Bowing

Everything you need to know to improve your bowing technique, from achieving a smooth, even tone, to mastering the bouncing strokes.

Latest Bowing

The Strad Podcast Episode #57: Augustin Hadelich on Recuerdos and Ricochet

4 April 2024

Enjoy some ’R&R’: the violinist speaks about his new album, as well as a particularly tricky bowing technique

Five tips for achieving flawless legato for violinists and violists

2 November 2023

Artists from The Strad’s extensive back catalogue share their insights on playing smoothly with the bow arm

More Bowing

Technique: Thoughts on bowing

2 May 2025

Charles Castleman explores a range of approaches to teaching bowing techniques

Interpreting Dvořák vs. Mozart — a technical perspective for violinists

25 April 2025

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

Spiccato, Sautillé and Staccato

Technique: Cello warm-ups - the bow arm

1 September 2022

Cellist Mats Lidström discusses how to prepare the whole body for efficient, time-saving repertoire practice

Speed

Playing Fast: add these above-and-beyond rhythm exercises to your practice routine

16 May 2023

Changing up rhythm and metre are great ways to get that fast passagework down, writes violinist Susanna Klein

Bow Changes

The anatomy and function of the bow arm: violinist Rachael Ridge

16 May 2023

Having an awareness and understanding of how the bow arm moves is crucial to achieving a good tone on the violin

Bow hold

9 ways to develop a flexible bow hold

16 February 2023

Advice for string players on avoiding tension in the bow hand and wrist from The Strad's archive

Legato

Our bow is our breath: cellist John-Henry Crawford

9 June 2023

Understanding the relationship between the bow and the voice is key to creating a singing line, as the cellist discovered while preparing his new album Voice of Rachmaninoff