VC VOX POP | “Do You Use Any Technology or Apps to Help You Practice?” [Q&A]

“Do you use any technology or apps to help you practice?”

The Violin Channel recently caught up with 30+ of the world’s top string players to find out …

German-Japanese Concert Violinist, Arabella Steinbacher:

"Sometimes a metronome app ... and when I need to look at scores on tour, I like to use the new 'Henle' app" 

VC Artist Violinist, Ray Chen:

"I use an iPad to replace my sheet music, both on stage and in the practice room ... it actually has allowed me to become a better musician because now there's no excuse for 'not having the orchestral score' ... when you literally carry around an entire library with you"

VC Artist Cellist, Kian Soltani: 

"I use the voice memo app a lot to record myself practicing and to record my rehearsals ... and of course a metronome app"

VC Young Artist Violinist, Fedor Rudin:

"I have started using the 'MusicJournal' app  ... it keeps a record of how long and what you've practiced over days, weeks, months and years"

VC Young Artist Violinist, Nathan Meltzer:

"I always use the metronome app ... and to record parts of my practice sessions I use my iPhone, a 'Tascam iM2' microphone and a wireless speaker to listen back"

VC Young Artist Violinist, Timothy Chooi:

Israeli-born Cellist, Matt Haimovitz:

"I use my iPad Pro always ... I mark up the score with my finger or a stylus using 'ForScore'"

British Violinist, Chloe Hanslip: 

"I use the ‘The Metronome by Soundbrenner’ app on my phone for when I need to do that type of practice ... but when it comes to planning practice I’m more of a pen and paper person"

Russian-born Violinist, Dmitry Sitkovetsky:

"I love the fact that I don’t have to carry my PC and CDs with me anymore ... I have all my playlists on 'Spotify' these days ... but I still use sheet music and a pencil with eraser – the old style"

VC Young Artist Violinist, Marc Bouchkov:

"I recently downloaded the 'Soundbrenner' metronome app ... it’s absolutely brilliant ... sometimes I also use 'Cleartune' - when I fear my ears are perhaps letting me down"

VC Rising Star Violinist, Yesong Sophie Lee:

"I use a metronome app, a recording app to hear myself back ... and 'Cleartune' -  which is a pretty clever tuning app"

Korean-American Violinist and New England Conservatory faculty member, Soovin Kim:

"'Cleartune' and 'Tempo' apps ... and video recording doesn’t hurt!"

Colburn School of Music Violin Professor and Co-Director of String Chamber Music, Martin Beaver:

"I have a tuner app and a metronome app on my mobile phone ... both of which I use frequently in my own practice - as well as in lessons and chamber music coachings"

American Violinist, Stephanie Chase:

"I have a metronome app that I often use, and when I am playing at low pitch I will use a tuning app to hear the “A” ... when I am first learning a work, I may listen to a couple of recorded performances on 'YouTube' to get an idea of how tempi sound"

VC Artist Violinist, Stefan Jackiw:

"Does surfing 'Reddit' while practicing count? ... I use a metronome on my iPhone but that's about it"

Dutch Violinist, Noa Wildschut:

"I often record myself with my phone - so I can listen more carefully to myself"

VC Artist Violinist, Paul Huang:

"Besides a tuning app and a metronome app, that’s about it" 

VC Young Artist Cellist, Aurélien Pascal:

"Just an iPhone metronome app"

Ariel Quartet Violist, Jan Grüning:

"The Metronome app of course ... and most importantly perhaps the recording device and the tuning app to find my A of the day - at times a challenging task for us violists ..."

VC Artist Violinist, Jennifer Pike:

"I have a metronome app on my phone ... but just for reference"

VC Young Artist Violist, Timothy Ridout: 

"Just the metronome and tuning app on my phone ... my viola is very temperamental in different climates and I always need assistance in finding a good A"

Australian Funster, TwoSet Violinist, Eddy ‘Shreddy’ Chen:

"Just a tuner and metronome ..."

Australian Funster, TwoSet Violinist, Brett ‘Bang’ Yang:

"Nope. Nothing. Nada. Negative ... "

Kronberg Academy Pedagogue & Violinist, Mihaela Martin:

"No, I don't use any technological tools ... just my ears and good concentration"