All Blogs articles
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BlogsShould Scale Systems Come With A Health Warning?
Violinist Hector Scott examines how players can use scales to exercise curiosity and exploration of musical expressivity, as opposed to excessive, grinding, repetitive practice
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Blogs
The Psalms Project: Contemporary Sacred Music for solo violin
Composer Ng Yu Hng welcomes new audiences to encounter liturgical works channeled through the untraditional voice of a solo violin
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Blogs
Finding solace in Solo Bach during the pandemic: Greg Ewer
The violinist illustrates how he, fellow string players and other instrumentalists found comfort in Bach’s solo string works during the uncertain climate of Covid-19 lockdowns
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Blogs
‘Bartók has been with me for a long time and is irrevocably linked to my personal story’ - Violinist Franziska Pietsch
As a violinist who grew up in East Germany and moved to the West, Franziska Pietsch examines the parallels between her childhood and Béla Bartók’s inner turmoil of emigrating to the US, in recording her new album Bartók - The Quiet Revolutionary
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Blogs
Frank Bridge’s Concerto Elegiaco ‘Oration’ – a listening guide by cellist Gabriel Schwabe
Cellist Gabriel Schwabe provides commentary and audio examples from his newest album featuring a lesser-known work by Frank Bridge
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Blogs
Positive audition preparation outcomes – even when you don’t get the job
While the process may be daunting, repetitive and sometimes demoralising, there is huge value to be found in preparing for auditions. Online editor and cellist Davina Shum examines five positive things to take away from preparing for orchestral auditions
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Blogs
In search of the Irish double bass
Principal double bassist of the Irish Chamber Orchestra Malachy Robinson reflects on his journey seeking Irish double bass repertoire
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Blogs
How to be successful in an orchestral audition - LSO violinist Maxine Kwok
London Symphony Orchestra first violinist Maxine Kwok offers tips for string candidates on preparing for orchestral auditions in this interview from 2014
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Blogs
10 tips for a successful orchestral audition
Chicago Symphony Orchestra cellist Brant Taylor offers advice to candidates hoping to succeed in that all-important orchestral audition
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Blogs
Aaron Rosand on how to produce a beautiful tone
The American violinist examines the role of the bow in tone production. From 2013
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Blogs
‘Music and Mozart have been life savers’ - The Engegård Quartet
Violist of the Engegård Quartet Juliet Jopling shares how the indomitable spirit of Mozart’s string quartet music has helped the ensemble through difficult times
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Blogs
Gut strings feel honest and dirtier than the brilliance of metal strings - Consone Quartet
The period instrument quartet explains why all players should feel able to dip a toe into historically informed performance
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Blogs
‘Keep it simple, stupid’ - recording Mozart Violin Concertos the historically informed way
Violinist Francesca Dego shares her experiences of collaborating with Sir Roger Norrington and how the six ‘S’s’ helped inform her new album of Mozart concertos
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Blogs
Forgotten in HIStory: shining a light on female composers through the ages
Violinist Ellie Consta reflects on her journey to uncover works by forgotten female composers as the founder and artistic director of Her Ensemble: the UK’s first women and non-binary string ensemble
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Blogs
The violin and 50 laps: how swimming can help string playing
Violin and viola teacher Martin Goldman took up swimming during the pandemic. He writes about how the process made him step into the role of the student and how the physicality of swimming can be transferred into teaching stringed instruments.
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Blogs
How I write for strings - composer Danielle Eva Schwob
Composer Danielle Eva Schwob reflects on the challenges of writing for stringed instruments, as well as why collaboration is important to ensure music-making is a mutually beneficial experience for all
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Blogs
Scaling the walls: what musicians can learn from bouldering
Cellist and online editor Davina Shum examines the parallels between rock climbing and music-making and how an approach in one discipline can inform the other
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Blogs
Songs without words: arranging popular classics of Azerbaijan for violin and guitar
Violinist Nazrin Rashidova writes about transcribing popular Azerbaijani songs with an aim to explore and expand the repertoire for violin and classical guitar
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Blogs
Popper studies: celebrating the small victories
The enjoyability and longevity of Popper studies lie in the small gains that gradually accumulate to a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, writes cellist and online editor Davina Shum
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Blogs
Keeping it fresh and mixing it up - Solem Quartet on combining old and new works
The Solem Quartet reflect on harnessing creativity to inject new life into canonical works, as well as developing unique new works in collaboration with each other and living composers
