String players—both students and top performers alike—are preparing to gather for the 50th Eastern Music Festival, an impressive festival of orchestras from around the globe. Among those scheduled to perform at the many concerts, that include nine world premieres, are violinists Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Stefan Jackiw, and Caroline Goulding; and gifted young cellist Julian Schwarz.

Julian's father, Gerard Schwarz, is the festival's music director.

EMF is held June 25 through July 30 in... Continue

Added by Greg Cahill on Jun 20, 2011 at 11:26am –

After years as a classical violinist, I first started improvising on guitar in rock bands and saw a different culture of musicianship among rock musicians. Later I played in gospel church services and noticed how the musicians here also saw music through a different cultural lens. I started to apply these experiences to my violin playing after realizing that I wanted to create my own musical ideas and express them through other musical languages on the violin.

Of course, there weren’t a lot... Continue

Added by Christian Howes on Aug 24, 2011 at 10:08am –

The November issue of Strings magazine is in your mailbox, on the newsstands and online. Take a look at Laurel Thomsen's Strings 101 article on developing a natural bow hold. It's the first in a 12-part series on bowing fundamentals. Strings is offering excerpts to our readers, but the material also is available as expanded text and instructional video in our Strings Guide series. You can find the How to Improve Your Bowing Technique series here.

Added by Greg Cahill on Sep 19, 2011 at 11:56am –

Strings magazine marks its 25th anniversary in the upcoming March 2012 issue. To celebrate, we're preparing a lot of special features, including a compilation of 25 player tips from the archives. Here's a short preview, a tip on developing a rich, singing tone (and who's doesn't want that!?):

“I find tone is like someone’s voice, and like appearances, no two sounds are alike,” says virtuoso violinist Jaime Laredo. So how do you go about improving your sound? Violinist Ida Kavafian suggests... Continue

Added by Greg Cahill on Nov 22, 2011 at 11:52am –

"I wish someone had held a class on the music business when I was at music school. We learned much about playing our instruments, but almost nothing about the business.

"At 23, Los Angeles seemed like some mysterious force that I could tackle no problem with hard work, discipline, and a brilliantly placed stroke of luck. Soon, I thought, very soon, I would be walking down the golden aisle of fame and fortune, with people dying to meet me and shake my hand.

"But, ahh, reality! All the virtues of... Continue

Added by Anna Stafford-Heifetz on May 02, 2012 at 2:02pm –

Strings magazine is proud to partner with fiddler and chop-master Casey Driessen as he raises funds for Fiddle/Sticks: The Drummer Project. During this year-long journey, Casey will post on this website mini-documentaries detailing his collaborations with some of the world's leading percussionists.

 Here’s what Casey says about Fiddle/Sticks:

“The thought of this project becoming a reality makes my metronome race with excitement. I've never been satisfied exploring the fiddle just from the... Continue

Added by Greg Cahill on Jun 22, 2012 at 3:12pm –

Not in the mood to practice? Feeling stymied? Planning starts in the mind, but it need not stay there,” Tom Heimberg writes. “A written record of intentions and outcomes–of what succeeded and what didn’t–can be a precious source of insight and self-guidance.” Get organized. Try Tom's time-tested tips on developing a practice journal. http://bit.ly/ReA78Z

Added by Greg Cahill on Oct 12, 2012 at 9:59am –

Download (for free) the latest episode of Strings magazine contributor Laurel Thomsen’s insightful, inspiring Violin Geek podcast with guest fiddler/instructor Lauren Rioux.

The violinists discuss tips for keeping students engaged, teaching harmony, how to support a student's exploration of various genres, and ultimately, how to empower students with the gift of music. http://bit.ly/R9Ttxu

Added by Laurel Thomsen on Oct 17, 2012 at 10:58am –

‘Strings’ magazine is proud to sponsor the Fiddle/Sticks project with Casey Driessen.

This multi-video series captures the creative process behind the upcoming Fiddle/Sticks album.

Fiddle/Sticks is a collaborative exploration of rhythm that pairs Grammy-nominated fiddler Casey Driessen—a leading voice in percussive fiddle/violin technique (known as the chop)—with a list of the landmark drummers and percussionists of our time. Cutting across all genres and traditions, the project documents... Continue

Added by Greg Cahill on Oct 19, 2012 at 4:57pm –

STRINGS contributor and violin teacher Laurel Thomsen has posted the latest episode in her VIOLIN GEEK podcast. It's free and iTunes. http://bit.ly/R9Ttxu

Added by on Dec 05, 2012 at 4:05pm –

According to a new article in the Atlantic:

"Here's something you can try at home: Hold down the index, middle, and ring fingers of your left hand, then try to bend your pinky. Now try it again, but allow your ring finger to bend as well.

"About 18 percent of people can do neither, according to a study in The Journal of Hand Surgery. But in a similar group of 90 professional musicians from 'three of London's leading orchestras' (38 first violinists, 33 second violinists, 19 viola players), none... Continue

Added by Greg Cahill on Feb 14, 2013 at 10:33am –