All Improve your playing articles – Page 4
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Premium ❘ FeatureViolinist David Juritz on overcoming a painful shoulder injury
The London-based instrumentalist was helped by physiotherapy and Pilates
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Feature
How breaking a thumb saved cellist Colin Carr's career
The international cello soloist and chamber musician describes how a cycling accident forced him to rethink the way he played
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Focus
8 ways to vary your vibrato
Tips from The Strad’s archive for varying vibrato speed, width, pressure and direction to produce an infinite range of colour contrasts
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Article
David Oistrakh performs Debussy's The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
On the great violinist's birthday today, we share this video of him performing a transcription of Debussy's La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair) with pianist Frida Bauer in 1972, displaying his lauded warmth of tone. Read The Strad's guide to David ...
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Premium ❘ Feature
7 techniques to combat stage fright
How often has a potential performance of a lifetime turned into a performance from hell? Are you suffering from stage fright? Laurinel Owen gives advice on overcoming this common affliction
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Premium ❘ Feature
Perfect 5ths
British violinist Rodney Friend has spent many years formulating his method for achieving a relaxed left-hand position. Here, he shares his voyage of discovery with Charlotte Smith
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Feature
7 mental techniques to boost your practice
Effective practice without the frustration and drudgery? Piet Koornhot looks at ways to direct your imagination.
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Premium ❘ Feature
Double 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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Premium ❘ Debate
Early vibrato was one aspect of a vastly different sound world
A response to Beverly Jerold’s article 'Did early string players use continuous vibrato?' by Kevin Class
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Premium ❘ Feature
Raphael Wallfisch on finding the right cello position
The British artist tells Laurinel Owen why he plays with a long endpin and its effect on technique and sound production
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Premium ❘ Feature
Violinist Reinhard Goebel on adapting to focal dystonia
The condition forced the musician and early music specialist to make a radical career change - he is now a conductor
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Feature
6 thoughts on performance and interpretation from Kyung Wha Chung
The Korean star spoke to The Strad in February 1989 about her musical ideas and influences
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Blogs
Aaron Rosand: 5 ways good posture will improve your playing
Good standing and sitting positions, and avoiding using a shoulder rest, are all important for optimum performance, wrote the American virtuoso in 2014
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Premium ❘ Feature
How to develop left-hand finger strength
Up and down movement is the basis of left-hand technique and many pedagogues have invented fiendish exercises to improve it. Rok Klopčič takes a look at some of them
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Focus
Michael Barenboim’s top 5 practice tips
The concertmaster of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra shares his insights into the art of practising the violin
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Video
‘With Nicky’ 12: Ask Nicky
This week, ‘With Nicky’ becomes ‘Ask Nicky’ as Nicola Benedetti answers some of your questions. The violinist says: ‘After recording this, however, we realised I never actually answered the most asked question! - What is your shoulder rest? ‘The super duper attentive amongst you may have noticed a ...
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Video
‘With Nicky’ 11: Oasby Music Group
This week on Nicola Benedetti’s journey of video tutorials, the violinist takes a trip outside her living room and into the home of the children of the Oasby Music Group. Founded in 2013 with just 7 beginner young musicians aged 5-8, the organisation now has 13 ensembles aged 4-18, with ...
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Focus
Tabea Zimmermann's top 6 practice tips
To tie in with our review of her Berlioz CD, Tabea Zimmermann shares her wisdom on getting the most out of your practice
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Focus
7 warming up and cooling down exercises for musicians
Suggested warm-ups prior to playing and cool-down stretches following performance and/or practice
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Focus
5 tips for conquering performance nerves from 5 solo string players
Artists share their wisdom on battling the fear monster, as featured over the last five years of The Strad
