Free Book For Violinists & Violists
Seeking Something Different
Unlock the Bass Range Your Playing Has Been Missing
What This Book Reveals?
What This Book Reveals?
Contrary to common belief, the repertoire for violoncello da spalla extends far beyond Bach’s 6th Suite. There’s enough music to spend the next 25 years recording it all—music that’s been waiting for centuries to be rediscovered. You might love some of this music.
A Natural Technical Extension
As a violinist or violist, you already possess 90% of the skills needed. Some players have performed as soloists with world-class ensembles after just two weeks of focused practice. This book provides the guidance that eliminates years of trial and error. It might work for you, too.
Musical Distinction
In a world where technical excellence and impressive CVs are commonplace, being different matters more than being marginally better. The violoncello da spalla offers what few string players possess: a distinctive voice and expanded musical identity.
"In its ethos, Da Spalla is situated somewhere between Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Anner Bylsma’s Bach, the fencing master."
~ Laurence Vittes, Editorial contributor to Gramophone, Strings, The Strad and the BBC Music Magazine
The Invisible Virtuoso Syndrome
I stood backstage in Tokyo, 2005, violin in hand. When you’re a freelance violinist, every concert is an audition, another chance to prove your worth among thousands of technically flawless players. My reflection in the mirror showed what everyone else saw:
Just another violinist with nothing unique to say.
You know that feeling—playing beautifully but remaining invisible? Technical excellence has become the baseline, not the exception. And in that moment, I faced the question every serious musician eventually confronts:
Will I spend my career being the 87th best version of everyone else?
Then I picked up the violoncello da spalla I had crafted earlier that year. Not just an instrument—a forgotten possibility. The results exceeded anything I could have imagined. Within weeks of making the switch, journalists who had never returned my calls were suddenly scheduling interviews. Festival directors who couldn’t remember my name were offering featured soloist positions. Within a year, I was performing as a soloist at major venues like Tokyo Opera City.
The music hadn’t changed. My technical ability hadn’t drastically improved. But I had found my voice—my musical identity. And a musical friend. As Kuijken said when he first played one of my instruments, “It’s like coming home, like this instrument is a confident companion.”
I learned that mastery can actually be a trap—the more perfectly you execute what others already do, the less anyone notices you.
Now I craft instruments using my unique approach known as The Old Masters T.O.N.E.S. Technique™, because
Distinction matters more than degree of excellence.
This might not work for everyone. You might even not like the violoncello da spalla. Your path to standing out will be uniquely yours. But through this book and the instruments I create, I help self-employed string players rediscover what makes them impossible to replace in an age where perfectionism and social media have created a sea of sameness.
Before you spend another hour practicing to become better, ask yourself:
What would make me impossible to replace?
This book isn’t about an instrument. It’s about finding the thing that makes you:
REMARKABLE.
The Path of Pure Art
You might not like my story at all. That's OK.
Like many of my esteemed clients, you might not be able to relate to the Invisible Virtuoso story or believe, rightly so, that one just must work hard, hope for luck, ask nothing in return and be grateful for whatever one gets. True. There is an element of luck and gratitude is important.
They approach da spalla simply for the profound joy of musical exploration, not a solution to a problem they never had. You might like the da spalla as an enrichment of your musical landscape, contributing something meaningfully different to our cultural life, and - perhaps - by doing this inadvertently inspiring something even deeper in your listeners - beyond admiring your artistic excellence.
FREE BOOK (€27 on Amazon) - Just Pay Shipping. Use code: FREEVDS at checkout.
Join The Musical Trailblazers
This might not make you a famous string player overnight.
But it will make you part of a growing movement of artistically adventurous musicians who’ve discovered a powerful artistic secret: distinction creates opportunity.
While thousands compete through incremental improvement, this tribe of highly skilled violinists-violoncello da spalla players is rediscovering lost musical terrain and creating entirely new possibilities.
This instrument didn't fade because it failed—it was simply forgotten.
And those who revive it today aren’t just players—they’re ambassadors of living tradition and pioneers crafting their own remarkable
PATH.
This book should be a required reading in any music learning establishment. It is not just informative material but also very exciting read for any intelligent human being. Thank you!
Aivars Izaks
When I first discovered and heard the Da Spalla, I was immediately spell bound. This instrument has a gorgeous character and sound. I am so grateful that the author took the time to share his knowledge about the birth and revival of this instrument with us. The book is both entertaining and informative. As a competent amateur violinist, I can’t wait to get a da spalla and start learning it. Bravo.
Arnaud Wiehe
What really makes this book a must-read is the Spalla Player Manifesto. It’s not just about playing an instrument, it’s about becoming a musical warrior. It's an invitation for musicians to dare, to follow their dreams, and change the world. This book is for those who don't just want to play tunes, but who want to be trailblazers. Da Spalla is a guide to standing tall and embracing the future like a musical superhero.
Roberto Ponticelli
FREE BOOK (€27.22 on Amazon) - Just Pay Shipping. Use code: FREEVDS at checkout.
What Musicians Are Saying:
Fascinating instrument and a great story of its rebirth. Get this book! It's a rosin for the soul.
Sergey Malov
Multi-instrumentalist, violoncello da spalla soloist, conductor
I found my own voice in it, and it erniched my career - and this is the ultimate book about it.
Dr. Koji Otsuki
Conductor, Violoncellist da spalla, Bach specialist
Now I no longer want to play Bach on my viola. I am so smitten by my Spalla.
Dr. Madelein Darmiento
Professor of strings and artist of Violin & Viola at Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Film, tv music scene will get hip to this soon and baroque instruments such as the violoncello da spalla will come back in a very big way!
Bryan Senti
Award-winning composer, film-maker, multi-instrumentalist, producer and recording artist
You might be wondering—is this about abandoning my violin or viola after years of dedication?
Not at all.
This is about expansion, not replacement.
The violoncello da spalla doesn’t ask you to give up your primary voice—it amplifies it.
It's about becoming what I call a "boundary-crossing virtuoso"—a musician whose artistry transcends the limitations of a single instrument.
Why am I offering this book for free? Because information alone doesn’t create transformation. This book represents an invitation to join a community of musical pioneers. Some will discover a lifelong companion in the da spalla. Others will simply gain valuable perspectives on artistic distinction that apply to their current instrument.
The path to becoming remarkable is deeply personal.
I’m simply offering a map to one particularly fascinating destination
YOU MIGHT ENJOY.
#AmbasciatoreDelVioloncelloDaSpalla #SoundAlchemist
The Quatrefoil: Symbol of the Sound Alchemists
This ancient symbol represents the Sound Alchemist's journey - the transformation from technical player to meaningful artist. The black bridge that holds the quatrefoil connects two worlds: pursuit of perfection and spiritual depth.
As a Sound Alchemist, this symbol represents your commitment to meaning over mere perfection, inspiring others to transform from reactivity to creativity. The same letters, different order, different results. Wear it, share it, embody it in your musical journey.
#SoundAlchemists #AmbasciatoreDelVioloncelloDaSpalla
About the author
I am Dmitry, author of "On Spalla," luthier, and founder of Badiarov Violins and Sound Alchemists. When I crafted my first violoncello da spalla in 2003, I had no idea I was reviving a 300-year-old tradition. Today, outstanding musicians like Sigiswald Kuijken, Ryo Terakado, and Sergey Malov perform on my instruments worldwide.
For 20 years, I've lived and breathed this tradition. I'm sharing it now because musicians like you are searching for authentic artistic identity in a world of technical sameness.
This knowledge isn't just about playing an instrument differently—it's about reconnecting with why we make music in the first place. As Rumi said, "Let the beauty of what we love be what we do; there are countless ways to kneel and kiss the ground."
When you embrace this tradition, you transform not only your own musical voice, but create ripples that extend to everyone who experiences your music. That transformation begins now.
as seen in:
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The Secret First Steps Every Da Spalla Player Takes
Photo 8 - Me and Sergey Malov playing his spalla for the first time, still unvarnished.
From Da Spalla, page 124.
Violinist or violist fascinated by the rebirth of the violoncello da spalla: you might have questions.
Can I play it? Is it not too difficult? Is it heavy? How long will it take to learn?
Fear is a natural part of a daring exploration. But what if a daring journey begins with courage and the instrument already in your hands?
Many violinists and violists are surprised to discover they can begin exploring these transformative techniques immediately. 20 years of my experience crafting this instrument for musicians worldwide has demonstrated that it only takes a one-hour masterclass, live or even online, to show them how.
One book and one hour masterclass does not make you world-famous multi-instrumentalist overnight. But it gives you both: immediate clarity and the road map to mastery. And the journey? It is entirely yours to enjoy.
The first steps toward your distinctive voice don't require waiting.
The path begins where you already stand.
This book isn't just information—it's an invitation to join a tribe of musical trailblazers who understand that distinction creates opportunity.
Whether you discover a lifelong companion in the da spalla or simply gain a fresh perspective on artistic identity, the journey begins with a single step.
GET YOUR FREE BOOK NOW
(€27 value - Just pay shipping. Use code: FREEVDS at checkout)
Your remarkable musical voice is waiting to be discovered.
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