Celebrate with your beloved!

Unlike violins, which can sound beautifully for centuries when well-cared for, violin strings need to be replaced regularly. If you don’t change them as needed, the strings will sound duller, less resonant, and may even fray or snap causing potential…

Training your musical ear is a must for string musicians who play fretless instruments. Without those frets to automatically anchor the note, it is up to the ear brain connection to ensure macro- and micro-finger movements place fingertips on exact…

Music has always served to bring people together, rejuvenate communities, and provide comfort, solace, and fun. While concert halls and music festivals are the usual go-to destinations for live music lovers, sheltering-in-place has created a new era of live music…

There is no reason COVID sheltering-in-place should stymie your dream of learning to play the violin. In fact, there’s never been a better time to start playing a string instrument. Sheltering-in-place means more time to practice and learn the basic…

Training the ear is as essential as training the fingers and wrists when learning to play the violin or other fretless instruments, like the viola, cello, and bass. Without frets to anchor precise pitch, it is up to the brain-ear…

Today, everything has gone digital. What worked 50 years ago doesn’t necessarily work today when it comes to promoting yourself. The rise of technology and smart devices makes marketing yourself as a musician easier than ever before. Here’s how to…

You already know that all the hours you spend practicing your violin and satisfying your music teacher’s performance expectations is as important as what you actually learn about music theory and technique. The same is true for judges scoring a…

If you have small hands or a short pinkie (fourth finger), some of the beginning violin finger exercises are more challenging, and that's a clear road to frustration. Fortunately, there are exercises violinists can do to position, strengthen, and extend…

Hmmm. You want to compose musical scores for video games? Smart direction! According to techcrunch.com, global video game revenue ($43.8 billion) topped global box office ticket sale revenues ($41.7 billion) in 2018, and video game revenue continues trending upwards. 

That…

The most successful concerts or performances typically balance two things from the audience: their listening and their active engagement. Playing songs that are easy to dance to, or that audience members can sing along to, is a wonderful way to…

Each summer or vacation break you spend as a music intern is an important stepping-stone along your musical career path. If you’ve never had one before, now’s the time to get ready for this invaluable work experience. 

Once you’ve identified…

It is essential to play a violin that is sized correctly. Playing a violin that is too small or too big contributes to a range of issues that can compromise technique, sound, physical posture, and musical well-being. Here’s what to…

ather than looking at sheltering in place as an unhappy situation, embrace it. Let's look at this time as a gift and make the most of it by expanding our knowledge and horizons. We’ve put together these resources to pique…

A violin case is a must – so let go of any idea that cases are optional. The fragility of string instruments, particularly violins and violas, requires an extra layer of protection whenever the instrument isn’t in use. 

The case…

String musicians take great care with their posture and playing technique to prevent stress- or overuse injuries. Those who play the upright bass must take extra precautions before ever removing the instrument from the case due to its large, heavy…

The much-celebrated wedding website, The Knot, recently published a roster with some of the best love songs of all time. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we can’t think of a better gift for our string musicians than a…

ith the flu season upon us, and in particular, the spread of COVID-19, we thought it a good idea to pass along recommendations from various experts about how to protect yourself and your string instrument to minimize inadvertently spreading viruses…

Unlike violins, which can sound beautifully for centuries when well-cared for, violin strings need to be replaced regularly. If you don’t change them as needed, the strings will sound duller, less resonant, and may even fray or snap causing potential…

Remember when you were new to songwriting, and your GarageBand app was your best friend? Well, all that time, creative energy, and recording practice has paid off. You’re finally in the “advanced songwriting realm,” which means it’s time to take…

Among life’s simple pleasures, summer reading is right up there. Just the thought of relaxing in the sand, on the porch, or under a nice shading tree with some good titles is enough to make you wish for an endless…