Violinist Eszter Haffner on Finger Relaxation

Enjoy the sixth of ten teaching classes from Eszter Haffner's new series "Sound Sessions," produced by Jargar Strings

Over the next few weeks, The Violin Channel will present a ten-part educational teaching series by violinist Eszter Haffner produced by Jargar Strings, entitled "Sound Sessions."

Eszter will cover topics including posture, left and right-hand technique, bowing, breathing, harmony and structure, and interpretation.

In today’s sixth video, Eszter discusses finger relaxation.

Join us over the coming weeks, and be sure to share the videos with your own students and friend!

Previous Episodes:

Having Good Posture 

Left Arm Position

Perfect Sound

Left Hand Square

Tone and Echo

Born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1969, Eszter Haffner studied for 13 years in the Gifted Musician Class at the Budapest Liszt Ferenc Music Academy with Andras Kiss, Ferenc Rados, and György Kurtag. She then attended the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna to study with Gerhard Schulz ( Alban Berg Quartet) and Josef Sivo. In 1995, she completed postgraduate study in Holland with Viktor Libermann and Philip Hirschhorn.

She has been a prize winner in numerous international competitions: Concertino Praha, Koncz Violin Competition Hungary, Jugend Musiziert, Stephanie Hohl Vienna, International Chamber Music Competition Trapani, and Caltanissetta Italy.

Since 2002, she has served as a Professor of Violin at the KUG University of Music Graz, Austria, and since 2010, also at the Royal Academy of Music Copenhagen, Denmark. As a guest professor, she regularly taught at Royal College London, Liszt Academy Budapest, Aurora Stockholm, Sibelius Academy Helsinki, etc. She has also served as a violin and viola instructor at Neuberger Seminare, Casals Festival France, Danish Strings, Macau, and Hong-Kong Festivals, among others.

Her recordings reflect her pervasive musical range, covering chamber and concerto works from Haydn to Eisler.

Eszter plays the 1750 "ex Hamma Segelmann" Violin by Michelangelo Bergonzi on loan to her of the Austrian Nationalbank. She is a member of  Haffner Strings, Haffner Trio, and "Aurora Chamber" in Sweden. She is a consultant for the Organisation Live Music Now, Vienna, founded by Lord Yehudi Menuhin. You can learn more about her, here.