D. C. Dounis: Training the brain

Probably 70 per cent of professional violinists have a large blue book in their collection. Perhaps it comes out occasionally, perhaps not, but this oversized volume is The Dounis Collection: Eleven Books of Studies for the Violin (first published as a set in 2005) by the legendary Greek pedagogue Demetrios Constantine Dounis (1893–1954), who made a name for himself in New York and then Los Angeles in the first half of the 20th century, and whose reputation and legacy continue to this day. Rarely has a teacher been surrounded by such mystery or caused such differing and extreme reactions, viewed by some as a god or a saint, and by others as a charlatan or an egomaniac – with rumour even circulating that he hypnotised his students; yet many great players studied with him. Sadly, as Dounis never revealed their identities it is impossible to know the full extent of his ‘class’.