All Premium ❘ Feature articles
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Premium ❘ FeatureWhat to play when trying out a new stringed instrument
Buying a new instrument is as much about rigorous auditioning as it is about falling in love...
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Harnessing breathing to improve your string playing
Breathing naturally is one of the first principles of Alexander teaching - and it's a must for anyone who suffers from stage fright, says Joseph Sanders
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Ask the Experts: choosing a new violin tailpiece
A violinist asks what he should consider when choosing a new tailpiece – from the material used to the weight and shape
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When does a violin copy become a forgery?
There's a fine line between copying an instrument and forging a masterpiece. Alan Coggins offers a humorous perspective on the perils luthiers face when interpreting past masters
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Survival tips for touring musicians
International tours bring a wealth of opportunities for discovering new cultures and audiences – along with less pleasant experiences such as jet lag and homesickness. Sarah Mnatzaganian asks string players for their travel tips
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7 techniques to combat stage fright
How often has a potential performance of a lifetime turned into a performance from hell? Are you suffering from stage fright? Laurinel Owen gives advice on overcoming this common affliction
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Frederick Riddle: modest master of the viola
The great British viola player was undeservedly overshadowed by Lionel Tertis and William Primrose, writes Tully Potter
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Leadership and diplomacy: how to be a good orchestral concertmaster
Former concertmaster John Georgiadis tells Julian Haylock his memories of the London Symphony Orchestra
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6 pieces of advice for music teachers by cellist Anna Shuttleworth
The former Royal College of Music and Leeds University pedagogue explains why it's important to encourage students to relax
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Ask the Experts: how to encourage students to trust their ears
A reader asks what can be done to help young students who rely on learning finger placement rather than trusting their ears. Three teachers give their views
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Perfect 5ths
British violinist Rodney Friend has spent many years formulating his method for achieving a relaxed left-hand position. Here, he shares his voyage of discovery with Charlotte Smith
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In Focus: a 1759 viola by Petter Hellstedt
Stefan Lindholm examines an instrument by the Swedish maker
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The 4 types of difficult parents and tips for dealing with them
Sometimes parents can be more of a handful than their sons and daughters. Catherine Nelson provides essential tips for dealing with misguided parent power
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Trade Secrets: Recreating original purfling
Precision and care are prerequisites for this detailed restoration method
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Making Matters: Ten out of ten
The great 19th-century French bow makers had to produce a large amount of stock to make a living. Christophe Landon explores how their working methods differed from ours, as he makes ten simultaneous copies of one Peccatte bow
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Masterclass: Daniel Müller-Schott on Franck Violin Sonata (Cello Version)
The German cellist looks at the importance of connection, colour and line in the work’s third movement
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Technique: Mapping out the fingerboard
Exercises to train your brain and fingers, to help you become a more fluent performer and improviser
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From the Archive: October 1939
The Strad responds to the declaration of war on 3 September with advice on how cellists can do their bit by programming feel-good standards for troops and civilians
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A teacher for all
Kató Havas, the celebrated and much-loved Hungarian violinist and pedagogue, died on 31 December 2018 aged 98. Five former colleagues and students remember her important and generous influence on their own playing and teaching
