Demetrius Constantine Dounis facts for kids
Demetrius Constantine Dounis (also known as D. C. Dounis) was a very important teacher of the violin and other string instruments. He was also a talented violinist, violist, and mandolin player. He was born in Greece in 1893 and passed away in 1954.
Life and Work
D. C. Dounis was born in Athens, Greece. There is some uncertainty about his exact birth year. He is said to have given his first violin concert when he was only 7 years old. At 14, he toured the United States playing the mandolin.
In Athens, he was part of the famous Athenian Mandolinata group. He studied music in Vienna and Paris. In Vienna, he also earned a medical degree. He specialized in studying the brain and mind.
After World War I, Dounis served as a doctor in the Greek army. Later, he became a violin professor at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki. Soon after, he moved to the United States.
Dounis used his medical knowledge to help professional musicians. He worked with them for many months. He watched how they played and asked questions. Then, he created new exercises to help them solve their playing problems.
Dounis also wrote several books to teach music. In his 1921 book, The Artist's Technique of Violin Playing, he wrote about the importance of shifting and finger exercises. He believed these exercises helped musicians understand their instrument better. This made practicing scales more effective.
Images for kids
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D.C. Dounis, Age 20
