COCA Spotlight: 10-year-old violinist's advice: 'Just have fun'

If Kye Richardson’s violin could talk, he imagines it would be a strict disciplinarian, instructing him to practice often and play well. What about while in front of a crowd, as Richardson was as one…

If Kye Richardson’s violin could talk, he imagines it would be a strict disciplinarian, instructing him to practice often and play well. What about while in front of a crowd, as Richardson was as one of the winners of the Big Bend Community Orchestra Concerto Competition last February? 

“I would imagine it saying, ‘I hope you enjoy the music,’” quips Richardson. 

The 10-year-old virtuoso followed up his win at BBCO’s 2018 competition with another first prize award this past January at Tallahassee Youth Orchestra’s Concerto Competition. Kye was looking forward to performing with TYO in concert this May, but the performance has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kye started on the violin four years ago under the instruction of Dr. Valerie Arsenault. While his classes at Gilchrist Elementary School have gone virtual, he still adheres to a practice schedule that includes extracurricular online lessons from his current teacher, professor Corrine Stillwell. Before the pandemic, Richardson had just started learning viola in his elementary school string class, and says he enjoyed lending a hand to his fellow fifth graders. 

“Some of them were learning violin, so if someone needed to tune their violin, I would help them,” Kye said.

While in quarantine, his house is filled with music as he practices with his father and older sister. Kye says he’s playing many songs that his sister used to play and has welcomed her help and advice. 

Most recently, his dad assisted him with his vibrato, which Kye says is a technique that adds “characteristics to the music to make it very beautiful.” Meanwhile his lessons with Stillwell continue to instill good habits. 

“I love taking lessons with such an excellent teacher,” Kye said. “She’s taught me how to practice slowly so you can play it fast. If you play it fast, then you’re not going to be able to play it clean, or you’re not going to have good intonation.” 

For Kye, achieving flawless intonation, or playing his violin in tune, is a huge part of his playing experience. 

“It takes a lot of work,” he adds. “You can’t just pick up the violin and play something perfectly in tune.”   

Kye enjoys the variance of sounds the violin can make, from lighter tones to rich, deep sounds. His favorite pieces include Edouard Lalo’s “Symphonie Espagnole,” which prominently features the violin. He also enjoys a challenge like fast and staccato string arrangements of Italian baroque composer, Vivaldi.

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