Technique – Page 8

  • Scales21
    Article

    The Strad Technique: Michael Frischenschlager’s Violin Scale System Part 2

    2016-04-05T00:00:00Z

    Michael Frischenschlager, professor emeritus at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, explains Part 2 of his two-octave violin scale and arpeggio system, as featured in The Strad's December 2015 issue. In this exercise the focus is on shifting - playing two-octave scales, arpeggios, dominant and diminished 7ths on ...

  • Zimmermann-Tabea-1
    Focus

    Violist Tabea Zimmermann on technique, teaching and competitions

    2016-03-01T00:00:00Z

    The German violist talks to Carlos María Solare about her teaching philosophies and the role of competitions in the development of young musicians

  • TetzlaffScales1
    Article

    Violinist Christian Tetzlaff on whether or not to practise scales

    2016-02-05T00:00:00Z

    Sometimes in a concert if you feel tense or unsure, you might want muscle memory and motor skills to take over for a while so you can remove yourself from the performance and calm down...' Violinist Christian Tetzlaff and neurologist Dr Steven Frucht talk about whether scales and technical exercises ...

  • Gerhardt_Kaupo_Kikkas
    Blogs

    Cellist Alban Gerhardt on the importance of open string practice

    2016-01-06T00:00:00Z

    The German musician also advocates bringing a broader perspective to the interpretation of great concertos

  • ScaleSystem1
    Article

    The Strad Technique: Michael Frischenschlager's Violin Scale System

    2015-12-11T00:00:00Z

    Michael Frischenschlager, professor emeritus at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, explains his two-octave violin scale and arpeggio system for improving tone and intonation in The Strad's December 2015 issueStudents work in pairs, playing in harmony, and perform each exercise ppp and fff, in major and ...

  • SlowPracPic1
    Focus

    How to improve your playing with slow practice

    2015-12-08T00:00:00Z

    Does slow and steady win the race when it comes to practice, or does a more up-tempo approach bring the best results, asks Rok Klopčič

  • RalphKirschbaum1
    Article

    Cellist Ralph Kirshbaum on varying bow speed

    2015-11-25T00:00:00Z

    When playing Bach we tend to use a slightly faster bow speed - with less core and more resonance' Cellist Ralph Kirshbaum speaks about varying bow speed depending on period and genre for the Play With A Pro Music Academy. The full masterclass is available here. Kirshbaum ...

  • ControlledBowing1
    Article

    How to achieve perfectly controlled bowing

    2015-11-20T00:00:00Z

    The presentation may be a little odd, but this video on how to achieve a clear and controlled bow stroke, drawing inspiration from the method of Paganini, features some very useful tips.Read: The evolution of violin bow holdRead: Violinist Aaron Rosand on improving bow technique

  • PodgerMasterclass1
    Article

    Violinist Rachel Podger gives Baroque bowing masterclass

    2015-11-19T00:00:00Z

    Imagine your hand is like seaweed in the water, always flowing...'British Baroque violinist Rachel Podger gives a bowing masterclass as part of the York Baroque Strings Project for students at the National Centre for Early Music in 2014.Podger speaks about the singular challenges of Biber’s Rosary Sonatas, considered ...

  • Harmonics1
    Focus

    5 views on playing the perfect harmonic

    2015-11-15T17:00:00Z

    Learning how to do harmonics properly is invaluable to a player’s left hand, bow arm and intonation – as the following tips from The Strad's archive demonstrate.

  • 11-year-old-boy
    Focus

    Ask the Experts: how to cure a locked left-hand fourth finger

    2015-10-22T00:00:00Z

    Strad readers submit their problems and queries about string playing, teaching or making to a panel of experts

  • PerlmanStaccato1
    Article

    Violinist Itzhak Perlman on mastering up-bow staccato

    2015-10-16T00:00:00Z

    Josef Gingold: 'I'm sorry Mr Ysaÿe, I don't have a good staccato' Eugène Ysaÿe: 'Ah, don't worry, I'll give you a good staccato - and you won't forget!' While giving a masterclass for a young Cho-Liang Lin, violinist Itzhak Perlman relays a humorous story, passed on to ...

  • RosandTeacher1
    Article

    Violinist Aaron Rosand demonstrates the impact of bow direction

    2015-10-09T00:00:00Z

    For me the bow is the breathing process - it has to be free and clear' Violinist Aaron Rosand speaks about the importance of bowing direction and demonstrates his ideas in the opening of Sibelius's Violin Concerto. Read Aaron Rosand's blogs: Improving bow technique and Every movement ...

  • HarmonicsViolin
    Focus

    Using harmonics as a violin teaching and practice tool

    2015-09-16T00:00:00Z

    Although harmonics are most often used for musical effect, in the search for a perfectly pure sound they can be a wonderful aid to learning and practice, argues Laura Reed

  • starkervibrato
    Article

    Cellist János Starker on vibrato

    2015-09-09T00:00:00Z

    Vibrato is tension and release. I had an argument with Paul Rolland, who claimed I was rolling above the note and back, but I don't think so. I am in the middle of the note and then releasing' Cellist János Starker speaks about vibrato in an interview with Paul Katz ...

  • RayChenStaccatoReview1
    Article

    Violinist Ray Chen reviews fans' up bow staccato videos

    2015-09-07T00:00:00Z

    Violinist Ray Chen shares his humorous reviews of videos sent in by string players in response to his up bow staccato masterclass.Read The Strad’s 6 ways to improve your staccato.Watch Ray Chen performing Ysaÿe’s Solo Sonata no.6 at the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Belgium in 2009 – ...

  • TechniqueMusicality11
    Focus

    6 ways to develop a smooth legato

    2015-09-04T00:00:00Z

    Tips from The Strad’s Archive on producing a fluid and beautiful tone

  • RayChanStaccato1
    Article

    Violinist Ray Chen gives up bow staccato masterclass

    2015-08-18T00:00:00Z

    Violinist Ray Chen shares his technique for mastering up bow staccato - making use of tremolo.Read The Strad's 6 ways to improve your staccato.Watch Ray Chen performing Ysaÿe’s Solo Sonata no.6 at the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Belgium in 2009 – which he later won.

  • MilesJordan1
    Article

    Cellist Myles Jordan discusses bow changes

    2015-08-14T00:00:00Z

    In The Strad's September 2015 issue, cellist Myles Jordan gives a detailed analysis of bow changes, particularly focusing on how mastering the collé change gives a seamless transition. Here he gives an audio–visual demonstration.

  • HeifetzStaccato1
    Article

    Violinist Jascha Heifetz performs Hora Staccato

    2015-08-12T00:00:00Z

    Jascha Heifetz demonstrates impeccable bow control in up- and down-bow staccato in his arrangement of Dinicu's Hora Staccato. Read The Strad's 6 ways to improve your staccato.