The applause has ended; your instrument is back in the case, it's time to celebrate! You practiced hard, you played beautifully, and the music was a delight. Let’s celebrate with a very special, fruity, bubbly and delicious drink. The pineapple mimosa is…
Latest Articles
Calming Chamomile Latte Recipe for Pre-Performance Relaxation
Friday, April 05, 2019You’ve practiced hard and tension has a habit of mounting. Treat yourself to this warm, frothy, chamomile latte to help you sleep the night before your performance, or enjoy it just before you begin to warm up back stage. Take the time to breathe before…
Recipe for an Energizing Pre-Lesson Smoothie
Wednesday, April 03, 2019Spring is recital season! Getting through your most important performances, believe it or not, requires more than just practice. Proper nutrition, rest, and mental and emotional wellness are key factors in maximizing the effectiveness of your hard work.…
Red Shoe Company: An Arts Collective on a Mission of Happiness!
Thursday, November 09, 2017Violinist Teagan Faran’s unique vision combines great music, virtuosic performance, artistic collaboration and community involvement. Red Shoe Company is the product of this vision. SHAR is proud to support this incredible ensemble of talented and…
You Know You're a Busy String Musician When...
Friday, July 29, 2016This is to all those who gig, teach, travel, and play - who have changed a tire in a dress or tux, who know no distance too far, no venue too unusual, and no coffee unwelcome. If you've ever glanced in the backseat to make sure you instrument and music…
String Musician Essentials for Outdoor Wedding Gigs!
Wednesday, May 20, 2015There's a lot that can go wrong when planning a wedding, so the live music should be the last thing the couple has to worry about. However, if you're the musician gigging at a wedding, it is your temporary raison d’etre and you owe it to your clients to…
Are You a Bassist? Minimize Your Travel Stress
Wednesday, July 30, 2014We recently published a blog on traveling with your cello. SHAR has long been the go-to shop for violinists and violists, but we've often failed to provide useful content and products for our cellists and bassists. Here's our second blog to remedy that!…
Lost & Found: Fritz Kreisler's University of Wisconsin Football Songs
Friday, April 12, 2013Today we have a marvelous story from SHAR Apprentice James Engman. James shares with us his discovery, in the musty, dank corners of the University of Wisconsin's School of Music Library, two Fritz Kreisler pieces composed for the UW football team. Not…
Choosing Music
Tuesday, October 23, 2012We have a wonderful guest blog today from Kim Wren, the upright bassist for the indie-folk band Doug Mains & the City Folk. Ms. Wren has been a member of Doug Mains & the City Folk since 2010 and is currently a senior music education major at Michigan…
Violin Pickups: What Are They And Why Would I Use One?
Monday, July 09, 2012For most of us “classically trained” violinists, the thought of installing a pickup is confusing, frightening, and weird. The good news is that it isn’t as complicated as it seems and we have a variety of options to suit your individual needs!If you are…