Hi and welcome to freedom! Have you ever heard "that" converstation between violinists? You know, the one that goes something like "How do YOU deal with cramps?" Or, "How to YOU get rid of that nasty red lump in your neck that EVERY violinist gets?"

Well, I have neither, and neither should you. The great Hungarian violinist once said "Playing the violin is either easy, or impossible." Here, you will learn just how easy it can be.

There is no need for cramps,or calloused fingers! None whatsoever. Both are caused by a wrong "idea" of what it is to play the violin. My Hungarian teacher once told the whole class (it was a masterclass he was giving) that I was a very talented monkey, but, "this is not violin playing" he said. And that, after me winning SO many 1st prizes for violin playing!! But, he was correct. And he had me doing long slow bows (for ever, it seemed at the time) until I realized: one must do NOTHING to play correctly. THAT is the secret. To not "get in the way" and to just "let it happen, and let the music out.

I realize that this course will not suit everyone. There are those, and always will be, who require punishment. These people are not looking to make a beatuiful sound on the violin. They are, in my honest opinion, using the violin to fullfid a different need. A need for pain and discomfort!

If you have read this far, you are not a monkey either! So, let us begin! And don't forget! Smile, and enjoy!

William.

Ps: I know that there is no other course like this, so, I am giving you , totally for free, the first lecture, AND links to my youtube channel. Students of the whole, premium course will have access to, and be able to download all the etudes and studies, as well as "proof of the pudding" works by myself, with me playing the violin. There is, of course, no (c) and, if I cannot do what I say? Why on earth would you wish to make the best investment of your life!

My Biography:

I studied at the Royal Academy of Music in Glasgow and I have recently gone to the UK, after years of living in France.

I have played all over the world, most recently a tour to Ethopia for a TEDx conference followed by three months of Jazz Concerts in Addis Ababba.

This followed a tour to Canada, where I played from Montreal to Quebec with the French Gypsy Band, “Bohemia.”

I play alone, with professional backing tracks performed by real Gypsy musicians, and have a whole repetoire of Django Songs, as well as jazz standards.

I have also recently teamed up with a guitarist (we are The Experimental Scone Kitchen!) where we play a bunch of own compositions, and arrangements of stuff we improvise, ie, Mendel! (which you can hear on this site, if you wish. )

Musical Bio:

Royal Scottish Academy of Music, 1973-1977

(On a McFarlane Scholarship)

1st Prize Glasgow Music Festival 1973

1st Prize Stirling Music Festival 1970-1972

Robert Highgate Scholarship for Violin, Royal Scottish Academy of Music, 1975

Scottish Ballet Orchestra from 1974 – 1976

Scottish Chamber Orchestra,

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra,

Scottish Opera Orchestra,

Scottish Baroque Ensemble,

Passau State Opera Orchestra , Germany, 1979

Passau Opera Quartet, Germany 1979

Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra 1980-1984

Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra Quartet 1980-1984

Since leaving the classical world, I have played and toured in a great many bands, (including my own “Klazz” (where we played the Derry Jazz Festival, and the Bill Stewart Quintet, with a regular Sunday jazz in Lietrim in Ireland.)

I recently toured with “Bohemia” , as I said, (a French Gypsy Band,) through Canada, and appeared on many, many French and Canadian TV and radio shows.

I was a member of , amongst others, Swing Gitane, Gitane Swing, Strings & Co, etc, and have recorded for, among others, Eva Cunningham, Steve Wickham (with whom I was in “The Fiddle Tree” with Seamie O’Dowd, (again, we did the Derry Jazz Festival as well as sell-out concerts in Sligo, Ireland.

I co-wrote and produced the performances at “Alliance Francais” in Ethiopia, etc, of “One Girl Symphony”.. (more blues than jazz!)

Performance at TEDx, Ethopia, Addis Abbaba of “One Girl Symphony”

I recently supported a band in the Star Club in Glasgow where I played solo, playing a mix of Jazz, Blues, Trad, and my own compositions. I have also supported 3 other bands at the Star Club in Glasgow, as part of “The Experimental Scone Kitchen.”

You may if you wish check out my many videos, in different styles here:

https://vimeo.com/manage/folders/1760990 (vimeo)

https://williamstewartviolinist.bandcamp.com/music (bandcamp)