Jacques Féréol Mazas (1782-1849) was a French composer, conductor, violinist and pedagogue, and many of his compositions were studies and methods for young violin and viola students. His three progressive volumes of violin études, 75 Études mélodiques et progressives, Op. 36 - Volume 1 (Études spéciales), Volume 2 (Études brillantes) and Volume 3 (Études d'artistes) - are considered classics of violin pedagogy and have been in constant use by violin students and teachers since they were published.