Demetrius Constantine Dounis

Considerable uncertainty prevails on the subject of Dounis's early life, beginning with the date of his birth in Athens, variously given as 1886 (according to most library catalogues), 1893,[2] or 1894.

He studied under František Ondříček in Vienna, where he also took a medical degree, specializing in neurology and psychiatry.

Dounis focused his early medical career on treating professional musicians from the world's major symphony orchestras.

In his 1921 volume The Artist's Technique of Violin Playing, Dounis emphasized the importance of shifting and finger exercises.

These were to develop the musician's mental map at the beginning of practice, after which scale drills would be more effective.