Lynn Kuo

I know that many violinists, as well as other string players, would say that ricochet is probably one of the most challenging bowing techniques on the violin. Learning to control fast, bouncing notes can be difficult especially if you are…

One of the most popular questions I see online is:

What shoulder rest should I be using as a violinist?

The surprising answer:

The shoulder rest is secondary to the chin rest.

Before you…

There’s a juicer that is collecting dust in a corner of my kitchen.  

Yup…

In scales, you get to train your technique on the violin, specifically: 

• position changes  
• intonation 
• hand frame 
• fluency 
• accuracy 
• speed

…all things that make you a more consistent and more confident violinist.  

Why do we practice scales?  

Scales are the backbone of all repertoire - look carefully and you’ll see that fragments of scales are in everything you play!  

Scales also train your technique on the instrument (position changes and intonation, for…

Mindless practicing or practicing without a plan will waste your precious time, and worse, cause you to move backwards, rather than forwards, in your playing. 

In order to…

"Smoooooth, like Molson Golden..."
 

I remember as a child, my father would often quote from the 80's beer ad. 

(Does anyone else remember these ads?)

I guess their marketing team did a great job if I can remember…

How do you deal with performance nerves?

What do you do when you feel a general anxiety when you're about to perform?

What are immediate, short-term solutions as well as long-term strategies that help you deal with performance anxiety and…

Three-note (and four-note) chords come up all the time in the violin literature. 

Some notable examples are: 

Bach Fugues from his Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin

Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001, II. Fugue

Saint-Saëns Introduction…

It’s sunset on a warm but breezy July evening. 

On the edge of the Atlantic Ocean at the Eastern edge of the North American continent, I have with me a violin, a phone, and a tripod. 

Whales breaching the surface…