Improve your playing continued
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FocusMasterclass: Leonidas Kavakos on the Sibelius Violin Concerto
The Finnish composer put all his knowledge as symphonic writer and frustrated violinist into this great, elemental work. First published in The Strad’s January 2008 issue, Leonidas Kavakos’s masterclass explains how to do it justice
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FocusProfessional string players reveal their favourite accessory
We asked six string musicians to name the one most treasured addition to their kit – though for some it was doing without something which made the difference
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FocusDouble stopping on the cello: How to play passages of 3rds and 6ths with more fluidity
Technique advice, exercises and repertoire examples from Lionel Handy, cello professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Birmingham Conservatoire and Winchester College, UK
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BlogsConquering performance nerves: sweaty hands, losing bow grip
Brian Hodges answers student questions on coping with stage fright
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FocusNatural playing on violin and viola, inspired by the Alexander Technique
Exercises to release tension and improve ease of movement when playing the violin by Tomas Cotik, violin professor at Portland State University
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FocusIrvine Arditti's sentimental work: Helmut Lachenmann's Grido
For the Arditti Quartet’s founder and first violinist, Helmut Lachenmann’s String Quartet no.3 Grido contains unorthodox challenges and an unusual sense of passion
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FocusMartelé: Essential foundations for a top-quality bow technique
Rictor Noren, violin and viola teacher at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, the New England Conservatory of Music Preparatory Division, and MIT, offers a grounding, exercises and repertoire suggestions to help you work on your martelé stroke
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VideoLawrence Power performs Salonen's Pentatonic Étude for solo viola
In this video from the Philharmonia Orchestra, British violist Lawrence Power plays Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Pentatonic Étude. Salonen wrote the piece for Power, who premiered it in 2015.
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FocusWhich shoulder rest to buy, from $25 to $1,100
In recent years manufacturers have come up with new shoulder rest designs and materials, and new dependable models have appeared both at the low end of the market and at the very highest. Femke Colborne talks to the makers with an eye on improvement, and to those who feel they are already catering
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FocusHow to make the most of cello scales
Approach scales with commitment, imagination and daring, and they will inspire your cello playing, argues Mats Lidström