Technique – Page 5

  • Nicola Benedetti vibrato
    Video

    ‘With Nicky’ 9: Recap – vibrato in Massenet’s Méditation

    2019-04-16T11:15:00Z

    A recap from Nicola Benedetti’s vibrato video, using the first two bars of Massenet’s Meditation as a vibrato exercise. ‘It’s important to remember that with all exercises, in the end, use your ears – they will tell you exactly how you want to sound and send messages to your hands ...

  • Nicola Benedetti recap Velocity
    Video

    ‘With Nicky’ 8: Recap – Playing Fast

    2019-04-09T11:09:00Z

    A recap of last week’s video today on Nicola Benedetti’s journey of YouTube tutorials, in which the violinist goes back over one of the most important parts of developing the basics for the left hand: Playing Fast - Velocity Requires Flexibility. See the full series here

  • With Nicky Back to More Basics Left Hand Part 2
    Video

    ‘With Nicky’ 7: Back to More Basics, Left Hand Part II

    2019-04-02T11:00:00Z

    After a few very busy weeks practising, Nicola Benedetti presents Back to More Basics Left Hand Part 2. She says: ‘Before you watch this week’s video, I’d really encourage you to revisit Back to More Basics Left Hand Part 1 as this week is a continuation from what we were ...

  • Hans Jørgen Jensen
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    Technique: Velocity studies with Hans Jørgen Jensen

    2019-03-27T11:45:00Z

    Some musicians love playing fast. Others struggle with it, both psychologically and physically: they can’t control their tempo, they play too loudly, their fingers collapse and lose their natural curvature, they have unnecessary tension in different parts of the body, they make facial grimaces, or they lift their fingers too ...

  • With Nicky Vibrato Part 2
    Video

    ‘With Nicky’ 4: Vibrato Part II

    2019-02-19T12:00:00Z

    Following on from last week’s episode in her series of video tutorials, Nicola Benedetti is on to Vibrato Part 2, in which she progresses from easier to slightly harder vibrato exercises. She focuses on how to put some of last week’s exercises into practice with one of the most popular ...

  • With Nicky Vibrato
    Video

    'With Nicky’ 3: Vibrato Part I

    2019-02-12T12:00:00Z

    This week on Nicola Benedetti’s series of video tutorials, she talks about a much requested subject…vibrato. It’s not surprising there have been so many questions and comments about it as vibrato is one of the most tricky things for string players to develop. Learning and building the fundamentals of this ...

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    Turtle Island Quartet techniques: chop, slide and hickety mute

    2019-01-11T13:18:00Z

    Members of the genre-crossing ensemble share some of the unusual techniques they use to give them their unique sound

  • Strad Sep1954 crop
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    From the archive: Technique or tone?

    2019-01-11T13:00:00Z

    This article from The Strad, September 1954, argues that the trend among students of pursuing mechanical brilliance at the expense of beauty of tone is misguided

  • Isabelle Faust by Felix Broede 2016 hd
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    Isabelle Faust on how playing period instruments has improved her bowing

    2019-01-02T12:40:00Z

    Our January 2019 issue cover star on bringing her unusually active and flexible right arm technique to bear with a classical Tourte bow and the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Strad

  • Pinky Hold
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    Pinky promise: the Pinky Hold bowing aid

    2018-12-06T11:23:00Z

    By helping to anchor a student’s little finger in place on the heel of their bow, the Pinky Hold is designed to avoid stiffness and encourage the development of muscle memory. Made of soft, hypoallergenic silicone and available in a range of colours, it weighs 3g and ...

  • smooth-bow-changes
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    6 tips for smooth bow changes

    2018-11-05T17:14:00Z

    Advice on smooth and inaudible bow changes at the tip and the heel from The Strad's archives

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    10 tips for improving your scales

    2018-10-16T14:57:00Z

    Guidance from The Strad 's  archive on tuning, bow control, shifting, direction and pulse

  • Violinist
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    10 views on the benefits of slow practice

    2018-10-15T14:12:00Z

    Debate on how best to harness slow practice from The Strad Archive

  • Piggies for practice
    Premium ❘ Feature

    8 views on intonation

    2018-10-08T16:00:00Z

    Tips on playing in tune – or giving the impression of it – from 100 years of The Strad

  • Slow shutter violinist
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    10 ways to avoid tension in your playing

    2018-09-18T12:25:00Z

    Advice on how to be flexible and relaxed as a string player from 120 years of The Strad

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    Video

    Philadelphia concertmaster David Kim on ‘super slow’ practice, muscle memory and concerto prep

    2018-07-20T11:48:00Z

    Explore more Featured Stories like this in The Strad Playing Hub In this film for J.W. Pepper, Philhadelphia Orchestra concertmaster David Kim talks about how he organises his practice, and how he prepares for important concerts. Created by J.W. Pepper & Son, Inc. Produced by Rocco Richardson, Celena McAfee ...

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    Ask the Experts: how to eliminate tension in the bow arm and hand

    2018-07-17T11:30:00Z

    Three teachers give their thoughts on eliminating right hand, arm and shoulder tension in a young student

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    Joshua Bell: Don't impose bowings and fingerings on your students

    2018-07-11T11:06:00Z

    There is no ‘one size fits all’, argues the American violinist. It is important to discuss why students chose their fingerings and why there may be better alternatives

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    Video

    Violin techniques with James Ehnes: straight bow

    2018-07-04T14:37:00Z

    This set of short videos with Canadian violinist James Ehnes were published by CBC Music in 2016. They feature him discussing and demonstrating particular playing techniques. See ‘Related Video’ for the rest in the series    

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    Video

    Violin techniques with James Ehnes: ricochet

    2018-07-04T14:37:00Z

    This set of short videos with Canadian violinist James Ehnes were published by CBC Music in 2016. They feature him discussing and demonstrating particular playing techniques. See ‘Related Video’ for the rest in the series