French violinist Prof. Gérard Poulet gave a master class at TNUA on October 12, giving students one-on-one instructions as well as sharing his performing and teaching experiences in a question-and-answer session.

It was the third time that the 77-year-old maestro has visited TNUA.

The latest master class worked on renditions of Sibelius' "Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47, 1st Movement Allegro Moderato," Tchaikovsky's "Valse-Scherzo Op.34," and Paganini's "24 Caprices for Solo Violin Op.1, No.10." He offered the students insights into and technical advice on the playing of these pieces.

Prof. Poulet said that despite his age, he still practice the Carl Flesch scale system every day to relax both of his hands. He said a violinist cannot play well if he or she practices under stress all day.

He said the violinists must concentrate on each and every note they play and try to achieve the best tune.

Prof. Poulet, whose father was also a violinist, was a child prodigy who entered the Paris Conservatory at the age of 11 and graduated at 12. At 18, he won the Paganini Competition in Genoa, Italy, and he got to play Paganini's violin, the famous Cannone.

Prof. Shien-Ta Su at the TNUA Department of Music said that Prof. Poulet was an important mentor to him during his study in France.

He said that in order to let TNUA's students to learn from the maestro, the Department of Music invited Prof. Poulet to the school for the first time in 2010. He has since given lectures, conducted master classes and performed at the Kuandu Arts Festival.