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Shutdown Skills Series: How to Develop a Warm, Pure Vibrato

4 ways to improve your vibrato and develop a personal toneBy Paul Stein The Problem How to maintain control of a violin or viola while eliciting a pure, warm,... Read More...

Shutdown Skills Series: Learn to Compose Your Own Cadenzas and Variations

Nine ways to improve your improv and craft a cadenzaBy Richard S. BridgesI learned how to improvise by the “sink-or-swim” method when, as a teenager, I was ... Read More...

7 Tips on Developing Beautiful Vibrato

By Greg CahillWhen it comes to musical instruction, Phyllis Young has a way with words. "Let's see if you can make your arm so relaxed that all that fat on ... Read More...

Old-Time Fiddling Tips: How to Work the Bow

Mastering these three bow strokes can help explain why a tune sounds ‘old-time’By Bruce MolskyThe ProblemYour classical training prevents yo... Read More...

Concert Violinist Christian Tetzlaff’s Advice: Live a Musical Life—Without Armor

A young person's guide to the solo stageby Jacqueline Vanasse, Images by Giorgia BertazziViolinist Christian Tetzlaff is one of the most inspiring artis... Read More...

10 Tips on Learning the Cello, Exploring Technique, and Developing Musicality

Notes from the virtuoso’s desk on keeping time by Louise LeeAs part of his work as director of the online community Internet Cello Society, self-described... Read More...

Yo-Yo Ma on Intonation, Practice, and the Role of Music in Our Lives

The 60-year-old cellist is on a magic cello ride, and still striving for perfection by Martin SteinbergA cellist walks on a beach and picks up a bottle. A ... Read More...

In the Shadow of Giants

Daniel Hope explores the Golden Age of Hollywood strings by Laurence VittesViolinist Daniel Hope affirms the high quality and prestige of Erich Wolfgang Ko... Read More...

A Tango State of Mind

Russian-American violinist Philippe Quint’s chamber ensemble prepares to tour and record by Rory WilliamsWhile at a club one night, fate would have it that... Read More...

The Search for the Vegan Violin

Vegan players wrestle with the moral dilemma of using animal products endemic to traditional violins and bows by Elizabeth Marshall“I am the worst vegan e... Read More...