Earning a Violin Easily

Paganini’s fierce perseverance and practice in youth gave him such command of the violin later on that he needed little practice beyond his frequent concerts. His musical knowledge and quick perception were so great that people claimed he could sight‑read anything written for his instrument.

In Parina there was once an artist who doubted those stories. He told Paganini he owned a fine Stradivarius, and that he would give it to him if Paganini could read at sight a concerto the skeptic had in manuscript.

“Then prepare to part with your fiddle,” Paganini replied. He took the music, played it immediately, and walked away the owner of a ‘Strad’ worth perhaps £700 or £800.