All Feature articles
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FeatureThe Weidhaas–Finkel bow making dynasty: an exclusive close-up look at the family’s output
In the December 2024 issue, Gennady Filimonov tells the story of the Weidhaas and Finkel bow making families. Here he examines several bows by three of the dynasty’s best-known archetiers
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FeatureLife as a violin maker in 16th-century Venice: an exclusive look
In the December 2024 issue we examine the history of the Linarol dynasty, one of the first violin making families in Venice. Here, Stefano Pio provides some context as to the 16th-century environment in which they worked, as well as a semantic discussion on the terms ‘viole’ and ‘lire’ ...
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FeatureThe Takács Quartet – an exclusive interview from The Strad’s archive, April 1985
The Takács Quartet, regarded as one of the world’s greatest string quartets, celebrates its 50th anniversary this season. In this exclusive interview from The Strad’s April 1985 issue, the ensemble’s original line-up spoke about building on their early success
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FeatureAntonio Meneses: A deep musical intuition
Cellist Antonio Meneses featured as the cover artist for The Strad’s August 2012 issue. Despite an uncompromising introduction to the instrument, the Brazilian cellist went on to excel in Classical and Romantic repertoire. He explained to Nick Shave why he then began exploring lesser-known works
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FeatureAsk the Experts: protecting your instrument from chips and nicks
A panel of luthiers give their thoughts on some unusual marks that have appeared on the surface of a violinist's instrument over the course of his playing career
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FeatureString Courses 2024: Start your course hunting here!
Before you start combing through the string courses listed in our guide, take a look at these suggestions to help find the course that’s right for you
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FeatureSentimental Work: Anne-Sophie Mutter on Penderecki’s Metamorphosen
Interviewed for The Strad August 2018, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter discusses Penderecki’s Second Violin Concerto, a work that harbours undiscovered secrets
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FeatureSentimental Work: Julia Fischer on Bach Double Violin Concerto
Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins BWV1043 has been one of the German violinist’s constant companions – and is still a rich learning experience with each performance
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Feature6 ways to improve left-hand flexibility
Tips from The Strad’s archive on increasing suppleness of movement and reducing tension
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FeatureStudying the violin with Carl Flesch: Yfrah Neaman
Lebanese violinist Yfrah Neaman, who died in 2003, shared memories of his teacher with Evelyn Chadwick in December 1994
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FeatureHow harmonics and singing can help to build a sound technique
Violin and viola pedagogue Jane Metcalfe discusses using techniques inspired by Kodály and Colourstrings methods
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Feature‘Spectacularly colourful, loud and proud’ - The Strad Calendar 2023: The Australian Collection
The Strad Calendar 2023 showcases twelve fine instruments owned or played by Australians.
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FeatureMasterclass: Bow techniques for jazz bass
By John Goldsby, bassist with the WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany, and author of Jazz Bowing Techniques For The Improving Bassist and The Jazz Bass Book
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FeatureLeonard Rose: All about the bow
Oskar Falta explores some of Rose’s bowing theories and speaks to former students about his teaching techniques
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FeatureShould soloists always perform music from memory?
Pointless and terrifying, or essential for musical communication? Playing without the music arouses some strong opinions, finds Laurinel Owen
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FeatureHow to shift correctly on the violin
What tips do the great pedagogues and players offer for getting around the instrument? Rok Klopčič looks at a fundamental aspect of playing: change of position. From August 2004
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FeatureIn Focus: a 1682 violin by Nicolò Amati
Precision and elegance abound in this grand pattern Amati once owned by the Italian virtuoso Spagnoletti, writes Christopher Reuning
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FeatureSentimental Work: Amanda Forsyth
For the Canadian cellist, Richard Strauss’s Don Quixote is a rollercoaster ride through all the composer’s Romantic works, as well as a huge physical challenge
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FeatureString Recycling: New Life from Old Strings
The structure and shape of strings make them difficult and costly to recycle. But that hasn’t stopped some manufacturers from tackling the challenge, and even extracting metal from old strings to use in new ones, writes Tom Stewart
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FeatureAsk the Experts: how to correct a violin bridge position
Three top luthiers answers a reader's query on preserving the correct instrument geometry after changing strings, in this feature from 2014
