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Mark O'Connor performs his new extended violin techniques for an audience at the Berklee College of Music with many string players looking on. He improvised them to the theme "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan. Performed June 27th, 2014 at the Mark O'Connor/Berklee College of Music Summer String Program at the Berklee Performance Center.

"This year in 2014, I invented new ways to play the violin using many more of the instrument's parts. It is a "modern" concept in its "extended technique" angle, but still very accessible to the listener.

Some techniques I use to begin this improvisation include the "bow harmonic spiccato" that I came up with years ago, as well as the "3-finger pizzicato" that I first used in Caprice No. 3 in A Major using the 4th finger on the left-hand and the first 2 fingers on the bow hand. In this case though, I not only employ it as arpeggios, but create a repeated note like a guitar "tremolo." I also employ the "thumb-strum" technique using 3 and 4-note chords played like a guitar or mandolin. With this piece, I came up with an alternating up and down bounced bow at the tip sympathetically combined with the left-hand's 4th-finger "pizzacato" outlining fingered chords using the remaining three fingers on the left-hand. I also use the "bow chop" in this piece at the "frog," and then I create "Hip Hop" sound effects with the "chop" that employ sliding the bow on the string with varying amounts of stress on the strings creating controlled and pitched "noise." I also use the "chop" in combination with the left-hand 3rd finger striking the top wooden plate of the instrument near the shoulder while dampening the four strings with the left-hand's first-finger.

The two hands can play the violin like a hand drum traveling across the graduated wooden top to change pitches. I discovered that I can alternately dampen strings with the left-hand's 1st-finger while still being able to play percussion with the left-hand's 3rd finger sometimes up-dampening to change timbre. Playing percussion with the right-hand is difficult while holding the bow, but I developed a natural technique using the bow hand's thumb. Deploying one other right-hand finger is possible while still balancing the bow in the air and occasional can be used on the rib of the violin.

I invented the technique of turning the bow into a percussion mallet using the screw end of bow by the frog, instead of the delicate bow tip. I invented new areas of the violin to use musically and percussively, specifically the tailpiece and chinrest. I utilize the tailpiece as a unique and beautiful percussive instrument, with over tones created with the strings attached to it, by striking it with the "screw" at the bottom of the bow. I use the Chinrest as a "talking drum" taking advantage of the ability to change the pitch as the contour of the chinrest naturally allows. I employ the metal 1/4 jack of my pickup housing for an industrial metalic sound with the "screw" of the bow and finally the top of the bridge for a loud and tight wooden percussive hit. And the use both hand's finger nails on the violin's ribs provides a unique sound texture.

The years I studied percussion as a teen helped me with the flam paradiddles or often referred to as flamadiddles. Or in this case we could call them flamafiddles. Or flam parafiddles." -Mark O'Connor [Recorded June 27th, 2014]

The O'Connor Method for violin, viola, cello and orchestra. Music from United States, Mexico, Latin American and Canada. American Classical Music, Hoedowns, Blues, Spirituals, Ragtime, Jazz, Bach, Baroque, Hymns, Bluegrass, Folk Songs, Rock, Ranchero, Jigs, Choros, modern compositions and much more. Technique, Solo, Ensemble, String Orchestra, Classics, Creativity, Improvisation, Cultural Diversity, Music of different eras, Individual expression. 500 hundred years of music for the violin and strings that creates relevance to the 21st century.

The O'Connor Method - Students of all ages, Teachers, Studios, Community Schools, Public Schools, Private Schools and Summer Camps - http://www.oconnormethod.com

O'Connor Method Book IV and additional materials are available exclusively through SharMusic.com

Playlist created by The O'Connor Method on YouTube. Watch here:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL30538F811506AE84&feature=mh_lolz

For more information on Mark O'Connor, String Camps, ensembles, repertoire, sheet music and more, please visit http://www.markoconnor.com