Left hand
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Blogs
Cornerstones for violinists: the Australian violinist and teacher Alice Waten on left-hand set-up
The Australian violin pedagogue Alice Waten (1947-2022) shared advice on achieving fluidity and expressivity in the left hand in an interview with Joy Lee from early 2022
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Blogs
6 tips for practising fast passages: violinist Susanna Klein
Susanna Klein gives advice on left and right hand dexterity and coordination for violinists wanting to improve their virtuosity
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Premium ❘ Feature
Technique: Octaves for cellists
Cellist Seth Parker Woods on overcoming the fear and finding joy in octave practice
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Feature
6 ways to improve left-hand flexibility
Tips from The Strad’s archive on increasing suppleness of movement and reducing tension
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Focus
Dealing with Dystonia
Violinist Bernard Zinck shares his experiences of his devastating diagnosis of focal dystonia in his forties and his rehabilitation process to resume playing
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Focus
Trills and embellishments: exercises from Wilhelmj and Brown’s A Modern School for Violin
Violist Misha Galaganov recommends exercises from August Wilhelmj and James Brown’s out-of-print A Modern School for Violin, to accompany his Technique article in the October 2021 issue
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Focus
3 simple trill exercises for players and teachers
Professor of viola and chair of strings at Texas Christian University Misha Galaganov offers technical advice on how to play and teach trills
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Focus
Replacing shifts with a stretch: Daniil Shafran’s left-hand technique
Oskar Falta examines Soviet cellist Daniil Shafran’s unique left-hand technique and vibrato in this extract from the September 2021 issue
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Focus
Left-hand agility in Dont Etude op.35 no.8
In this extract from the May 1999 issue, violinist Zakhar Bron shares tips on hand shape and intonation when playing thirds in Dont Etude op.35 no.8
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Focus
Avoiding the ‘neutral zone’- what to do with your bow when playing violin trills
Violinist Zakhar Bron discusses creating a smooth line when playing trills in the op.36 no.6 etude by Dont
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Premium ❘ Feature
Violin Masterclass: Playing Thirds in Dont’s Etude op.35 no.8
Violin teacher Zakhar Bron provides tips for practising the op.35 no.8 Etude by Dont
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Blogs
Varying my warm-up routine is essential for performing success, says violinist Natalia Lomeiko
The multiple prize winner and Royal College of Music professor has found numerous ways to warm up for concert performances
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Focus
'Popper's cello studies force you to know the fingerboard inside out'
The cellist and Boston Conservatory chair of strings considers the value of the composer's etudes
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Focus
6 ways to perfect your double-stops
Tips from The Strad’s archive on producing even and finely tuned double-stops
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Article
A 30-minute daily practice routine for violinists and violists
How to keep your playing in shape while maintaining a busy schedule, by Misha Galaganov, professor of viola and chamber music at Texas Christian University, TX, US
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Focus
6 tips for improved coordination
Guidance from The Strad’s archive for greater synchronisation between left-hand fingers and bow
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Focus
5 ways to improve playing in thirds
Tips for hand position, bow distribution and intonation from The Strad Archive
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Premium ❘ Article
Technique: achieving balance between the chin and left thumb
Learn to reduce physical stress by distributing instrument weight more effectively across your body. By Matthew Jones, Head of chamber music and professor of viola at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London; director of Pro Corda Intermediate Course.
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Premium ❘ Feature
Nelli Shkolnikova’s principles of violin technique
The great Russian violinist and pedagogue died early in 2010. Curt Thompson, one of her former students, looks back on her life and examines her teaching methods
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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).