I had never heard of Kato Havas until I found her first book (A New Approach to Violin Playing), while looking through violin technique books in Patelson’s, the famous New York music store.

It is quite a short book, just 71 pages, but packed with what I found to be a work of great clarity and depth, filled with fascinating new ideas. Unlike many books on violin technique, I couldn’t put in down.  I then used my practice time to try out her ideas of balance and working on the causes of the motion, tone production, etc.

I still knew nothing about the author of these ideas until seeing an announcement of a series of lectures on the New Approach to Violin Playing in the New York Times, to be given by Kato Havas, scheduled to be held at the Mannes College of Music in New York.  I was not living in New York , but since I was extremely interested in her ideas that were taking over my practice time, I decided to attend the first lecture.  Meeting her there was the beginning of an amazing musical journey.

It brought me to London in the 70’s for three years of study with Kato. This was followed by many years of playing at the Purbeck, Roehampton and Oxford Festivals, all founded and directed by Kato Havas. All of this became a major part of my teaching and playing.

Her first book was followed by subsequent books: Stage Fright and the Twelve Lesson Course, which certainly enriched her teaching. She worked with countless students from every level including enthusiastic amateurs to high level professionals. Her approach to teaching and playing opened to many the joys of making music.

The New Approach is not new anymore. It is a proven, organized carefully thought through approach to teaching and playing which deserves a prominent place, together with the long tradition of the great teaching of string playing.

Joanne Cohen