The Till Project for String Players

The essence of the Till Approach is simple: combining the laws of physical movement with the laws of the instrument itself in service of the music.

We know when things feel right and wrong. Even a small child will complain if they are given clothing that is too tight. It’s this basic healthy awareness that guides us to change what we’re doing so we don’t hurt ourselves.

So why should playing the violin be different? Healthy technique is based on the same physical logic as daily activities, such as using a knife and fork or tying our shoes. When we don’t obey this logic, our movements become effortful and imprecise, or we can hurt ourselves. The same is true at the instrument: when we employ alien movements, the brain and the body cannot do what they are designed to do.

Through one-on-one instruction with our skilled faculty, the Till Approach gives players knowledge and ownership of the technical and expressive mechanics of playing, providing them with a toolbox of precise, interacting movements that serve music-making at the highest level.