All Improve your playing articles – Page 3
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Premium ❘ FeatureYoga and string playing: …And breathe…
There is a close connection between yogic principles and string playing technique, says cellist Ruth Phillips, who illustrates this with postures chosen in collaboration with her colleague Jane Fenton, and reveals how both Pablo Casals and yoga guru Vanda Scaravelli have informed her musical ideas
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Video
TwoSetViolin: The Twelve Levels of Violin Playing
The musical double act abandon their usual hijinx in favour of something more serious for newbie violinists: a whistle-stop tour of what their violin-playing career could look like (with a bit of practice).
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How I interpret Bach: Tomás Cotik on Ornaments, Trills and Appoggiaturas
Ahead of his 2020 album release of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas, the violinist continues his blog series, in which he discusses the contradictions between the opposing trends and traditions in Bach interpretation, and his personal solutions to them
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How I interpret Bach: Tomas Cotik on Tempo Rubato, Strong and Weak Measures and Notes Inégales
Ahead of his 2020 album release of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas, the violinist continues his blog series, in which he discusses the contradictions between the opposing trends and traditions in Bach interpretation, and his personal solutions to them
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Why 10,000 hours of practice won’t make you an expert
Emma Allingham, a music psychology researcher at the University of Hamburg, shares her insight into the psychology of music practice
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8 ways to combat negative thoughts on stage
How to banish your inner demons from The Strad's Archive
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How I interpret Bach: Tomás Cotik on Overdotting and Rhythmic Assimilation
Ahead of his 2020 album release of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas, the violinist continues his blog series, in which he discusses the contradictions between the opposing trends and traditions in Bach interpretation, and his personal solutions to them
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Lessons in Time Travel - Violinists on Baroque Performance
What impact can voyages into period performance have on modern-instrument playing? Four soloists reveal the fruits of their Baroque explorations to Ariane Todes
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Premium ❘ Feature
Masterclass: Bach Cello Suite no.5, Prélude, by Jean-Guihen Queyras
Practical tips to help you master the challenges of this most fundamental of repertoire
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8 ways to improve Baroque performance
Tips from The Strad’s archive on the use of vibrato, bow strokes and rhythmic hierarchy
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10 playing tips by violist Lionel Tertis
The famous English viola player and Royal Academy of Music professor gave performing tips to student Sydney Errington in the 1930s
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Blogs
Tomás Cotik: How I interpret Bach
Ahead of his 2020 album release of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas, the violinist presents a new blog series, in which he discusses the contradictions between the opposing trends and traditions in Bach interpretation, and his personal solutions to them
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Focus
Spiccato and sautillé - two important bow strokes which are often confused
Spiccato and sautillé are the two most important off-the-string bowings, but they are often confused. One of the reasons might be their relation to speed.
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Video
James Ehnes on the essence of mindful practice
In this podcast, James Ehnes talks about what the essence of mindful instrumental practice is: having a clear goal, work efficiently, listen intently, and connecting with others.
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Feature
Professor Ševčík addresses Strad readers
The Czech violinist and influential teacher passes on words of wisdom to readers of The Strad in February 1912
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Video
Prepare with Nicky: Part 1 - who is Elgar
In the first of Nicola Benedetti’s ‘Prepare with Nicky’ series, the violinist is focusing on Edward Elgar. Benedetti says: ‘Elgar is certainly one of the most beloved British composers and we felt it fitting to play a piece of music by him with our Advanced Orchestra at The Benedetti ...
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Premium ❘ Feature
How to develop fourth finger strength
String students often suffer from weakness in the little finger, but this can be overcome, writes James Winram in the Strad's July 1913 issue
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Ariadne Daskalakis’s top 5 practice tips
To tie in with the release of her Schubert disc, the violinist talks about the importance of maintaining consistency and a sense of effortless joy in your practice
