he
benefit of some of those constructive ideas of his as regards violin
study which have established his reputation so prominently in that
field.

TWO TYPES OF STUDENTS

"There are certain underlying principles which govern every detail of
the violinist's Art," said Mr. Spiering, "and unless the violinist fully
appreciates their significance, and has the intelligence and patience to
apply them in everything he does, he will never achieve that absolute
command over his instrument which mastery implies.

"It is a peculiar fact that a large percentage of students--probably
believing that they can reach their goal by a short cut--resent the
mental effort required to master these principles, the passive
resistance, evident in their work, preventing them from deriving true
benefit from their studies. They form that large class which learns
merely by imitation, and invariably retrograde the moment they are no
longer under the teacher's supervision.

"The smaller group, with an analytical bent of mind, largely subject
themselves to the needed mental drill and thus provide for themselves
that inestimable basic quality that makes them independent and capable
of developing their talent to its full fruition.

[Illustration: THEODORE SPIERING, with hand-written note]

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL PROCESSES COOeRDINATED

"The conventional manner of teaching provided an inordinate number of
mechanical exercises in order to overcome so called 'technical
difficulties.' Only the _prima facie_ disturbance, however, was thus
taken into consideration--not its actual cause. The result was, that
notwithstanding the great amount of labor thus expended, the effort had
to be repeated each time the problem was confronted. Aside from the
obviously uncertain results secured in this manner, it meant deadening
of the imagination and cramping of interpretative possibilities. It is
only possible to reduce to a minimum the element of chance by
scrupulously carrying out the dictates of the laws governing vital
principles. Analysis and the severest self-criticism are the means of
determination as to whether theory and practice conform with one
another.

"_Mental preparedness_ (Marcus Aurelius calls it 'the good ordering of
the mind') is the keynote of technical control. Together with the
principle of _relaxation_ it provides the player with the most effective
means of establishing precise and sensitive