Technique – Page 5
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Premium ❘ FeatureAsk the Experts: purchasing the right Baroque bow
A trio of Baroque bow makers give their thoughts on what to look for when making the leap into historically informed playing
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FocusThe secret behind Paganini's amazing technique
Generations of violinists have tried to discover what it was that made Paganini so legendary. In this article from 2014, the late great Ruggiero Ricci shared his thoughts with Strad readers
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Video‘With Nicky’ 9: Recap – vibrato in Massenet’s Méditation
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 ...
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Video‘With Nicky’ 8: Recap – Playing Fast
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
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Video‘With Nicky’ 7: Back to More Basics, Left Hand Part II
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 ...
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FocusTechnique: Velocity studies with Hans Jørgen Jensen
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 ...
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Video‘With Nicky’ 4: Vibrato Part II
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 ...
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Video'With Nicky’ 3: Vibrato Part I
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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FocusTurtle Island Quartet techniques: chop, slide and hickety mute
Members of the genre-crossing ensemble share some of the unusual techniques they use to give them their unique sound
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FocusFrom the archive: Technique or tone?
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
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FocusIsabelle Faust on how playing period instruments has improved her bowing
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
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FocusPinky promise: the Pinky Hold bowing aid
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 ...
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Focus6 tips for smooth bow changes
Advice on smooth and inaudible bow changes at the tip and the heel from The Strad's archives
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Focus10 tips for improving your scales
Guidance from The Strad 's archive on tuning, bow control, shifting, direction and pulse
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Focus10 views on the benefits of slow practice
Debate on how best to harness slow practice from The Strad Archive
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Premium ❘ Feature8 views on intonation
Tips on playing in tune – or giving the impression of it – from 100 years of The Strad
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Focus10 ways to avoid tension in your playing
Advice on how to be flexible and relaxed as a string player from 120 years of The Strad
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VideoPhiladelphia concertmaster David Kim on ‘super slow’ practice, muscle memory and concerto prep
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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FocusAsk the Experts: how to eliminate tension in the bow arm and hand
Three teachers give their thoughts on eliminating right hand, arm and shoulder tension in a young student
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FocusJoshua Bell: Don't impose bowings and fingerings on your students
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
