All Blogs articles – Page 4
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BlogsIstván Várdai on winning competitions and beyond
Having picked up prizes early in his career, and more recently served as a jury member, the cellist offers some advice for those preparing to join the competition circuit
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Rachel Barton Pine: 10 tips for practice and performance
The Strad attended a masterclass with the American violinist in 2015 and took down these practical pointers
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Aaron Rosand on how to practise effectively
There is no short cut to fine playing; only logical, intelligent and concentrated practice will yield results, writes the American violin virtuoso
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Émile Sauret, moderation and the ‘saccade’ bow stroke
As Nazrin Rashidova continues her recorded exploration of Sauret’s Études-Caprices played on his own Stradivari, she contemplates an unusual technical challenge
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Yuri Zhislin on the 6 pillars of violin playing
The violinist and violist boils down a career’s worth of experience as soloist, chamber musician and teacher
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Stringtelligence by Thomastik-Infeld: the right rosin for your strings
Franz Klanner, director of engineering and technology at Thomastik-Infeld, shares his knowledge about rosin and the importance of choosing the right one for your strings
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Viola Rush: a 3-day collaborative instrument project
Earlier this year, Antoine Gourdon put together a team of four luthiers to make a small viola in three days during the Viola 2019 conference in Paris. Here he introduces the project, shares photos and more
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Arranging Brian Eno's ambient masterpiece for string quartet
Composer David Lancaster on turning the trailblaizing tape-loop album into a score for strings
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Hartmann’s Concerto Funebre: a neglected masterpiece
Violinist Itamar Zorman offers a movement-by-movement analysis and appreciation of Karl Amadeus Hartmann’s Concerto Funebre for violin and string orchestra
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Absolute Bird: music inspired by birdsong
Violinist Alexandra Wood, Creative Director of City of London Sinfonia, introduces their Absolute Bird series in conjunction with the RSPB – a life-affirming project on and off the stage of the Southbank and Southwark Cathedral
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7 tips on starting a quartet – and keeping it going long-term
The Minguet Quartet began playing together as students in 1988, and the original line-up are still going strong 30 years later. Here’s how they do it.
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5 steps to help save music education in the UK
Rob Adediran, executive director of the London Music Masters education charity, comments on the #SaveOurMusic campaign led by a group of LMM alumni and asks, ‘What can we do to save music for the next generation?’
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14 tips for efficient double bass practice
As the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire prepares to host a free double bass day, its three masterclass tutors Thomas Martin, Anthony Alcock and Julian Atkinson offer their best practice advice
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The chamber music of Grace Williams
Madeleine Mitchell writes about her growing appeciation for the music of a remarkably gifted but neglected composer
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7 tips for successful practice by violinist Rachel Podger
The Baroque musician reveals the most important elements of her practice routine
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The 5 steps to natural stage presence
Cellist and workshop leader Ruth Phillips explains how yoga and meditation liberated her from the prison of stage fright
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Technique can be developed, but musicianship is inbuilt, says violist Rivka Golani
In this article from 2016, Toby Deller paid tribute to the pioneering musician and teacher as she celebrated her 70th birthday
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The Rewards of a Portfolio Career
Cellist and baritone Matthew Sharp explains why you should broaden your musical horizons
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Three top tips for improving performances with meditation techniques
Violist Matthew Jones discusses the ways in which meditation and mindfulness can help performers
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5 reasons Boccherini is actually worth getting to know
Cellist Peggy Nolan argues that posterity has been unfair to this cello virtuoso who was also a unique and prolific composer
