All Focus articles
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Focus5 tips for viola teachers by Juilliard School professor Michael Tree
How can viola teachers help their students develop into good players? The former Guarneri Quartet violist outlines the most important areas to focus on
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Feature
Behind the scenes at the music and wine festival
Burgundy’s Musique Vin festival has quickly grown from its humble origins to encompass a rich diversity of elements, not least first-rate performances from international artists and an instrument loan scheme for young musicians. Charlotte Gardner spoke to those involved in this unique project
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Focus
8 ways to vary your vibrato
Tips from The Strad’s archive for varying vibrato speed, width, pressure and direction to produce an infinite range of colour contrasts
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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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Are dendrochronology reports useful in valuing an instrument?
Dealers and auction houses increasingly include dendrochronology reports along with high-value instruments, but how meaningful are they in verifying an attribution?
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How to help music students with sightreading
If your students only brush up their sightreading at exam time, they're missing out on an important part of music making
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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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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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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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Focus
Why do so many orchestras lag behind the beat?
Even under the best conductors and in the finest orchestras, players tend to drag behind the baton. Evan Johnson looks at the reasons for this universal phenomenon
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Blogs
Players of tomorrow: Maxim Tzekov
Following his win at the Kloster Schöntal International Violin Competition, 18-year-old Maxim Tzekov shares his top practice tip and reveals how he mentally prepares for competitions
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7 mental techniques to boost your practice
Effective practice without the frustration and drudgery? Piet Koornhot looks at ways to direct your imagination.
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7 things to remember when buying a bow
Bows, for so long seen as mere accessories, are increasingly attracting serious investors, writes Femke Colborne
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Focus
5 views on teaching and performance from William Pleeth
The late British cellist and teacher of Jacqueline du Pré spoke to The Strad in June 1996 at the age of 80
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Double bassist Peter Buckoke on treating head and neck pain
The Royal College of Music professor found a solution in Alexander technique
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London Symphony Orchestra violinist Lennox Mackenzie on treating a shoulder injury
A delay in getting an accurate diagnosis only exacerbated the violinist’s shoulder problem
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Ask the Experts: how to fix a wobbling bow frog
A reader asks what should be done when a bow frog wobbles after a rehair – and what does it say about the rehairer? Two makers give their views
