Notes on Music and Musicianship
Essays on Practice, Teaching, Listening, and the Life of Music
Writing by Vincent Yeung on the inner work of music-making: the discipline of practice, the craft of teaching, the art of listening, and the wider life that shapes a musician.
Blog
Fresh From The Notebook
Start with the three most recent essays, then continue into the full archive if you want to follow the trail further.
![[Guide] ABRSM Viola Scales: How to Practise Them Musically](/_image?href=%2F_astro%2Fhero.BrIFPdtb.png&w=720&h=480&q=mid&f=webp&fit=cover&background=%23f7f0e5)
[Guide] ABRSM Viola Scales: How to Practise Them Musically
A practical guide to preparing ABRSM viola scales with better tone, intonation, bow control, memory, and musical direction.
![[Guide] Common Beginner Viola Problems and How to Fix Them](/_image?href=%2F_astro%2Fhero.BNHFafzq.png&w=720&h=480&q=mid&f=webp&fit=cover&background=%23f7f0e5)
[Guide] Common Beginner Viola Problems and How to Fix Them
Beginner viola problems are rarely signs of failure. Most come from setup, tension, listening habits, and practice routines that can be corrected with patient, specific work.
![[Guide] Effective Viola Scales for Advanced Practice](/_image?href=%2F_astro%2Fhero.Df8_l_1P.png&w=720&h=480&q=mid&f=webp&fit=cover&background=%23f7f0e5)
[Guide] Effective Viola Scales for Advanced Practice
A practical guide for serious viola students on scale systems, including Galamian, Dounis, Carl Flesch, double stops, modes, chromatic work, and musical application.
Themes
Performance & Practice
Practice strategies, technique, preparation, and the slow work behind expressive playing.
19 posts
[Guide] ABRSM Viola Scales: How to Practise Them Musically
A practical guide to preparing ABRSM viola scales with better tone, intonation, bow control, memory, and musical direction.
[Guide] Common Beginner Viola Problems and How to Fix Them
Beginner viola problems are rarely signs of failure. Most come from setup, tension, listening habits, and practice routines that can be corrected with patient, specific work.
[Guide] Effective Viola Scales for Advanced Practice
A practical guide for serious viola students on scale systems, including Galamian, Dounis, Carl Flesch, double stops, modes, chromatic work, and musical application.
Themes
Music Education
Reflections on teaching, student growth, lesson design, and building musicianship with care.
31 posts
[Guide] ABRSM Viola Scales: How to Practise Them Musically
A practical guide to preparing ABRSM viola scales with better tone, intonation, bow control, memory, and musical direction.
[Guide] Common Beginner Viola Problems and How to Fix Them
Beginner viola problems are rarely signs of failure. Most come from setup, tension, listening habits, and practice routines that can be corrected with patient, specific work.
[Guide] Effective Viola Scales for Advanced Practice
A practical guide for serious viola students on scale systems, including Galamian, Dounis, Carl Flesch, double stops, modes, chromatic work, and musical application.
Themes
Listening & Repertoire
Notes on repertoire, recordings, interpretation, composers, and the pieces that stay with us.
5 posts
![[Explainer] Viola vs Violin: What Is the Difference?](/_image?href=%2F_astro%2Fhero.BcjnG1Q6.png&w=720&h=480&q=mid&f=webp&fit=cover&background=%23f7f0e5)
[Explainer] Viola vs Violin: What Is the Difference?
The viola and violin look closely related, but they differ in tuning, sound, technique, ensemble role, and learning experience.
![[Explainer] A History of the Viola: From Inner Voice to Solo Instrument](/_image?href=%2F_astro%2Fhero.DpiPoyux.png&w=720&h=480&q=mid&f=webp&fit=cover&background=%23f7f0e5)
[Explainer] A History of the Viola: From Inner Voice to Solo Instrument
How the viola grew from the Renaissance violin family into the warm, flexible, and quietly essential instrument we know today.
ABRSM Viola Repertoire by Grade: What Each Level Really Asks For
A practical, editorial guide to the ABRSM viola syllabus from Initial Grade to Grade 8, with grade-by-grade repertoire notes and choosing advice for students in Hong Kong.
Themes
The Musical Life
Essays on collaboration, artistic identity, creative work, and the human side of making music.
9 posts
![[Guide] Choosing a Music University or Conservatory in Hong Kong](/_image?href=%2F_astro%2Fhero.CTNaL-Ex.png&w=720&h=480&q=mid&f=webp&fit=cover&background=%23f7f0e5)
[Guide] Choosing a Music University or Conservatory in Hong Kong
A practical guide to choosing between HKAPA, CUHK, HKU, HKBU, and EdUHK for music study in Hong Kong, with attention to training style, teachers, facilities, and resources.
[Explainer] A History of the Viola: From Inner Voice to Solo Instrument
How the viola grew from the Renaissance violin family into the warm, flexible, and quietly essential instrument we know today.
![[Explainer] Why School Instrument Interest Classes Often Disappoint](/_image?href=%2F_astro%2Fhero.CdkZDsCY.png&w=720&h=480&q=mid&f=webp&fit=cover&background=%23f7f0e5)
[Explainer] Why School Instrument Interest Classes Often Disappoint
Why many school instrument interest classes struggle to teach real instrumental foundations, and why most beginners are better served by one-to-one lessons.
Next Step
Lessons shaped by real performance experience.
The work in the rehearsal room and on stage feeds directly into Vincent’s teaching. If you are looking for lessons grounded in musicianship, care, and active artistic practice, this is a good place to begin.