Improve your playing continued
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FocusTechnique: Minna Rose Chung on double stopping and Tartini tones
Using ‘difference tones’ to perfect your intonation when tackling double stopping passagework
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Focus
Sentimental work: Jennifer Stumm on Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata
For the American violist, this 1919 work brings back memories of early successes and the inspirational teacher who introduced it to her
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Debate
How can violinists create a personal sound?
Once upon a time, violinists just wanted to get as close to Heifetz's sound as they possibly could. But now that golden standard no longer applies, Jessica Duchen asks, how do the stars of today mark themselves out as special?
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Debate
Is playing the viola a different art from playing the violin?
Not so, according to Philip Dukes, who argues that the technical requirements of the instruments overlap considerably and players benefit from studying both
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Focus
How useful are Ševčík exercises for violinists, violists and cellists?
From the archive: Violinist Ivry Gitlis, violist Bruno Giuranna and cellist Christopher Bunting share their views on the influential method
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Blogs
10 rules for achieving long-term success with your quartet
The Henschel Quartet from Germany will be celebrating its 25th anniversary next year. Here the group gives tips on achieving longevity in a chamber career
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Focus
The 4 stages of memorising music for performance
With the right concepts and skills, any musician can successfully learn music by heart, as Gerald Klickstein explains
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Focus
Masterclass: Julian Rachlin on Brahms's Viola Sonata in F minor
The Lithuanian-born violinist and violist discusses technical preparation, character and colour in the first and second movements of op.120 no.1
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Focus
Technique: How to achieve clean and effortless definition in the left hand, by Grigory Kalinovsky
Professor of violin at Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, with some exercises to improve your left-hand articulation
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Focus
5 rules for collaborating with a pianist
The term ‘accompanist’ automatically puts a pianist in a subservient position – which isn’t a recipe for good music making
