How to sound like a superstar by Sarah Freiberg “I find tone is like someone’s voice,” says virtuoso violinist Jaime Laredo, conductor of the prestigious New York String Orchestra Seminar, “and like appearances, no two sounds are alike.” In other words,…
50 years after her London debut, EMI Reissues her complete recorded works—friends and colleagues marvel at her legacy. by Laurence Vittes It’s easy to feel sorry for the late cellist Jacqueline du Pré—after all, she was struck down at the…
10 lessons to sharpen your cello-playing technique By Greg Cahill Play Cello with Less Effort in 6 Easy Steps Think about this, cellists: gravity doesn’t need your help when you play your instrument. The force is already with you: use…
Here are 10 violin lessons to help you hone your violin (and viola) playing skills.
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On how she handles the balancing act between old and new works by Greg Cahill “Emboldened Orchestras Are Embracing the New” trumpeted the headline in the arts section of the New York Times in a December 9 article by veteran…
The everyday basics of bow care could be reduced to three simple rules: be careful where you set it down, keep it clean, and loosen the hair when you’re not playing.
A 5-step approach to finding the perfect grip for your violin or viola bow By Laurel Thomsen Fig. 1: Turn your hand over so the palm faces up. Let your thumb curl inward. Fig. 2: Turn your hand back over,…
A little bit country, a little bit classical, a whole lot of Stuart Duncan, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile By Bob Doerschuk “The most intriguing part of this project is that it’s not centered in one style or…
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Work your shoulder weight to gain speed, accuracy, and powerby Laurel Thomsen The Problem: You’re not getting power in your strokes after sloppy string crossings. The Solution: Sharpen your awareness of bowing arm dynamics. When you want to move to…
Winterizing your fiddle will stabilize it and ensure that your violin survives the season's humidity changes. Here are 6 ways to protect it from winter's chill.
Here is a 5-step approach to finding the perfect grip for your violin or viola bow to produce the desired tone colors, strokes, and dynamics.
To achieve the full spectrum of dynamics while maintaining a beautiful tone, it’s important to consider all four of the factors that affect volume.
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Counting, looking ahead, and prioritizing are keys to success by Robert Battey Everyone knows that good sight-reading requires the player to always scan ahead; to take in a new measure while still playing the current one. This “double vision,” like…
Following an unexplained hiatus, Dutch violinist and violist Janine Jansen has returned to the stage, rested and ready for the next phase in her skyrocketing career by Inge Kjemtrup When I tell friends in London about a musician I’m going…
Purchasing a quality bow can be a wise investment for your playing and your wallet by Phillip Kass The last few years have witnessed a dramatic increase in violins and bows as investments. With traditional investments, like real estate and…
Learn to make a smooth transition when changing positions on the violin or viola fingerboard by Paul Stein The Problem How to find your target on the fingerboard and overcome obstacles when shifting. The Solution To improve your accuracy, a…
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At 28, Russian violinist Ilya Gringolts has crafted a career rich with possibilities by Inge Kjemtrup When I first catch sight of Ilya Gringolts, he’s sitting on the ground just outside the entrance to Wigmore Hall in London, typing away…
A "violin hickey" blemish is seen as a mark of valor by some string players, but it can be the result of health problems. Here's how to prevent or cure it.
The secret to that dark, seductive tone sought by all violists can be found in mastering basic skills, along with checking the setup of the viola.
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