VSM: Music Experts

https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/why-doctors-recommend-piano-af/ - Playing the piano is one of the most cognitively demanding activities the human brain can perform. In this video, Robert Estrin explores the clinical science behind Music Supported Therapy (MST) and motor imagery, examining how auditory feedback, five finger patterns, and mental rehearsal help rebuild neural pathways and motor control after a stroke or neurological injury.

https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/louis-persinger-an-unroutine-r/ - An exploration of the life and philosophy of Louis Persinger, the master teacher behind Yehudi Menuhin, Ruggiero Ricci, Camilla Wicks, and Dorothy DeLay. Tracing his early studies in Leipzig and Brussels under Hans Becker and Eugene Ysaye, the script highlights Persinger's rare dual mastery of violin and piano, his encouraging "upward stroke" approach to teaching, and his legacy shaping an American school of violin playing.

https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/why-i-still-play-piano-every-d/ - Concert pianist Robert Estrin shares a deeply personal look at his 50 year journey behind the keys. Growing up as the son of renowned pianist and pedagogue Morton Estrin, Robert faced physical struggles with small hands—practicing Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 until his hands bled. In this lesson, he explores how technical efficiency, tone quality, arm weight relaxation, and a daily practice "seed" can transform your relationship with the piano.

https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/william/eugene-ysaye-first-the-hands-t/ - An exploration of Belgian virtuoso Eugene Ysaye, tracing his rich pedagogical heritage back through Massart, Kreutzer, Spohr, and Vieuxtemps. The script details the story behind his six landmark Solo Violin Sonatas, each dedicated to a prominent contemporary violinist including Szigeti, Thibaud, Enescu, Kreisler, Crickboom, and Quiroga—and shares teaching anecdotes from students Josef Gingold and Nathan Milstein.

https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/william/michele-auclair-the-person-not/ - A look at the artistic journey of French violinist Michele Auclair, tracing her training under three legendary violin lineages, her international solo career, her study with physical and psychological specialists Theodore and Alice Pashkus, and her influential teaching legacy at the Conservatoire de Paris, New England Conservatory, and Schola Cantorum.

https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/william/carl-flesch-scales-are-unavoid/ - Most violinists remember the dreaded Scale System by Carl Flesch as a rite of passage. In this video, we explore why Flesch redesigned technical practice away from traditional methods like Hrimaly, Schradieck, and Ševčík, how he organized his daily cross-sections by key, and what life was really like inside his famous masterclass studio alongside legendary students like Ida Haendel and Henryk Szeryng.

https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/your-piano-technique-is-suffer/ - Is your pedal technique enhancing your music or just hiding weak fingers? In this lesson, Robert Estrin breaks down why practicing without the sustain pedal is essential for developing true legato, superior fingering, and expressive control. From historical performance practices in Bach and Brahms to advanced techniques like half pedaling in Chopin and using the una corda pedal in Schumann, learn how to turn the pedals into powerful tools for tone and color.

https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/the-mozart-secret-pianists-don/ - In this lesson, Robert Estrin breaks down the stylistic, mechanical, and architectural differences between three titans of piano music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Frédéric Chopin. Discover how Classical sonata-allegro form differs from Beethoven's fiery subito piano surprises, learn the secret behind Mozart's iconic Alberti bass, and watch a fun stylistic experiment where Mozart is played like Chopin (and vice versa) to see why period style matters.

https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/william/the-story-behind-the-soviet-un/ - In this video, we take a look at Pyotr Stolyarsky, the legendary violin teacher behind David Oistrakh and the founder of the Soviet Union's first specialized music school for gifted children. From his klezmer roots in Ukraine to sweeping the famous 1937 Ysaÿe Competition, explore Stolyarsky's unique teaching philosophy, his famous quips, and how his pedagogical legacy traveled from Odessa all the way to New York.

https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/essential-exercises-for-speed-/ - Think playing fast is just about moving your fingers faster? Think again. In this lesson, Robert Estrin breaks down the fundamental physics of piano playing—why less physical motion equals greater speed—and demonstrates how to use positional micro-grouping to build effortless velocity. Plus, learn how to spot and eliminate "anti-practicing," the single habit that ruins hours of hard work.