How To | Strings Magazine | For players of violin, viola, cello, bass & fiddle

A Beginner’s Guide to Tuning Your Cello

by Anita Graef Making sure your cello’s strings are in tune is a crucial component of being able to play your instrument. Making sure your strings are in tu... Read More...

Am I Too Old to Learn Violin?

Have you ever wondered if you're too old to play violin? The instrument is never off limits because of age. Here are some tips to get started on violin as an adult.

JS Bach. Play Bach Better by Improving Your Fifths

Play Bach Better by Improving Your Fifths on Violin

By outlining the tonic and fifth of the harmony in the lowest two voices, Bach gives great solidity to the chord voicing on violin.

Quinton Morris works with a student from the Key to Change Studio, South King County, Washington

An Educator’s Guide to Teaching the Music of Underrepresented Composers

Educators are beginning to conserve, understand, & teach the underrepresented music and musicians beyond what classical musicians have traditionally been taught.

Leon Kirchner’s ‘Duo No. 2’ Shows the Composer’s Unfailing Vitality

Kirchner was 83 when he wrote the Duo No. 2 in 2002. He considered its completion proof that he still was capable of producing works of great vitality.

violinist practicing Martele bowing technique on violin

A Refresher on Bold Martelé Bowing Technique

Martelé bowing is remarkably useful as a teaching tool, specifically for bow-hand strength & balance, & for development of accurate direction in the bow arm.

woman playing violin with a shoulder rest

How to Find the Best Shoulder Rest for Your Violin

There is no magic shoulder rest that will make you a better player, but here's how to find the right violin shoulder rest and ensure it’s fitted correctly.

stage fright illustration of woman dangling from gigantic cello scroll

Tips on How Musicians Can Overcome Stage Fright

No matter if you've played two gigs or 2,000, stage fright can happen to any musician at any time. Here are some ways string players can overcome stage fright.

Cellists performing in an orchestra section

How Musicians Can Combat Comeback Performance Stress and Anxiety

As COVID-19 vaccinations continue, so do plans to get full orchestras and chamber ensembles back in halls before in-person audiences.

How to Blend into a Section in an Orchestra—or Project Over it as a Soloist

Playing live in an orchestral setting requires careful attention to the nuances of your fellow musicians and the conductor both as a section player and as a soloist.