Basics is a collection of practice methods and exercises, and belongs on the music stand, not on the bookshelf. It can be used by players of all standards, from concert violinists to students. Much of the material is also suitable for teaching elementary players. Each exercise is designed to achieve the maximum possible result in the least possible time. Some are very short and need to be done only once or twice to explore a particular aspect of technique. Others are practice routines or warm-up exercises that can returned to regualarly. Basics is not a book to play through from cover to cover (though, for easy reference, the exercises are numbered sequentially throughout). Everybody's needs are different, and there is little point in practising anything that does not need to be practised.

The book is invaluable, however, in its presentation of the most effective technical work in a single volume, making it possible to work directly on any aspect of technique that needs attention.