William Fitzpatrick - violin expert
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About William Fitzpatrick
William FitzpatrickWilliam Fitzpatrick is one of those rare gems who is not only an accomplished violinist himself, but a world-renowned, sought-after teacher as well.

Following his studies with Stephen Clapp of the Blair School of Music in Nashville, TN, William graduated from the Juilliard School, where he studied with Dorothy Delay and served as the assistant to Robert Mann and Claus Adam of the Juilliard String Quartet. Prior to his current position as Henri Temianka Professor of Violin at the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music at Chapman University in Orange, CA, as well as serving on the boards of the Renaissance Arts Academy in Los Angeles Ca., and the Parnassus Society in Irvine CA, William served as the assistant conductor with the Nashville Chamber and Symphony Orchestra; was the founder and conductor of the L'Ensemble des Deux Mondes in France; and founded MusiShare Inc. and its Young Artists program, which provides educational and performance opportunities for the world's next generation of talented classical musicians.

William has performed as violin soloist with such orchestras as the American Symphony Orchestra, and has performed and recorded alongside such famed artists as Gaby Casadesus, Elliot Fisk, Claude Frank, Itzhak Perlman, Emmanuel Ax, Ron Leonard, Patrice Fontanarosa, Karl Leister, and even the renown French actor, Richard Bohringer, in the stage production "Coetse." For 100 performances, William served as violin soloist in Glinsky's "Rhapsody" for violin and orchestra - part of the Joffrey II ballet's "Flights," choreographed by Leslie-Jane Pessemier.

William has published numerous highly-acclaimed books, has created several videos for Virtual Sheet Music since 2013, and teaches master classes all over the world. His students carry on his commitment to excellence, and have been honored with acceptance to some of the world's most prestigious music camps and institutions.
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Questions, Comments, Requests:

Cyril Nimmon * VSM MEMBER * on January 16, 2023 @4:37 am PST
Dear William
I am a long standing amateur violinist. On retirement, I have renewed my interest and have learned a lot from all of your excellent videos - thank you so much. I have been trying to improve my intonation in the upper half of the string (above the midpoints E6, A5, D5, G4 on the E, A, D, and G strings respectively). I think that it may be helpful to make use of the sets of natural harmonics which divide a string into 5, 4, 3, or 2 equally distanced segments respectively. On a single string each set of harmonics is distributed symmetrically about the midpoint. This has implications for the stopped notes positioned at the site of each harmonic. For example, on the E string the physical distance between (G#)6 and E6 = distance between E6 and(C#)6. Similarly distances B6 - (G#)6 = (C#)6- B5 ; E7 – B6 = B5 – A5; (G#)7 – E7 = A5 - (G#)5 . In summary it appears that the placing of certain intervals in the upper half of a string may be helped by memory of equivalent distances occurring in the more familiar lower half. Do you think this might be a useful tool?
Kind Regards
Cyril
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William - host, on January 18, 2023 @6:45 am PST
Hi! I admire your clarity!!! I do use harmonics to help zone in but as well use ... I mean its a huge subject ... bunches of if/thens. I think basically whatever you use will require your ear to determine where your finger will go and then you do whats works best for you to keep finding the spot! Sorry to be so simplistic!!!
Joe Musgrove on November 29, 2022 @4:39 pm PST
Hello William!

At 52, I started a little late in life to learn how to play the violin, but after one year still going strong and having fun!

Generally, what is the skill level a student needs to be at before learning vibrato?

I have put in 1-2 hours of practice each day and very comfortable playing in the first position. I am also comfortable with “basic” reading and music theory.

Cheers!

Joe
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William - host, on November 30, 2022 @3:46 am PST
Hi Joe! I don't know that I would call it a skill level... That said there are certain basic understandings that need to be in place or if you wish certain skills need to have been put in place. Basically its how you put down and release your fingers and where this activity comes from, where it originates. To start have a look at one of these videos ... Just Me and My Vibrato or one of these ... Should fingers bounce when they fall to the string? / Understanding left hand pizzicato
Teun Eijgenrook on July 5, 2022 @4:45 am PST
Dear William,

where can i find a printout version of your "fingerboard" ?

Kind Regards,
Teun
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William - host, on July 5, 2022 @2:59 pm PST
SD * VSM MEMBER * on March 28, 2022 @3:57 am PST
A violinist told me it would take 12 years of learning to understand and play the violin.quite a mirage it seems so starting was suspended
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William - host, on March 28, 2022 @8:31 am PST
Hmm??? Perhaps it could be 12, or it could be 20, or it could be 3 ... We all learn differently, at different speeds, I don't think assigning a number like that is particularly useful. I've been playing the violin for over 60 years and I still have quite a bit of work to do ...
SD * VSM MEMBER * on January 12, 2022 @9:37 am PST
The link forwarded to your page shows blank when clicked.The link that states you provide private lessons
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Fabrizio Ferrari - moderator and CEO, on January 12, 2022 @11:03 am PST
You are absolutely right SD. We have just updated that link to the new Prof. Fitzpatrick's website. Please, refresh this page and try to click on those links again.

Thank you!

All the best,
JohnMag * VSM MEMBER * on December 15, 2021 @12:51 pm PST
Hello William,
As a late starter and belonging to a Late Starter Orchestra I was wondering if you have any suggestions that would help improve my tone.
Happy Christmas
John
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William - host, on December 15, 2021 @2:48 pm PST
Hi! There are a few videos that I have done that address tone so I suggest checking them out. btw I don't know a violinist that is not trying to improve their tone!
Allen Lu * VSM MEMBER * on October 13, 2021 @3:13 pm PST
Dear William, Can you tell me how to practice Galamian Scales and double stops?
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William - host, on December 15, 2021 @2:46 pm PST
Hi! Each scale has 4 pages and I admit that I only worked on the 1st third of the 1st page. I remember telling Ms Delay that I had written my own scale book and she said good for you Billy, this way you can teach them in your way. I wish I could be of more help! Thanks though for the question!
JumboAJ * VSM MEMBER * on January 5, 2021 @10:00 am PST
Hi William just simply to thank you for your very warm and encouraging video. I am a longstanding violin player of reasonable standard but now wishing to push on to a higher standard. Your clarity in picking one aspect of the bow hold is wonderful and something I can apply straightaway. I look forward to studying your other videos. Warmest best wishes from England. Jonathan Morris
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William - host, on December 15, 2021 @2:43 pm PST
Thanks!!!
Robin on December 4, 2020 @6:52 pm PST
I watched your video on achieving intonation and you said a major scale starts with a pattern of whole-whole-half. Yet when you began the scale on the G-string, you began with a half-whole-whole. I do not understand this. What am I missing? Thank you.
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William - host, on December 5, 2020 @5:17 pm PST
Hi! Hmm which video are you referring to? Let me know and I will check? ....
Robin L Shen on December 5, 2020 @6:14 pm PST
Thank you so much for your timely reply. The video in referring to is here :
https://youtu.be/R-CC2o8s8Mw
Barbara Pearce on December 3, 2020 @3:40 pm PST
Please can you tell me how I can support my violin as it is hindering me! I have tried sponges, cloths, and 3 shoulder rests to no avail. My violin still needs higher support - what can I do. I am very fed up as my playing would be so much better and easier. Hope you can help me. Thank you. Barbara
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William - host, on December 6, 2020 @12:04 am PST
Good thought for a future video. Thanks!
Barbara Pearce on December 6, 2020 @2:48 pm PST
Thank you William but how soon would a future video be do you think, as I could do with one now so I can practice more in the lockdown? It puts me off being able to practice when I have a lot more time and it is frustrating.
William - host, on December 7, 2020 @10:03 am PST
This is a very tricky call as so much depends on your body... let me see what I can come up with for the next video ...
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