All Practice articles
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FocusThe Strad Podcast: How to practise effectively with violinist Ray Chen
The first in our new four-part education themed podcast series features our September 2024 cover star
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BlogsPreventing procrastination: how to never put off until tomorrow the music you can explore today
Hector Scott shares some fun games and strategies to help motivate young students in their practice sessions
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ReviewBook review: How to Practice Music
Celia Cobb reviews Andrew Eales’ short volume on the best practice strategies
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BlogsThe Anatomy of Deliberate Practice: Violinist Susanna Klein
Susanna Klein’s final article in her three-part series explores four traits of intentional practice sessions
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Focus10 views on dynamics for bowed strings
Advice on how to produce effective dynamic contrasts from The Strad archives
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Blogs8 ways to make practice playful: Susanna Klein
The violinist’s second instalment in a three-part series examines ways to inject a sense of fun in practice sessions
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Blogs6 tips for empowered recording: Susanna Klein
In the first of a three-part guide to practice strategies, the violinist gives advice on how to reap the benefits of recording yourself in your practice sessions
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Premium ❘ FeatureCellist Pablo Casals on expressive intonation
The great artist believed that 50 per cent of a player's total dramatic power lay in exaggerated intonation, writes former pupil Pamela Hind O'Malley
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Focus8 ways to improve your intonation
Tips and tricks for playing in tune – or giving the impression of playing in tune
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FocusHow to develop secure intonation, by cellist Maria Kliegel
Maria Kliegel explains how developing accurate intonation gives security and confidence to her playing
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Premium ❘ FeatureHarnessing breathing to improve your string playing
Breathing naturally is one of the first principles of Alexander teaching - and it's a must for anyone who suffers from stage fright, says Joseph Sanders
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Focus7 techniques to combat stage fright
Are you suffering from stage fright? Laurinel Owen gives advice on overcoming this common affliction
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FocusString players should bow with individual fingers rather than the whole hand
Awareness of the movement of each right-hand finger is one of the great secrets of bowing, writes Rok Klopčič
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Premium ❘ FeatureFrom the Archive: How to memorise solos
The art of memorising can be mastered by even those who believe they have no aptitude in the area, wrote Edwin H. Pierce in The Strad's December 1894 issue
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Focus10 tips for performing from memory
Guidance from The Strad’s archive from how to incorporate memorisation into your practice, what the benefits might be – and when not to bother
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Premium ❘ FeatureHow to develop left-hand finger strength
Up and down movement is the basis of left-hand technique and many pedagogues have invented fiendish exercises to improve it. Rok Klopčič takes a look at some of them
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FocusViolinist Elena Urioste on why a thorough warm-up routine is a necessity for good practice
The US violinist explains why warming up is an essential part of a day's practice
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Focus10 tips on maximising tone quality & projection
Advice on projecting your best sound from over 130 years of The Strad's archives
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FocusSinging during practice can help improve sound and characterisation
Cellist Laurence Lesser suggests that learning to listen to your voice constructively isn't easy, but it helps to set musical feeling directly into motion
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ArticleCellist David Finckel on vibrato
Cellist David Finckel introduces the subject of vibrato as part of a series of video demonstrations on cello technique. Vibrato, he says, 'connects the listener to the player's innermost feelings about the music. It should be something that reinforces the music, not something that is painted on top ...
