All technique articles
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ReviewBook review: Pizzicato Performance Collection: Fifteen Pizzicato Works for the Beginning String Orchestra
Celia Cobb reviews Doug Spata’s book of pizzicato works for string orchestra, including a teacher’s edition
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FocusThe art of the violin slide: Exploring shifts in different musical styles
Julie Lyonn Lieberman describes how different slides can enhance your string playing, from oozing your way in the true blues style to the Klezmer 'bend'
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VideoInclination, tilt and skew: bow curves on the double bass
Double bassist David Allen Moore explains bow angle variables to help achieve musical expression with the bow
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VideoDrops and lifts: double bass string-crossing in Mozart’s Symphony no.35
Double bassist David Allen Moore demonstrates how to solve challenging string-crossing problems
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FocusTrills and embellishments: exercises from Wilhelmj and Brown’s A Modern School for Violin
Violist Misha Galaganov recommends exercises from August Wilhelmj and James Brown’s out-of-print A Modern School for Violin, to accompany his Technique article in the October 2021 issue
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Article‘Maximum exposure’ and injury prevention: the basics
In an article from our archive, former Minnesota Orchestra principal cellist Janet Horvath introduces a concept that might help you play better for longer
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ArticleDouble bassist François Rabbath demonstrates his crab technique
In honour of François Rabbath, who turns 90 today, we are republishing content from our archive related to the French-Syrian double bassist
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ReviewBook review: Romantic Violin Performing Practices: A Handbook
Robin Stowell reviews David Milsom’s latest volume of historical research
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ReviewBook review: Violin Technique in Practice
Alex Laing reviews an innovative new technique book aimed at all ages
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ReviewBook review: Grade by Grade: Double Bass
RCM double bass tutor Caroline Emery reviews the latest in B&H’s series for ABRSM students and others
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ReviewBook review: Freedom and Flexibility of the Violinist’s Left Hand
Nathaniel Vallois reviews a book of studies designed to improve left-hand technique
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Premium ❘ FeatureTechnique: Sautillé
Tips to help you master a bow stroke vital for making a good impression at any orchestral audition
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Premium ❘ FeatureTechnique: Mapping out the fingerboard
Exercises to train your brain and fingers, to help you become a more fluent performer and improviser
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Premium ❘ FeatureDouble bassist Peter Buckoke on treating head and neck pain
The Royal College of Music professor found a solution in Alexander technique
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FocusThe secret behind Paganini's amazing technique
Generations of violinists have tried to discover what it was that made Paganini so legendary. In this article from 2014, the late great Ruggiero Ricci shared his thoughts with Strad readers
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FocusFrom the archive: Technique or tone?
This article from The Strad, September 1954, argues that the trend among students of pursuing mechanical brilliance at the expense of beauty of tone is misguided
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Blogs12 interpretation and technique tips for string soloists
Making the transition from practice room to concert hall, whether for a competition or public performance, is itself a technical challenge. These tips were extracted from a masterclass given by Marianne Piketty and Nora Chastain and first published in 2014
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FocusIndependence and flexibility in the left-hand thumb
The first in a two-part article on techniques and tricks to loosen your hands and free up your instrument hold by Gwen Thompson-Robinow
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FocusTechnique: Two-octave scales and arpeggios
An essential way to improve tone and intonation by Michael Frischenschlager, professor emeritus of violin at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna
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FocusIs it healthy to arch your back and raise your violin when playing up high, as top soloists often do?
Top teachers Boris Kuschnir and Mimi Zweig answer a reader's question for The Strad's Teacher Talk section