Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 can be seen as a personal reflection on the impact of Stalin’s regime, combining both despair and hope. The symphony’s emotional arc—from oppression to liberation—mirrors the struggle for artistic expression and human dignity. The composer’s use of motifs, thematic development, and orchestration creates a narrative that resonates deeply, making the symphony a landmark in 20th-century music.

Improving your sight-reading skills can be a rewarding process! Sometimes in an orchestral audition, the committee might ask you to sight-read an excerpt. As a professional violinist, often I find myself learning a new set of repertoire for the concert that week. And I only have a very limited amount of time to practice the pieces. Therefore, sight-reading skill plays a crucial role in helping me learn the music faster. Here are some effective strategies that might help you to start practicing your sight-reading skills:

Preparing for professional orchestra auditions can be a demanding but rewarding process. Here are some essential steps to help you get ready:

Tuning your violin is essential for good sound. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

When incorporating tuners in your practice, there are important steps that I always advise my students to follow so that they can make the best use of it. Following those tips will make the process much more productive, and therefore you can get a much better result.

Intonation is always a big topic and a very important one for string players. In my violin study, I am always experimenting different ways to work on my intonation. As a teacher, I am constantly trying to figure out what are the most effective suggestions I can offer to my students to practice intonation. Of course, not all practice ideas will work for everyone. However, if you are looking for ways to play with better intonation, give those practice tips a try and I believe you will find some of them useful!