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

the violin doctor, dr. immanuel abraham with his violin

3 Tips for Achieving a Relaxed Bow Hold on Violin or Viola

Having a relaxed bow hold is not only good for our playing, but also for our bodies. Here are a few tips on how to best achieve a relaxed bow hold on violin or viola.

Study with Strings Students: Bassist Ben Foerster Shares Tips on Playing the Solo in Ginestera’s Variaciones Concertantes

Double bassist Ben Foerster shares his tips for playing the bass solo from Ginastera's Variaciones Concertantes.

cello headstock on forehead illustration

4 Strategies for Honing Musician Mental Toughness from a Juilliard Psychologist

At first glance, there may not seem to be much in common between top athletes and elite cellists or violinists, but inside the mind, it’s much the same thing.

scott flavin and student playing violins

Brush Up Your Double-Stops on Violin With This Tricky Interval Exercise

We don't encounter them very often, but still there are great potential benefits to working on double-stops in seconds on violin.

How To Develop a Daily Warm-Up Routine on Strings

A good warm-up routine for strings will help to keep you advancing in every aspect of your technique and help you to see and feel the relationships between them.

debby greenblatt playing the nyckelharpa in front of a brick building

7 Tips to Make the Most of Your Fiddle-Competition Experience

The first step to making the most of your fiddle competition experience is to ask yourself why you want to do it. Then, consider these 7 things.

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.

10 Bow Stroke Tips from Violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins

For string players, gaining a command of basic bow strokes is paramount. Here are 10 tips to master bow strokes on the violin or viola.

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.