All Improve your playing articles – Page 5
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FocusTabea 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
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
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Video
Cello masterclass from Johannes Moser
As part of his residency with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, last week Johannes Moser gave three local cellists a masterclass on Elgar’s Cello Concerto, Gulda’s Cello Concerto and Squire’s ‘Tzig-Tzig’.
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Video
Hilary Hahn gives masterclass on her new album
On 17th May, Hilary Hahn releases her new album: 6 partitas specially written for the violinist by the Spanish composer Antón García Abril. And for each piece on the new album Hahn has prepared a masterclass video for players and listeners alike, to share insider knowledge on interpreting, expressing, and ...
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Focus
6 ways to improve shifting for string players
Advice on how to shift smoothly and cleanly from 120 years of The Strad
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Video
Slapping with the bow - a double bass lesson from Olivier Babaz
This lesson is taken from Discover Double Bass’s upcoming course, ‘Jazz Bowing’ by the French double bassist Olivier Babaz. Scheduled for release on 7th May, it comprises 61 lessons over 5 hours and is a step-by-step course on jazz bowing technique. It will be available at DiscoverDoubleBass.com. This first ...
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Video
‘With Nicky’ 8: Recap – Playing Fast
A recap of last week’s video today on Nicola Benedetti’s journey of YouTube tutorials, in which the violinist goes back over one of the most important parts of developing the basics for the left hand: Playing Fast - Velocity Requires Flexibility. See the full series here
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Focus
Sentimental work: Antje Weithaas on Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto
The Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto presents a mixture of Eastern and Western influences to the German violinist – and only revealed its true secrets after a whole decade of resting
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Focus
Life Lessons: Albena Danailova
One of three Vienna Philharmonic concertmasters, the Bulgarian violinist talks about New York street jazz and the musical impact of the internet
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Video
‘With Nicky’ 7: Back to More Basics, Left Hand Part II
After a few very busy weeks practising, Nicola Benedetti presents Back to More Basics Left Hand Part 2. She says: ‘Before you watch this week’s video, I’d really encourage you to revisit Back to More Basics Left Hand Part 1 as this week is a continuation from what we ...
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Focus
Stringtelligence by Thomastik-Infeld: dealing with corrosion and perspiration
In the first of a new blog series for The Strad celebrating Thomastik-Infeld’s 100th anniversary, the Austrian string manufacturer’s director of engineering and technology, Franz Klanner, gives his recommendations for players who find their strings corroding too quickly
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Focus
Elicia Silverstein's 5 tips for approaching gnarly contemporary works
The American violinist gives an insight into her strategy for getting her head, and fingers, around tough new repertoire
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5 tips from Max Grosch for improving jazz rhythm
The jazz musician shares his wisdom on ways to improve our jazz rhythm and internal sense of pulse
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5 tips for practising effectively from Chloë Hanslip
Tieing in with her new CD of Beethoven sonatas, the violinist shares a few insights
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Video
‘With Nicky’ 6: Back to More Basics; Left Hand part 1
This week on her journey of video tutorials, Nicola Benedetti is going back to more basics focusing on the left hand, taking us through what she considers to be one of the most sacred, basic and life changing exercises for her: Schradieck Number 1. She says: ‘It’s not the ...
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Blogs
7 tips for successful practice by violinist Rachel Podger
The Baroque musician reveals the most important elements of her practice routine
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Focus
10 tips on maximising tone quality & projection
Advice on projecting your sound from over 120 years of The Strad
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Focus
5 tips from Isabelle van Keulen on achieving a relaxed bow hold
The Dutch violinist and violist considers the many processes involved in keeping your bow hold tension-free
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Video
‘With Nicky’ 5: Equipment
This week on her video journey, Nicola Benedetti is talking all things equipment: strings, shoulder rests, chin rests, her bow, her beautiful pegs and the violin itself. She also gives us a glimpse inside her violin case. She says, ‘Equipment is something that I have certainly obsessed over a ...
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Video
‘With Nicky’ 4: Vibrato Part II
Following on from last week’s episode in her series of video tutorials, Nicola Benedetti is on to Vibrato Part 2, in which she progresses from easier to slightly harder vibrato exercises. She focuses on how to put some of last week’s exercises into practice with one of the most ...
