"With Nicky" - Inspiration

Growing up, two of my dad’s favourite words were ‘Motivation’ and ‘Inspiration’. When my sister and I were little that basically went right over our heads, but given time and hours and hours of necessary practice, those two words come in really handy.
For me this sometimes involves taking a step back from the endless repetition of practising and looking at what can inspire us to channel more feeling, energy and commitment into our playing.
Music and our instruments can open doors into all sorts of learning. And I always believed that stepping into the mind and place of composers could get us to practice empathising. And doing so with those who seem situationally, geographically and culturally far from you is something we must continually readdress and practice throughout our lives.
This type of practice not only has the potential to motivate and inspire you musically and emotionally, but to nurture your personality and humanity. Take some moments in your practice to just think on this. It will serve you and those around you, in more ways than purely musically.
The videos have been generously supported by ESTA UK, MiSST - The Andrew Lloyd Webber Programme, and Oasby Music Group and I am very grateful for their support.
Huge thanks to our media partners Classic FM, The Strad, The Violin Channel, WQXR and Charanga Music who will be sharing the videos with their audiences.
Finally, these videos wouldn’t have been possible without an amazing team - thank you to Scott Jaeger, our film maker, Laura Gardiner, our Education Manager, Rebecca Driver, PR Manager and Hannah King, Online Media Manager.
To watch more of the clips shown in this video:
S. Prokofiev : Sonata no. 7 op. 83 in B flat Major - 3rd mov. 'Precipitato' (Sokolov) - • S. Prokofiev : Sonata ...
Richter plays Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 5 - • Richter plays Prokofie...
Prokofiev - Symphony No. 6, Op. 111 (Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Valery Gergiev) - • Prokofiev - Symphony N...
Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet -- Ball Scene (Macmillan) - • Prokofiev Romeo and Ju...
With grateful thanks to NCO-GB, www.nco.org.uk and Black Swan Film and Video for the recording of Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2
TIME CODES:
00:32 Looking Elsewhere and Taking a Step Back
04:07 Motivation
07:14 The Importance of Strengthening the Depth of Our Feeling in Order To Express It
09:27 Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2 with The National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain

[@user-do5hd7zb4x]

Just got through watching fastenating French footage of 1970s Mirecourt bow makers and Mr.Menuhin playing soulful old country ballad. Thank you Ncola for making the documentary possible. IF IT WASNT YOU THANK YOU ANYWAY FOR YOURYOU

[@akazis]

That's not just a lesson for the violin... It's a lesson for life. Thank you Nicky. Please do keep these videos up :)

[@danafouras7794]

Nicky thank you - just so beautifully articulate x

[@leahhamdaoui7755]

Thank you for inspiring and motivating us Nicky with your wise words and heart-full playing! XX

[@fadel1254]

I think it is good to listen to Arab and Iranian vilon ... Thank ... your video helps me in my hope music

[@stephengilbert5612]

Great music moves me so much i smile and cry at the same . Nicky,s playing often has that effect on me . Thank you Nicky.

[@user-xh4nq4vt5y]

Inspiration is central to being a musician. We DO learn a lot from other artists' performances, and can be influenced by their approaches to interpretation. Being original, not just in interpretation, but in programming interesting, challenging, and above all, heartfelt and spiritual music is important. This is important in concerts, church services, short recitals or in our own compositions.

[@jellybaker8670]

Inspiring! I´m 68 years old and startet playin violin, what is wonderful (bit more for me but for my wife....). I spent my life as prof. musician (Guitar Blues Jazz Rock) and had have in the age of 38 for one year violin lessons. Now is re-start. I like your approach to music and your playing and teaching.

[@williamkauffman5745]

Being an artist means that you do something original and unique with your playing. I no longer worry that my interpretations don't sound just like the recordings that I compared myself to.

[@kristingarson2413]

OMG. I need to watch this video every day! At the very least I will watch this video as often as I can! No one talks about this subject...or very few musicians do anyway. Thank you!!!!!!

[@rebeccafaber]

These videos are great! Please keep doing them!

[@danny_chestnut253]

Your learning my favorite violin concerto!!!!! I hope I get to hear you play all movements of Prokofiev’s 2nd violin concerto on KZbin!😊😊

[@popitoto]

My inspiration is you!great performance of Prokofiev,but short...

[@dayaneoliveira1122]

My God, Sokolov is a beast! 😱😍

[@ghoshneh]

Full piece below (To me, no one has ever played this specific piece better than Sokolov) kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKjNmmahZduSd68&lc=UgyrNChg_nA0VjwDhNd4AaABAg.8yYZflKoBoX9AluHZHmJiy

[@dayaneoliveira1122]

@@ghoshneh Thank you! 🙏🏼

[@ghoshneh]

@@dayaneoliveira1122 Pleasure.

[@mikedunnbmi]

Thanks for this video Nicky x

[@420actionunits]

"Definitely on the fence" ... I'm going to use that one!

[@danwingham9590]

Great video!!!

[@jlinwinter]

Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 5 is my absolute favourite piece of classical music! Brings back memories of those days I spent at the library just listening to records and cd's of Prokofiev's music.

[@edentorem]

This was a really great video. So much emotional intelligence in you and your way of passing on your knowledge and experience. Bravo!

[@jeremythornton6930]

Inspirational! (as always!)

[@bostonsamus9466]

SERENDIPITY: I was perusing KZbin for videos on Nicola as I'm moving in the last minutes of my work day and thought: "Wow, I would definitely love to have her as a guest in our Big Ideas guest invites here OR have her re-teach me violin over pizza and beer" and POOF, a fresh video she just posted on her "official" channel which I'm just discovering (SUBSCRIBED!)! Nicola/Nicky, please come to Boston for education/spreading the gospel and beer and pizza and chat!! :)

[@EudoraPrice]

Thank you so much for your Videos and great inspiration In Violin Playing You are Amazing💕🎻Ms Nicky

[@janiceallan2981]

So interesting! Thank you. X

[@guntherschill5881]

... sehr hilfreich! Bin begeistert! Danke fürs Teilen! ...

[@trishtraynor]

I had to stop playing when I left school and had to give the fiddle back! However, good old eBay ,and guess what? I can still remember 3rd position. Thanks so much for reminding me to just do it!! 😂

[@tessfra7695]

Thank you for your inspiring videos...pls continue making them this way..it's like wholesome food, for the mind ( the 'violin mind')..

[@lynnef1988]

Great video, thank you so much!

[@dudi1583]

Thank you wonderful angel!

[@mariapre-di6835]

Great video! Thank you!

[@searchingforfoodonyoutube2500]

🥂🌹

[@Jeff034]

Not for one second to say that the Prokofiev isn’t fine music for some, but to my mind is just endless unstructured noise. No theme, no great soaring melody that lifts the soul - just abstract highly structured cacophony. So what are we missing here? Judging by the small attendance at these concerts I’m not the only one / maybe the emperor doesn’t have any clothes?

[@amandazhang5106]

very helpful and interesting！Thank you so much！

[@siddhoot]

Just Epic. A Few Days Ago I Just Got My 7th Distinction In A Row Thanks To Your Words! (By The Way I've Only Done 7 Exams)

[@moragclark29]

Thankyou ! - A fabulous video, packed with good advice for any and all musicians at any level on any instrument. (I hope you listened to Prokofiev's Cinderella ballet - it is amazing !) Now I'm off to practice with fresh inspiration !

[@williamkauffman5745]

I am just an amateur violin player, but I do try to put my own interpretation into what I play

[@11musikerful]

ahoy Nicola I absolutely love the Bruch conceto in e minor...it starts off dark and deep and ends up bright and cheery. May I ask what your feelings are ? Do you enjoy to play it?

[@ewach.2492]

"Im listening, not sleeping" well, we almost believed you ;P :D

[@michelelaraia7358]

Noting/hearing the scottish accent.

[@chrisebbesen5798]

I HUMBLY APPOLOGIZE FOR INTERUPTING YOUR PREPARATIONS FOR YOUR CONCERT IN SANFRANCISCO CA. USA. I WANTED TO COME SEE YOU HOWEVER I HAVE AN APPOINTEMENT TO GET MY TAXES DONE THEDAY BEFOR. I HOPE AND PRAY YOUL AT LEAST CONSIDER THE PETER BRITT GARDENS IN JACSONVILLE OREGON USA AS I ENJOYED WATCHING STEPHANY CHASE BACK IN THE 1980S. IM PROBA B LY ONE OF YOUR NUMBER 1. FANS. I ADORE AND ADMIRE YOU AND HOPE I WONT PESTER YOU AS YOU NEED YOUR REST AND CALM PRACTICE BEFORE YOUR PERFORMANCE. I KNOW IM MISSING OUT BY NOT BEING IN SAN FRACISCO ON THE 22 MARCH. I HOPE AND PRAY TO SEE YOU IN CONCERT AT A LATTER DATE. GOD SPEED, AND ENJOY JAMMING WITH YOUR OLD CLASSMATES, YOUR WORSHIPING FAN,CHRIS EBBESEN, USA.

[@alphaViolinist]

Tq mam

[@bostonsamus9466]

Also, are you familiar with Miri Ben-Ari?

[@enestesio]

Your videos are great! Would there be any way to improve the sound when you're speaking? Get a little mic which catches your voice and not room echo?

[@chrisebbesen5798]

DEAR MISS NICOLA BENEDETTI, HELLO NICOLA, I WAS WONDERING WHAT IN YOUR OPINION SHOULD ONE DO WHO SUFFERS WITH BURCITIS OF THE RIGHT SHOULDER?

[@davidleesn]

Of course, inspired imitation plus constant practice... rewires.... the brain, and as these practices (even away from violin) are never perfect, our unique stamp will win through with sufficient confidence...? Belief !? Helped by risk taking (adjusting testosterone daily) building with breathing technique and cold (wash, shower easiest? cf. Wim Hof )