All Improve your playing articles – Page 20
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FocusThe wisest thing anyone ever told me: violinist Julian Rachlin
The violinist shares an important lesson taught to him by cellist Mstislav Rostropovich
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ArticleCellist Alisa Weilerstein on taking a piece from the practice room to the stage
Alisa Weilerstein: 'When getting ready to play in public I find it's so helpful to play for my friends and for people who know me really well, because it's actually more difficult to play for them than it is to play for an audience full of strangers' ...
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FocusLeila Josefowicz on performing 21st-century violin concertos
When playing a new concerto 'you have to take on its personality completely in order to make it convincing', says the violinist
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ArticleVadim Gluzman rehearses Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto with Orchestre de Paris
Vadim Gluzman rehearses Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto with Orchestre de Paris conducted by Juraj ValÄuha for a concert taking place on 14 December 2016.Watch: Maxim Vengerov rehearses Sibelius Violin Concerto with Orchestre de ParisWatch: Violinist Viktoria Mullova performs Prokofiev’s Second Concerto
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Blogs5 things you need to succeed as a musician
Northwestern University viola professor Helen Callus describes the combination of skills necessary to succeed as a musician - talent being just one in a mixture of abilities
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Focus7 ways to improve your trills
Tips from The Strad’s archive for improving trill speed and clarity, and for varying ornamental style according to musical period
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ArticleViolinist Nathan Milstein performs Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata aged 82
Violinist Nathan Milstein performs Beethoven's 'Kreutzer' Sonata in his last public recital at the age of 82 with pianist Georges Pludermacher in Stockholm, Sweden in July 1986. Filmed by Christopher Nupen and recently released on YouTube by Allegro Films, the video also includes footage of Milstein backstage ...
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Blogs'Your principal practice should be confined to the use of the bow,' says violinist Aaron Rosand
The American maestro discusses the art of the bow and the importance of a relaxed right hand to produce a good sound
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ArticleDaniel Hope performs Elgar's Violin Concerto 2016
Daniel Hope performs Edward Elgar's Violin Concerto with the Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin conducted by Iván Fischer on 22 April 2016.Read: 6 pieces of advice for performers by violinist Daniel HopeRead: Yehudi Menuhin always let the student find their own voice, says violinist Daniel Hope
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Focus9 opinions on performance and career by cellist Yo-Yo Ma
The cellist revealed his thoughts and ideas on performing, practice, technique and musicianship to David Blum in The Strad’s January 1988 issue
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ArticleYo-Yo Ma performs Schumann's Cello Concerto
Yo-Yo Ma performs Schumann's Cello Concerto with the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Manfred Honeck at the Baden-Baden Festspielhaus on 20 March 2016. Read: 9 opinions on performance and career by cellist Yo-Yo Ma Watch: Pierre Fournier performs Schumann’s Cello Concerto
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ArticleMaxim Vengerov rehearses Sibelius Violin Concerto with Orchestre de Paris
Maxim Vengerov rehearses the original 1904 version of Sibelius's Violin Concerto with the Orchestre de Paris conducted by Christoph Eschenbach for concerts taking place on 5 and 6 October 2016.Watch: Maxim Vengerov gives a masterclass on Sibelius’s Violin Concerto and speaks about the importance of emphasising the theme ...
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FocusScales and exercises are essential for all string players
Not all players regard exercises as important, but without a sound technical basis you cannot achieve your expressive potential, writes the cellist
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ArticleFrank Peter Zimmermann performs Brahms Violin Concerto
Frank Peter Zimmermann performs Brahms's Violin Concerto with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra under conductor Mariss Jansons in Munich's Gasteig on April 17, 2015. Watch: Violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann performs Paganini’s God Save the King Read: Frank Peter Zimmermann regains access to ‘Lady Inchiquin’ Stradivarius violin
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Focus6 ways to control bow pressure
How to use bow pressure to produce a fine, even tone, to vary texture and dynamics and to produce smooth bow changes from The Strad archive
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ArticleBerlin Philharmonic cellist Ludwig Quandt gives Debussy audition masterclass
You must maintain a good sound to the end of the bow, even when you are playing pp' - Ludwig QuandtBerlin Philharmonic first principal cellist Ludwig Quandt gives an orchestral audition masterclass on Debussy's La Mer. The cello student is Henry Shapard.The masterclass was one in a series ...
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ArticleBerlin Philharmonic violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley gives Mozart audition masterclass
I think you have to play a little more soloistically in an audition than you would in a section' - Noah Bendix-BalgleyBerlin Philharmonic first concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley gives an orchestral audition masterclass on the first movement of Mozart's Symphony no.40. The violin student is Ann Yu.The masterclass was ...
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ArticleCould a brain stimulation tool used for sport improve the results of music practice?
Spanish pianist and actor Mario Marzo uses a Halo Sport brain stimulating device to boost the results of his practice with seemingly impressive results.The headphones use 'Neuropriming' to stimulate the brain during athletic training 'to improve strength, skill, explosiveness, and endurance'. Although designed for athletes, Marzo demonstrates that ...
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ArticleVadim Repin performs Shostakovich's First Violin Concerto
Vadim Repin performs Shostakovich's First Violin Concerto with the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra under Valery Gergiev in St. Petersburg in 1992. The performance was dedicated to David Oistrakh. Read: 6 pieces of advice for performers by violinist Vadim Repin Watch: Vadim Repin plays seven Stradivarius and Guarneri violins
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BlogsBach's humanity has provided comfort in a turbulent year
Kati Debretzeni, leader of the English Baroque Soloists, describes performing Bach's St Matthew Passion with the Monteverdi Choir following the 2016 Brussels terror attacks, and looks ahead to the group's Bach Magnificat tour during December
