Latest Pizzicato
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Premium ❘ FocusOpinion: why don’t string players practice pizzicato?
Perfecting bowing is a lifelong quest for string players – but what about pizzicato? Cellist Davina Shum advocates setting aside some dedicated practice time to this neglected technique
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FeatureHow harmonics and singing can help to build a sound technique
Violin and viola pedagogue Jane Metcalfe discusses using techniques inspired by Kodály and Colourstrings methods
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Premium ❘ Feature‘Begin with some finger push-ups’ - Technique: Left-hand finger independence
How to build strength and flexibility for a truly agile left hand with Adriana LaRosa Ransom, professor of cello and string project director at Illinois State University, US
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ArticleTechnique: How to vary and enhance your cello pizzicato
Soloist and chamber musician Christoph Richter talks about good pizz technique with particular attention to the range of sound demanded by Debussy's Cello Sonata. From The Strad's November 2015 issue
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VideoEsther Yoo’s practice tips: chord pizzicato
Yoo shares how mimicking a guitar pick with the index finger and thumb can help violinists with strumming technique
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #55: Time For Three on triple concertos
Violinists Nick Kendall and Charles Yang, and double bassist Ranaan Meyer speak about triple concerto commissions, plus their favourite string techniques
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VideoViolin techniques with James Ehnes: pizzicato
‘Basically, you’re going to grab the string and pull it’
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ArticleViolinist Ray Chen gives left-hand pizzicato lesson
Violinist Ray Chen gives a video lesson on mastering left-hand pizzicato, as demonstrated in Paganini's Caprice no.24.
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Premium ❘ FeatureFormer Kronos Quartet cellist Joan Jeanrenaud on pizzicato techniques
Pizzicato style is rarely analysed, but is so vital in modern repertory says the artist, who performed with the contemporary quartet for 20 years
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Blogs9 tips on playing the Ravel and Debussy quartets
Franck Chevalier, viola player of the Quatuor Diotima, gives advice on how to approach the most celebrated French additions to the quartet repertoire
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BlogsExtended and splendid: 4 techniques for bowed strings to get the creative cogs turning
Composer Andrew Chen discusses four experimental techniques for strings ahead of the premiere of his new work Ilk, to be performed by the Gould Piano Trio at Cheltenham Music Festival
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BlogsPizzicato technique is often neglected, says violinist Jennifer Pike
There are many ways to vary sound and colour, but beware the perils of playing forte for sustained periods. From 2014
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FocusPlaying with a relaxed fourth finger by violinist Ros Stephen
Ros Stephen, author of the Oxford University Press Globetrotters series and Violinworks method books, gives exercises and advice to help string players reach fourth finger notes without straining
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FocusTechnique: Crawl, walk, run
Bass player Danny Ziemann illustrates how to build an improvised solo line from a simple bass accompaniment
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BlogsRachel Barton Pine: 10 tips for practice and performance
The Strad attended a masterclass with the American violinist in 2015 and took down these practical pointers
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Premium ❘ FeatureTechnique: Walking bass
Essential foundations for producing a jazz bass-line with good sound, rhythm and harmony
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FocusTurtle Island Quartet techniques: chop, slide and hickety mute
Members of the genre-crossing ensemble share some of the unusual techniques they use to give them their unique sound
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Blogs12 tango music techniques for string players
London Tango Orchestra director and violinist Caroline Pearsall demonstrates tango music effects