Yo-Yo Ma is unquestionably today’s most accomplished and influential cellist. From his debut as a seven-year-old performing for President Kennedy, Ma has made an impact on the music world. As proficient as he is on the cello, he's never been content with merely performing. Throughout his career, Ma has actively sought to bring people and cultures together through music.
Read More
If you move a rosin-less bow across the strings of your instrument, you will hear....hardly anything. That's because rosin provides the friction required to produce sound when an instrument's strings are bowed. Made from tree sap (and often mixed with other ingredients to enhance sound production) rosin is an essential tool for string players.
Read More
In 1756, Leopold Mozart described vibrato in his book, Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule, saying, "The left-hand finger should make a small, slow movement, which, however, must not go toward the side, but forward and backward. That is, the finger should bend forwards towards the bridge and backwards towards the violin’s scroll, quite slowly for soft tones, but somewhat faster for loud ones."
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Professional music careers are competitive, so a unique performance style and personalized "brand" are essential to cultivating a unique niche in the audience market. That is easier said than done, particularly if you're an introvert by nature, or if you are more comfortable being a wallflower than an on-stage star.
Read More
Summer is a time ripe for traveling, exploring, and enjoying. As a musician, you have many opportunities to garner inspiration from the plethora of music festivals happening across the country – and Europe. If you are staying within the U.S. this summer, you may want to attend the performance of one of these six amazing musicians.
Read More
Choosing the bow for your violin is just as a big a decision as choosing the violin. You want to take the same time and care in selecting the right bow that suits your skill level, goals, and budget.
Read More
As a music instructor, you have a super-power: the ability to connect and hold space with students in an exceptional way. Your regular engagement with them, via a shared interest and passion - music - allows for deeper, more personal connections than offered by more traditional teacher-student relationships. Therefore, you're in prime position to notice when a student is being bullied and do something about it.
Read More
The good news is that learning to play the violin - or any string instrument - has lifelong benefits. However, if your child dreads practice time, or develops a negative association with practicing the violin, it can crush the spark of musical inspiration before it is time to begin.
Read More
Freshen up your viola practice by learning some popular songs. Classical works are classics for a reason and shouldn’t be ignored. Yet there's no reason to ignore some fun, easier to master, crowd-pleasing popular songs too. Learning to play pop music on your viola will keep you motivated, stretch your musical sensibilities and challenge your technique in exciting ways.
Read More
Is your bowing arm tired, shaky, sore, tensed, not doing what it's supposed to? It could be that your bowing arm needs a break. Overuse injuries are nothing to scoff at. At best, they are uncomfortable and make practicing or playing regularly impossible. At worst, they lead to invasive surgical treatments or permanent damage.
Read More
Yo-Yo Ma is unquestionably today’s most accomplished and influential cellist. From his debut as a seven-year-old performing for President Kennedy, Ma has made an impact on the music world. As proficient as he is on the cello, he's never been content with merely performing. Throughout his career, Ma has actively sought to bring people and cultures together through music.
Read More
If you move a rosin-less bow across the strings of your instrument, you will hear....hardly anything. That's because rosin provides the friction required to produce sound when an instrument's strings are bowed. Made from tree sap (and often mixed with other ingredients to enhance sound production) rosin is an essential tool for string players.
Read More
In 1756, Leopold Mozart described vibrato in his book, Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule, saying, "The left-hand finger should make a small, slow movement, which, however, must not go toward the side, but forward and backward. That is, the finger should bend forwards towards the bridge and backwards towards the violin’s scroll, quite slowly for soft tones, but somewhat faster for loud ones."
Read More
Professional music careers are competitive, so a unique performance style and personalized "brand" are essential to cultivating a unique niche in the audience market. That is easier said than done, particularly if you're an introvert by nature, or if you are more comfortable being a wallflower than an on-stage star.
Read More
Summer is a time ripe for traveling, exploring, and enjoying. As a musician, you have many opportunities to garner inspiration from the plethora of music festivals happening across the country – and Europe. If you are staying within the U.S. this summer, you may want to attend the performance of one of these six amazing musicians.
Read More
Choosing the bow for your violin is just as a big a decision as choosing the violin. You want to take the same time and care in selecting the right bow that suits your skill level, goals, and budget.
Read More
As a music instructor, you have a super-power: the ability to connect and hold space with students in an exceptional way. Your regular engagement with them, via a shared interest and passion - music - allows for deeper, more personal connections than offered by more traditional teacher-student relationships. Therefore, you're in prime position to notice when a student is being bullied and do something about it.
Read More
The good news is that learning to play the violin - or any string instrument - has lifelong benefits. However, if your child dreads practice time, or develops a negative association with practicing the violin, it can crush the spark of musical inspiration before it is time to begin.
Read More
Freshen up your viola practice by learning some popular songs. Classical works are classics for a reason and shouldn’t be ignored. Yet there's no reason to ignore some fun, easier to master, crowd-pleasing popular songs too. Learning to play pop music on your viola will keep you motivated, stretch your musical sensibilities and challenge your technique in exciting ways.
Read More
Is your bowing arm tired, shaky, sore, tensed, not doing what it's supposed to? It could be that your bowing arm needs a break. Overuse injuries are nothing to scoff at. At best, they are uncomfortable and make practicing or playing regularly impossible. At worst, they lead to invasive surgical treatments or permanent damage.
Read More
