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Improve your playing in the Playing Hub
Why you should stop and think before you play
Violinist and Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner advocates for a thoughtful, step-by-step approach to practice
Technique: Quartet playing from the violist’s perspective
Alan George examines the techniques of chamber music playing from the violist’s seat
Technique: Exploring pizzicato techniques
Violinist Tomás Cotik on the broad range of pizzicato techniques available to string players
Blogs
Why you should stop and think before you play
Violinist and Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner advocates for a thoughtful, step-by-step approach to practice
Premium ❘ Feature
Technique: Quartet playing from the violist’s perspective
Alan George examines the techniques of chamber music playing from the violist’s seat
Premium ❘ Feature
Technique: Exploring pizzicato techniques
Violinist Tomás Cotik on the broad range of pizzicato techniques available to string players
Why you should stop and think before you play
Violinist and Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner advocates for a thoughtful, step-by-step approach to practice
Why you should stop and think before you play
Violinist and Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner advocates for a thoughtful, step-by-step approach to practice
Opinion: 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
Opinion: 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
Stress is our friend, not our foe: how to manage stress to perform at your best
Cellist and researcher Joanna Latała encourages positively reframing the feeling of stress, and offers strategies on how to transform it into a force for growth and success
Stress is our friend, not our foe: how to manage stress to perform at your best
Cellist and researcher Joanna Latała encourages positively reframing the feeling of stress, and offers strategies on how to transform it into a force for growth and success
Positive self-talk: a key to boosting musicians’ confidence
Cellist and researcher Joanna Latała shares methods for how to enhance your performance with affirming language, plus what musicians can learn from top athletes and sports psychology
Aija Reke: how to deal with performance anxiety
The violinist gives tips on how to build your confidence on stage through her own experiences and examples from literature
Vibrato: three reminders from our online editor Davina Shum
Don’t overdo it and avoid slipping into auto-pilot mode, writes the cellist
Vibrato: three reminders from our online editor Davina Shum
Don’t overdo it and avoid slipping into auto-pilot mode, writes the cellist
The Art of Vibrato: Techniques and Tips for Violinists
Donna Maurer offers six tips to help violinists master the technique of vibrato
Should vibrato exercises be practised separately from the repertoire?
Teacher Talk: your string teaching questions answered by our panel of experts. From 2011
Interpreting Dvořák vs. Mozart — a technical perspective for violinists
Grace Park provides a mini masterclass on how violinists can bring to life to the stylistic and musical qualities of the two seemingly opposite composers
‘We just love what we do’: 21 years of the Sacconi Quartet
Comprising violinists Ben Hancox and Hannah Dawson, violist Robin Ashwell and cellist Cara Berridge, the members of the Sacconi Quartet chat with The Strad about their guiding principles throughout their shared history together, as well as as some memorable performances
‘We just love what we do’: 21 years of the Sacconi Quartet
Comprising violinists Ben Hancox and Hannah Dawson, violist Robin Ashwell and cellist Cara Berridge, the members of the Sacconi Quartet chat with The Strad about their guiding principles throughout their shared history together, as well as as some memorable performances
How to memorise earlier and smarter: Adam Hockman
The practice and performance consultant identifies what causes memory slips and gives tips on improving memorisation technique
How to memorise earlier and smarter: Adam Hockman
The practice and performance consultant identifies what causes memory slips and gives tips on improving memorisation technique
Numbness of the fingers in violinists: what causes it and how can you fix it?
J.L.H. Thomas delves into a physical exploration of what causes numbness, as well as exercises to help strengthen muscles to alleviate its symptoms
Numbness of the fingers in violinists: what causes it and how can you fix it?
J.L.H. Thomas delves into a physical exploration of what causes numbness, as well as exercises to help strengthen muscles to alleviate its symptoms
Setting up the left hand: a guide for beginner violinists
Rachael Ridge gives some helpful pointers and a step-by-step guide delving into the nitty-gritty of left-hand set-up
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
Blogs‘Lyrical, dignified, and deeply emotional’: Alexandra Tirsu on the violin concertos by Shostakovich and Hindemith
The violinist spoke to The Strad about recording the two works on her debut concerto album, both of which have accompanied her during defining moments of her life
BlogsA new sound takes shape: Leonard Fu on joining the Juilliard Quartet
As the Juilliard Quartet makes its New York debut in its new formation, newly appointed second violinist Leonard Fu reflects on tradition, renewal and shaping the ensemble’s evolving voice
BlogsScrooge and strings: Noctifer Trio on performing Charles Dickens-inspired works
Ahead of a performance in London, cellist Lauren Wesley-Smith delves into how the trio expanded musical settings of the great author’s Christmas tales
Blogs
‘Lyrical, dignified, and deeply emotional’: Alexandra Tirsu on the violin concertos by Shostakovich and Hindemith
The violinist spoke to The Strad about recording the two works on her debut concerto album, both of which have accompanied her during defining moments of her life
Blogs
A new sound takes shape: Leonard Fu on joining the Juilliard Quartet
As the Juilliard Quartet makes its New York debut in its new formation, newly appointed second violinist Leonard Fu reflects on tradition, renewal and shaping the ensemble’s evolving voice
Blogs
Scrooge and strings: Noctifer Trio on performing Charles Dickens-inspired works
Ahead of a performance in London, cellist Lauren Wesley-Smith delves into how the trio expanded musical settings of the great author’s Christmas tales
Masterclass: Brahms Violin Concerto, second movement
The feeling of rhetoric and a stream of consciousness must be represented when approaching this movement, says violinist Liza Ferschtman
Masterclass: Brahms Violin Concerto, second movement
The feeling of rhetoric and a stream of consciousness must be represented when approaching this movement, says violinist Liza Ferschtman
Masterclass: Dvořák Romance in F minor op.11
Violinist Grace Park examines ways of creating nuance and variety in this seemingly simple piece, which is imbued with folk elements characteristic of Dvořák’s heritage
Masterclass: Ysaÿe’s Rêve d’enfant op.14 for violin and piano
Violinist Nancy Zhou demonstrates the breadth of Ysaÿe’s expressive devices in an intimate piece dedicated to his son
More from the Playing Hub
Opinion: 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
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
Five tips for achieving flawless legato for violinists and violists
Artists from The Strad’s extensive back catalogue share their insights on playing smoothly with the bow arm
Technique: Violin bow landings with Gina McCormack
Violinist Gina McCormack on teaching bow landings in reference to Mozart
Masterclass: Brahms Violin Concerto, second movement
The feeling of rhetoric and a stream of consciousness must be represented when approaching this movement, says violinist Liza Ferschtman
Masterclass: Dvořák Romance in F minor op.11
Violinist Grace Park examines ways of creating nuance and variety in this seemingly simple piece, which is imbued with folk elements characteristic of Dvořák’s heritage
Masterclass: Ysaÿe’s Rêve d’enfant op.14 for violin and piano
Violinist Nancy Zhou demonstrates the breadth of Ysaÿe’s expressive devices in an intimate piece dedicated to his son
Masterclass: Beethoven Violin Sonata No.9 ‘Kreutzer’, first movement
Capturing the music’s sense of tumultuous energy is key to portraying Beethoven’s unpredictable character in this movement, says violinist Kristin Lee
Masterclass: Brahms Violin Concerto, second movement
The feeling of rhetoric and a stream of consciousness must be represented when approaching this movement, says violinist Liza Ferschtman
Masterclass: Dvořák Romance in F minor op.11
Violinist Grace Park examines ways of creating nuance and variety in this seemingly simple piece, which is imbued with folk elements characteristic of Dvořák’s heritage
Masterclass: Ysaÿe’s Rêve d’enfant op.14 for violin and piano
Violinist Nancy Zhou demonstrates the breadth of Ysaÿe’s expressive devices in an intimate piece dedicated to his son
Masterclass: Beethoven Violin Sonata No.9 ‘Kreutzer’, first movement
Capturing the music’s sense of tumultuous energy is key to portraying Beethoven’s unpredictable character in this movement, says violinist Kristin Lee
The mindful hands: creative health for musicians
Pedro de Alcantara considers a playful yet philosophical approach to boosting health for the curious musician, and suggests some novel arm, wrist, hand and finger exercises for string players
‘What we do is a miraculous connection to others’ - Peter Sheppard Skærved’s life lessons
The British violinist on a musician’s duty and the importance of community
‘You feel the presence and breath of a fifth person’ - The Elmire Quartet on its debut ‘Rasumovsky’ Quartets album
The French quartet talks to The Strad about its experience tackling Beethoven’s monumental op.59 quartets in its debut album, Beyond the Limits
‘You can combine all those influences into your own playing’ - Hilary Hahn’s violin heroes
In this throwback to an interview from 1999, Hilary Hahn shares why she finds inspiration in the playing of great violinists including Brodsky, Elman, Milstein, Kriesler, Grumiaux and Heifetz
The mindful hands: creative health for musicians
Pedro de Alcantara considers a playful yet philosophical approach to boosting health for the curious musician, and suggests some novel arm, wrist, hand and finger exercises for string players
‘What we do is a miraculous connection to others’ - Peter Sheppard Skærved’s life lessons
The British violinist on a musician’s duty and the importance of community
‘You feel the presence and breath of a fifth person’ - The Elmire Quartet on its debut ‘Rasumovsky’ Quartets album
The French quartet talks to The Strad about its experience tackling Beethoven’s monumental op.59 quartets in its debut album, Beyond the Limits
‘You can combine all those influences into your own playing’ - Hilary Hahn’s violin heroes
In this throwback to an interview from 1999, Hilary Hahn shares why she finds inspiration in the playing of great violinists including Brodsky, Elman, Milstein, Kriesler, Grumiaux and Heifetz
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