wouldn't be anywhere near this masterclass. With that said, I agree that if a beginning/intermediate/advanced violin teacher taught in this manner, it might be counterproductive with some people. But again... (cont.)
oldsocrates 1 year ago
@oldsocrates ...these "students" are at the super-advanced level. It's like an NBA rookie having a chance to work with Michael Jordan. Regardless of Jordan's attitude, I doubt any young player would pass up such an opportunity.
And if I were a gambling man, I'd bet the farm that each and every person who took a masterclass with Heifetz would do it all over again.
oldsocrates 1 year ago
@oldsocrates I understand what you try to convey, and I agree that only professionals/very advanced violinists would be accepted for a masterclass and many people would just grab the chance to see their idol. But even amongst professionals, there are people included who have... uhm... a somewhat heightened sensitivity toward criticism or a lower than an average self-esteem. I can be wrong here, of course, since my knowledge on this subject is limited.
Aiglea 1 year ago
@Aiglea "But even amongst professionals, there are people included who have... uhm... a somewhat heightened sensitivity toward criticism or a lower than an average self-esteem."
OK, then name one.
oldsocrates 1 year ago
@oldsocrates Off the top of my head: Erick Friedma (one of the students in this class), Martha Argerich, Dorotha Powers, Sviatoslav Richter, David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Mitchell Lurie, Josef Hoffmann, William Steinberg, Wilfird Pelletier, Maria Calas, Harold Bauer, Camilla Wicks, Leonard Rose, Tandy Mackenzie, Jimmy Dorsey.
TomBarrister 1 year ago
@TomBarrister Sorry, but none of those people agree with Aiglea.
oldsocrates 1 year ago
@oldsocrates Okay, okay, maybe I had the wrong thoughts, and may need to adjust it. I'm sorry if I've offended you somehow, that certainly wasn't my intention.
Aiglea 10 months ago
@oldsocrates And I understand that, to be able to be a professional, they should have a certain 'air' and attitude, and should not take negativity personally. But still, I don't think that Heifetz's way of teaching is the best way: 'punishment' works very well on the short term, but on the long-term, it can greatly effect the person receiving it. It's far better to have more patience, be gentle and wait for the result. But then again, most professionals only want perfection and are impatient...
Aiglea 1 year ago
@Aiglea "It's far better to have more patience, be gentle and wait for the result."
You still don't get it. Heifetz _can't_ wait. This was not some college course where these students were meeting with him every day for an entire semester. They had limited time with him and probably saw him only a handful of times. As I said before, you keep approaching it from the perspective of a regular violin student in a regular violin class, which this is not.
oldsocrates 1 year ago
Pretty severe but he gives the example !
Sylvain894 1 year ago
"Don't be frightened, I won't play?" Heifetz... you're really contradicting yourself there!
And a lot of people would be terrified to play in front of Heifetz...
Don't get me wrong... he's the best violinist of all time, but he's so strict and wants EVERYTHING perfect... Not a teacher that I would want...
Aiglea 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
The pupil in this Heifetz mastrerclass video, is my teacher Varoujan Kodjian. I am so happy for that. It is great to see him.
violinstockholm 1 year ago
The pupil in this Heifetz mastrerclass video, is my teacher Varoujan Kodjian. I am so happy for that. It is great to see him.
violinstockholm 1 year ago
I couldn't even imagine getting up in front of Heifitz and performing under his critical eye; I'm sure the student was scared to death. I will say for as stern a taskmaster as Heifitz was, he's also a very good teacher, able to explain exactly what the student needed to do. Not all great performers can do that - it's like the difference between watching Pavarotti and Domingo give a master class; Domingo is able to express what he wants; Pavarotti always seems at a loss for words.
jimraw1 1 year ago
what an awesome visual composition at 7:30 with heifetz thinking and the student giving his best,
v3zah 1 year ago
heifetz' personality is really a part of his music making.He had it as a little boy .The charisma and so much else .None of these players has charm which this music needs. He reaaly was greater than anyone else. Milsteinand Elman are something else too! One feels Milstein was intimidated by the personality as if he knew the mark was just a bit above his head. Oistrakh is completely himself. Good enough cuz he has it all too!
lovesGenet 1 year ago
Wonderful!
Thank you for sharing.
trmn8rusa 1 year ago
OMG
snowballer93 1 year ago
"... playing it too safe, you know, let's do it more dangerously." :-) Heifetz! :-)
Watchenlisten 1 year ago
I would've shot my pants if I play in front of someone who is the best violinst in the world.
ShakerLouie 1 year ago
the first dude is missing somehow charms. He is too much into techinical stuff and somehow forgot the musical interpretation.
yscslim 1 year ago
3:04 my God!!! I was so scared
xalopablop 1 year ago
heifetz giving a masterclass to a guy who could give one to my teacher who could give one to me...
wiitubeaccount 1 year ago
what's this piece?
LordMgls 1 year ago
@LordMgls it's the polonaise no.2 by Wieinawski
cirecsc 1 year ago
I love watching somebody who cares so much.
saturn5100 1 year ago
First time I watch Heifetz master class. Gosh, he speaks and feels just as he plays.
elufologo 2 years ago 28
1962
Not THAT long ago--at least to some of us...........
ipmoic 2 years ago
Hahaha, perhaps true. In my perspective it's ages ago: my mother was born in '63 and I am PhD student.
moldyoreo 2 years ago
what year was this? id like to know~
its cool how they had master classes like this that long ago too :)
9On9yue 2 years ago
oh man, this boy's playing is totally without heart, maybe he's too nervous to meet the best violinist in the world. but I really see why people say Heifetz has a cold attitude.
gulisha520 2 years ago
i wish i could take a masterclass with heifetz!!
Mrtchaikovskyful 2 years ago
Now, try not to scoff, I first heard of heifetz on youtube.
Strangely, my search (that became a quest) was inspired after watching a sherlock holmes "the red-headed league" with jeremy brett...and you tube searched Sarasate, then any solo violin and voila Heifetz and im in love with him over everyone. That was about a year ago. I feel most unworthy commenting as i also dont know about playing violin or most any. I get a new perspective and appreciation out of these videos tho, Thanks :)
doublerubadub 2 years ago 3
What is he playing?
OurenV2 2 years ago
i thought his face at 4:48 was hilarious
joyfulvulture 2 years ago
i love u Heifetz!! such a great teacher!!
imb1991 2 years ago
don't be nervous! haha.
mykeeistopchef 2 years ago
why do all the 'students' there look so old?
and the one playing doesn't seem to correct his tempo at all and heifitz probably finds it pointless to say again and again.
I don't think they learn anything from such events even nowadays other then simple promotion...
assa123assa123 2 years ago 3
Often it is very hard to play it different from how you practiced so when he practice after this masterclass he will try to change.
GrassEating 2 years ago
I think Heifetz never improved since 10 years old. He have learnt every thing before that small
leonlixinfong 2 years ago
@leonlixinfong LOL amazing yet scary thought..i just dont understand these pple you know? so freaking amazing like srsly HOW do they effing do it..im comparing my life with his now and i feel like poop..facebook must be like the deadliest sin for him HAHA.
9On9yue 2 years ago
JH asks for the final bar of the piano entry (2:39-2:41 or 4:26-4:28 on the rerun) to be more emphatic ("hammed-up" if you want). Of course the style of the piece calls for that, but there is another reason which he didn't give: look at the harmony. The last six notes are not some subtle chromatic progression, but (in the bass) E E E E E E, so it's all one big dominant chord. So the whole piano introduction is basically one huge imperfect cadence, and needs to be played as such.
RichardMartin2 2 years ago
As nobody has yet commented on Miran Kojian's playing, in particular his fabulous bow control, perhaps I can. Bravo!
RichardMartin2 2 years ago 2
holy crap... he is one ROUGH teacher. thats how you make em good though.
lucipher32 2 years ago 2
No, I don't think Heifetz is cold. I think we're used to a much less formal tuition environment nowadays. (For example, look how they are dressed. This must have been ca 1955.) I don't think it's specific to Heifetz therefore. Do you imagine that in a conducting class under, say, Fritz Reiner, at that time, anyone would have dared to address him as Fritz? And not even in music either: it was the same in scientific disciplines too.
That said, I'd be scared to play in front of him too ...
RichardMartin2 2 years ago
heifetz is so cold, he would scare anybody just with his prescence
fizetr 2 years ago
i couldn't play a note in frond of him he scares the hell out of me .............!!!!!! but he is from the best violin players ever!!
violonistchris 2 years ago 23
where did you get these videos from ?
bluebear95 2 years ago
Is this Michael Rabin ?
bluebear95 2 years ago
it's not.....I used to remember his name but I forgot . But no, it's not Rabin.
jiamo 2 years ago
Miran Kojian
PassionateViolinist 2 years ago
What is he playing? Polonaise no.2 by who?
CokeCake 2 years ago
wieniawski
kadisake 2 years ago 2
THANKS! kind soul :)
violinmusicfan 2 years ago
thank you so so much for this
you have no idea how long i've waited for this
violindevil 2 years ago
thank you so SO much. if you have any more of these masterclasses, i would love you for life if you could post them.
IsaacDelarge 2 years ago 11
I'm in the process of uploading the rest. They'll all get uploaded eventually, promise!
waxenwings89 2 years ago 10
oh my goodness, mucho gracias!
IsaacDelarge 2 years ago
yes, that´s great stuff. I appreciated this. Thanks for uploading.
TheFiddlemac 11 months ago