All Blogs articles – Page 4
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BlogsAaron Rosand: 5 ways good posture will improve your playing
Good standing and sitting positions, and avoiding using a shoulder rest, are all important for optimum performance, wrote the American virtuoso in 2014
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BlogsCellist describes multi-leg travel nightmare
Jacob Shaw has written an exasperated post about a recent trip from Denmark to Mexico in which the airlines seems to fail him in a different way each leg
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Feature13 rules of desk partner etiquette
Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh offered these tips for a harmonious musical relationship in our September 2004 issue
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BlogsIstván Várdai on winning competitions and beyond
Having picked up prizes early in his career, and more recently served as a jury member, the cellist offers some advice for those preparing to join the competition circuit
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BlogsRachel Barton Pine: 10 tips for practice and performance
The Strad attended a masterclass with the American violinist in 2015 and took down these practical pointers
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BlogsAaron Rosand on how to practise effectively
There is no short cut to fine playing; only logical, intelligent and concentrated practice will yield results, writes the American violin virtuoso
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BlogsÉmile Sauret, moderation and the ‘saccade’ bow stroke
As Nazrin Rashidova continues her recorded exploration of Sauret’s Études-Caprices played on his own Stradivari, she contemplates an unusual technical challenge
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BlogsYuri Zhislin on the 6 pillars of violin playing
The violinist and violist boils down a career’s worth of experience as soloist, chamber musician and teacher
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BlogsStringtelligence by Thomastik-Infeld: the right rosin for your strings
Franz Klanner, director of engineering and technology at Thomastik-Infeld, shares his knowledge about rosin and the importance of choosing the right one for your strings
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FocusStringtelligence by Thomastik-Infeld: whistling E-strings
In the third part of his blog series for The Strad celebrating Thomastik-Infeld’s 100th anniversary, Franz Klanner, the Austrian string manufacturer’s director of engineering and technology, concentrates on whistling and other common issues of violin E-strings
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BlogsAbsolute Bird: music inspired by birdsong
Violinist Alexandra Wood, Creative Director of City of London Sinfonia, introduces their Absolute Bird series in conjunction with the RSPB – a life-affirming project on and off the stage of the Southbank and Southwark Cathedral
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FocusStringtelligence by Thomastik-Infeld: wolf tones and string buzzing
In the second of the new blog series for The Strad celebrating Thomastik-Infeld’s 100th anniversary, Franz Klanner, the Austrian string manufacturer’s director of engineering and technology, shares his experience in how to tame a wolf tone and get rid of irritating string buzzing
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Blogs5 steps to help save music education in the UK
Rob Adediran, executive director of the London Music Masters education charity, comments on the #SaveOurMusic campaign led by a group of LMM alumni and asks, ‘What can we do to save music for the next generation?’
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BlogsThe chamber music of Grace Williams
Madeleine Mitchell writes about her growing appeciation for the music of a remarkably gifted but neglected composer
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Blogs7 tips for successful practice by violinist Rachel Podger
The Baroque musician reveals the most important elements of her practice routine
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BlogsTechnique can be developed, but musicianship is inbuilt, says violist Rivka Golani
In this article from 2016, Toby Deller paid tribute to the pioneering musician and teacher as she celebrated her 70th birthday
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BlogsThe Rewards of a Portfolio Career
Cellist and baritone Matthew Sharp explains why you should broaden your musical horizons
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BlogsThree top tips for improving performances with meditation techniques
Violist Matthew Jones discusses the ways in which meditation and mindfulness can help performers
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Blogs5 reasons Boccherini is actually worth getting to know
Cellist Peggy Nolan argues that posterity has been unfair to this cello virtuoso who was also a unique and prolific composer
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Blogs5 tips for improvising on strings
Violinist Curtis Stewart of the innovative New York based PUBLIQuartet writes us a checklist for throwing off the shackles of the score and exploring your own creativity
