Teaching
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DebateOpinion: The Wisdom of Yoda
In the Star Wars universe, Jedi Master Yoda is the ultimate teacher – and his insights can be applied just as readily to string playing as to learning the ways of the Force, writes cellist Brian Hodges
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FocusWords of Wisdom: Alice Schoenfeld
An interview with the late violinist and pedagogue Alice Schoenfeld
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FocusWords of wisdom from cellist Aldo Parisot
As Yale School of Music announced the official retirement of the cello guru in 2018, we looked back at some of the inspiring quotes from an interview for The Strad conducted by one of his most illustrious students, Ralph Kirshbaum
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Blogs10 tips on how to stay motivated as an adult beginner violin student
Consistency, support and perspective are just some of the keys for continuous progress, writes violinist and teacher Rachael Ridge
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FocusThe teaching of Dorothy DeLay - by violinists Itzhak Perlman, Stephen Clapp and Brian Lewis
Shortly after the legendary Juilliard School violin professor died in 2002, pupils and colleagues paid tribute to her teaching magic
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Focus11 views on teaching by Juilliard School violin professor Dorothy DeLay
During the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Hannover in 1995, jury member Dorothy DeLay led a 90-minute discussion on teaching. Evelyn Chadwick recorded some of her views.
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FeatureStudying the violin with Carl Flesch: Yfrah Neaman
Lebanese violinist Yfrah Neaman, who died in 2003, shared memories of his teacher with Evelyn Chadwick in December 1994
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Premium ❘ FeatureAsk the Experts: how to encourage students to trust their ears
A reader asks what can be done to help young students who rely on learning finger placement rather than trusting their ears. Three teachers give their views
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Premium ❘ FeatureTechnique: how to play chords
How to tackle multi-stopped passages with more confidence, musicality and alacrity with Pavel Berman
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Focus10 views on dynamics for bowed strings
Advice on how to produce effective dynamic contrasts from The Strad archives
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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 ❘ FeatureBlue Sky Teaching: Using creative approaches to refine students’ technique
In our June 2019 issue, Judith Kogan spoke with three string teachers, all based in North America and whose unique ideas are achieving significant results
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FocusCan bowing-wrist suppleness improve intonation?
John Krakenberger has made a number of interesting connections between good tuning and loosening the bowing wrist in his teaching
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FeatureLeonard Rose: All about the bow
Oskar Falta explores some of Rose’s bowing theories and speaks to former students about his teaching techniques
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FocusMartelé: Essential foundations for a top-quality bow technique
Rictor Noren offers grounding, exercises and repertoire suggestions to help you work on your martelé stroke
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Premium ❘ FeatureTechnique: Cello warm-ups - the bow arm
Cellist Mats Lidström discusses how to prepare the whole body for efficient, time-saving repertoire practice
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Premium ❘ FeatureTechnique: Memory and mental practice from violinist William Herzog
Techniques to help you learn music off by heart and protect against memory slips. From December 2020
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Premium ❘ FeatureViolist Cynthia Phelps on studying with William Primrose and Donald McInnes
For some players, only the viola sound will do. But to bring out its full power, the New York Philharmonic violist sought help from a number of teachers, writes Ariane Todes
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Premium ❘ FeatureHow 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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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