’Practising long tones while focusing on your breathing will help you to relax when playing…’

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma gives an online masterclass titled ‘Inside the Practice Room’, covering topics such as ’activating the imagination’, ‘relaxing while playing’ and ’finding a story in music’, and including performances of works by Saint-Saëns and Beethoven.

The masterclass is part of Youth Music Culture Guangdong’s ’YMCG 2021 Special Event’, available to watch, free-of-charge, on the YMCG Facebook page until 5 February 2021, in lieu of the educational programme’s usual 10-day festival, held in Guangzhou, China. The Event also includes a virtual Q&A with conductor Long Yu, Yo-Yo Ma and young musicians and participants. 

Read: Cellist Yo-Yo Ma launches youth music programme in China

Read: 9 opinions on performance and career by cellist Yo-Yo Ma

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