Jacques Fereol Mazas
Mazas Etudes speciales, Op. 36 (Book 1, e.g. No. 1)
Mazas Etudes speciales, Op. 36 (Book 1, e.g. No. 1) comes from 75 Melodious and Progressive Studies, Op. 36 - Book 1 Etudes speciales (1-30), Book 2 Etudes brillantes (31-56), Book 3 Etudes d'artistes (57-75). It trains musical phrasing combined with technique: bow distribution and bow strokes, intonation, shifting, and the start of more refined left-hand work, taught through deliberately melodic studies. The classic 'melodious' intermediate set. It teaches students to play technique musically rather than as drills, which is why it has stayed in constant use as the bridge into Kreutzer. An etude is the cleanest test of technique, so it is also the fastest thing to score: play it, and you find out in seconds whether it holds.
Frequently asked
What does Mazas Etudes speciales, Op. 36 (Book 1, e.g. No. 1) train?
Musical phrasing combined with technique: bow distribution and bow strokes, intonation, shifting, and the start of more refined left-hand work, taught through deliberately melodic studies. The classic 'melodious' intermediate set. It teaches students to play technique musically rather than as drills, which is why it has stayed in constant use as the bridge into Kreutzer.
What level is Mazas Etudes speciales, Op. 36 (Book 1, e.g. No. 1)?
Intermediate, typically AFTER Kayser and around/just before Kreutzer (violinwiki, IMSLP). Book 1 is intermediate; Books 2-3 are progressively advanced concert-style etudes. It is part of 75 Melodious and Progressive Studies, Op. 36 - Book 1 Etudes speciales (1-30), Book 2 Etudes brillantes (31-56), Book 3 Etudes d'artistes (57-75), a standard study set in the violin repertoire.
How do I practice Mazas Etudes speciales, Op. 36 (Book 1, e.g. No. 1)?
Work it slowly with a metronome and a drone until it is clean, then bring it up to tempo. Record it on Orchestra Kingdom and get scored on intonation, evenness, and tone, the same things a teacher or panel listens for in an etude. Your first take is free, no signup.
Is your technique clean? Find out in 60 seconds.
Record the etude. The panel scores your intonation, evenness, and tone. First take is free, no signup.
Face the panelOther violin etudes
- Wohlfahrt 60 Studies, Op. 45 (Book 1, e.g. No. 1)
- Kayser 36 Elementary and Progressive Studies, Op. 20 (e.g. No. 1)
- Kreutzer 42 Studies, No. 2 (the detache etude)
- Fiorillo 36 Etudes or Caprices, Op. 3 (e.g. No. 1)
- Rode 24 Caprices, Op. 22, No. 1
- Dont 24 Etudes and Caprices, Op. 35 (e.g. No. 1)
- Paganini Caprice No. 1, Op. 1 ('L'arpeggio')
- School of Violin Technique, Op. 1
- Changes of Position and Preparatory Scale Studies, Op. 8
- Preparatory Studies in Double-Stopping, Op. 9
- School of Violin Technics, Book 1
- 24 Preparatory Exercises to the Studies of Kreutzer and Rode, Op. 37
- 24 Matinees (24 Studies)
- Etudes-Caprices, Op. 18