All Improve your playing articles – Page 5
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Premium ❘ FeatureRaphael 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
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
