4) Sassmannhaus Analysis
4) Sassmannhaus Analysis
4) Sassmannhaus Analysis
Key: New = a new skill; Review = piece reviews a skill from an old work
By Rohan Joshi
Comment:
It is important to note that the Sassmannshaus Volumes area intended to be used in succession to progress a beginner
into a well-balanced intermediate player. The beauty of the progression of these books is that they are recursive,
implying that technique that is needed in more advanced exercises will have already been gained, utilized, and
understood before the student has even reached the exercise. On top of this, the exercises have a hidden complexity:
they can be in multiple positions on the instrument (second, third, etc.). While the analysis above oft derives itself
into calling “all prior knowledge”, it is unnecessary to relist all of the requirements needed for the more complex
parts of the book, as the content necessitates that the player (and more importantly, the teacher) understand how to
properly progress through the book.
For example, in order for a student to play Spohr’s “Allegretto”, they must to be able to play the prior exercises in
the book, and be able to execute the techniques. Of course, this progression will be independent, depending on the
capabilities of each student, but regardless, this recursive, progression based, understanding of Sassmannshaus is
necessary to properly understand the thought needed to teach and navigate through these encyclopedic technique
books, and my approach to the skills analysis above.