Hannah Roberts

The Best Violin Tuners for the Money

From a compact clip-on under £15 to a professional strobe tuner, there is a violin tuner for every player. Hannah Roberts picks the best at each price point.

Double Bass Pedal for Beginners: A Complete Guide

Learning to use a two-footboard bass drum mechanism is a process that rewards patience. This guide covers setup, early technique and the exercises that build consistent results.

Common Rosin Violin Mistakes to Avoid

Six quiet, easily repeated violin rosin mistakes, and the simple habits that fix every one of them.

Violin Mute: A Complete Guide

A violin mute attaches to the bridge and reduces volume and brilliance of tone. Here is a complete guide to the types available and how to use them.

Double Bass Explained: Features, Types and Tips

The double bass is the lowest-pitched orchestral string instrument — here is how it is built, tuned and played in classical and jazz contexts.

Common E Bow Mistakes to Avoid

Small, quiet mistakes rather than dramatic ones. Each is easily corrected once named.

A Beginner's Guide to Classical Music

Classical music explained from the ground up: what the term really means, the periods and forms worth knowing, and six things to listen for in any piece.

Common Beginner Violin Mistakes to Avoid

A poorly set-up instrument and the absence of a teacher are the two most consequential mistakes at the start of violin learning — these are the most common and how to fix them.

Beginner Violin Explained: Features, Types and Tips

A violin for beginners needs to be the right size, properly set up and sold with a usable bow — this guide explains what to look for and why setup matters most.

Cello Stand Explained: Features, Types and Tips

A cello stand keeps the instrument secure and accessible between playing, replacing the habit of leaning the cello against furniture with a stable, purpose-made solution.

The Best Electric Cellos for the Money

Yamaha and NS Design dominate the professional electric cello market, and choosing between them is largely a matter of use case. This round-up maps the field by what each instrument does best.

String Instruments Viola for Beginners: A Complete Guide

Starting the viola requires the right size, a proper setup and a methodical approach to the instrument's particular demands. This guide covers all three clearly.

Common Stentor Violin Mistakes to Avoid

Most beginner violin problems are predictable and preventable. Here are the mistakes that come up most often and what to do about them.

Aston Classical: A Complete Buyer's Guide

Choosing an Aston Classical guitar? This guide covers the decisions that matter: construction level, top wood, neck profile, scale length and what to check before you commit.

Common Violin Stand Mistakes to Avoid

String Instruments Viola: A Complete Buyer's Guide

Choosing a viola requires matching body length to the player, assessing setup quality and understanding that even a modest instrument plays well when properly adjusted.

Double Bass Pedal: A Complete Buyer's Guide

Choosing the right drum pedal requires understanding what changes between price tiers and which features genuinely matter for your playing style. This guide covers the key decisions.

Aston Classical for Beginners: A Complete Guide

A beginner's guide to Aston Classical guitars — covering the correct playing position, right-hand and left-hand technique, reading classical guitar notation and the basics of instrument care.

Common Violin Case Mistakes to Avoid

Most violin case mistakes are easy to prevent once you know what to look for — from humidity management failures to wrong sizing and poor bow holders.

The Best Double Bass for the Money

The best value in each double bass price range comes from setup as much as the instrument — here are the top options from student to advanced.

The Best Classical Music Songs Right Now

No charts, no release dates: a mood-based guide to the essential classical pieces that keep turning up in films, adverts and concert halls.

The Best Cello Stands for the Money

The best cello stand at any budget shares three qualities — stable base, safe varnish-friendly contact points, and a secure fold mechanism that survives regular use.

Common Cello Strings Mistakes to Avoid

Most string-related frustrations have a specific, identifiable cause. Here is a considered account of the most common mistakes cellists make with their strings, and what actually resolves them.

Violin Explained: Features, Types and Tips

The highest-pitched member of the string family — from its Stradivari-era form to its role in the orchestral repertoire, this guide explains the essentials.