Editing Pierre Baillot (section)

===Early life===
Pierre Baillot, who was associated with Rode and Kreutzer in the compilation of the celebrated ''Methode du Violon'', was born at [[Passy]], near [[Paris]], and became one of the best violinists of his time. His eminence in his profession was not obtained without a long struggle against great difficulties, for at the age of twelve he lost his father, who had kept a school, and became dependent upon friends for his education. His musical talent was remarkable at an early age, and he received his first instruction from an Italian named Polidori. At the age of nine, he was placed under a French teacher named Sainte-Marie,{{cn|date=August 2022}} whose training gave him the severe state and methodical qualities by which his playing was distinguished.

At the age of ten, he heard [[Viotti]] play one of his concertos, becoming his model. When his father died a year or two later, the [[intendant]] of Corsica, [[Claude-François Bertrand de Boucheporn|M. de Boucheporn]], sent him, with his own children, to [[Rome]], where he was placed with Pollani, a pupil of [[Pietro Nardini|Nardini]], under whom he made rapid progress, and soon began to play in public. He was, however, unable to follow directly in the path of his profession, and for five years he travelled with his benefactor, acting as private secretary.