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Ben ClaptonSarasate Romanza Andaluza (November 17, 2006)

Ben Clapton, violin, performing Sarasate's Romanza Andaluza at his Graduation Recital from the Conservatory of Music of WA


This audio is part of the collection: Open Source Audio

Artist/Composer: Ben Clapton
Date: 2006-11-17
Keywords: Violin; Sarasate; Recital

Creative Commons license: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs

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Reviewer: emmaviolinist - - October 21, 2007
Subject: wow, most people have been pretty rude...
I guess cause it's on the internet, we forget that it's a real person on the other end.

I advise you to work on your vibrato. It's very narrow, and I think you could sound better with a bigger vibrato, for this style of piece at least.

The double stops in the second half are pretty out of tune, and there's no cure for that except slow practice. I also find that when I play scales (with double stops and arpeggios) on a regular basis, I play much better in tune in general. I don't know if you're doing that already, but it's good advice for everybody.

Reviewer: Dorothy^!^ - - August 15, 2007
Subject: what heartless jerks you all are
I have to say though it is not the best rendition of the song i have heard ,,iot is still speaks to me,,,I am a novice and in the begining stages of learning the violin and would love to be able to play a piece of this,,if ya'll think it is bad,,,why don't you all get up there and do it,,,aha,, i thought so...

Ben you just keep right on smokin em out,,,and i will listen to each and every one.

Reviewer: jinglke - - April 5, 2007
Subject: crap!
disgustingly inapproariate. what a clueless jerk.

Reviewer: linc28 - - March 30, 2007
Subject: awful!!!!!
This person needs to practise a whole lot more or spare everyone the indignity of listening to him. Let's hope he didn't end up graduating from his Conservatorium course because that would just be embarrassing!

Reviewer: filcher - - March 24, 2007
Subject: not good, not good at all.
pretty rubbish playing.

not sure wot constructive criticism to give except maybe give up?

Reviewer: justin25 - - March 21, 2007
Subject: Not the best I've heard
Yes Ben. You are a brave soul for putting your performance up for scrutiny!

I'd like to give you some constructive feedback:

- play in tune

- work on your bowing technique because it's obvious nobody's ever taught you how to bow properly. It shows in the articulations.

- choose easier pieces or at least pieces that suit your ability. It's disrespectful to present something you obviously can't play. It's also disrespectful to your violin. And your accompanist.

- develop some sense of musicality. Some people naturally have it, others don't.

- be realistic about your "career" as a violinist.

Hope that helps

Reviewer: Ben Clapton - - March 20, 2007
Subject: A response
Ouch, painful stuff. Not matter how well you are at dealing with criticism, it still stings.
Now, I haven't put this up there claiming that it's a perfect recording. It is a recording of my playing, and yes, I know that I still have a long way to go and a lot of areas to improve. But to assume that I'm a failure just because my playing isn't as good as other players is just wrong.

I put my music up there, I put my name on it, and yes, I am open to criticism - but I want constructive criticism that will help me to improve, not these attacks on my self. I do not hide behind names that hide who these people really are.

I do not know who they are. I might have a feeling, but I do not care. For me, my mind is now focussed on improving, to show them that no-one needs to flip burgers.

Reviewer: LNiles - - March 20, 2007
Subject: So bad it hurts.
wow.

i've heard some excruciating stuff in my time so i was prepared when my friend emailed this link to me.

put it quite simply, this performance absolutely stinks.

i hear this chap has a blog site somewhere, where he writes about his own performances and gives his opinions on gigs and things. would be interesting to read whether he has any clue about the violin.

Reviewer: monday99 - - March 20, 2007
Subject: What an embarrassment!
This is the worst recording of this piece I have come across and it's beyond me how this person could possibly be playing at such a low standard given that he is "graduating" from a music course!! He really should fail based on what I heard.

He can't even get the first note in tune!

This piece is obviously at a level way beyong his talentless reach and my advice for him would be to stop wasting his and his teacher's time and go flip burgers. He's a disgrace to violinists everywhere.

If it wasn't so embarrasing it would be hilarious.

Someone needs to track down his teacher and school and make him stop playing.