All Blogs articles – Page 7
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BlogsFrom concept to sound: What judges look for in a violin making competition
Luthier Patrick Robin , one of the jury members of the International Violin Making Competition Prague, discusses how he goes about assessing an instrument
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Blogs
Preparing for an orchestral audition: the basics
Gary Levinson , senior principal associate concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, sets out the principles of successful audition preparation
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Aaron Rosand on how to produce a beautiful tone
The American violinist examines the role of the bow in tone production
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How to approach contemporary music, by violist Stephen Upshaw
The contemporary music specialist provides strategies for understanding and executing new works effectively
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Cellist David Watkin on the art of continuo playing
Ahead of his weekend residency at the Cello Unwrapped festival at London’s Kings Place, Watkin defends the importance of the continuo cellist, and the skills required by the role
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Bring back violin recitals of the Golden Era, says Aaron Rosand
Recital programmes should be like a well-balanced meal, and always incorporate tasteful virtuoso pieces, argues the American maestro
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Dysmusia - how dyslexic research and therapy can overcome difficulties in reading music notation
Cellist and language therapist Dr Elizabeth Morrow describes developmental dysmusia - an inability to read a musical score - and offers guidance for teachers in overcoming the difficulty
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Aaron Rosand on finding the correct bowings and fingerings
There are no short cuts to discovering the fingerings and bowings to suit your hands, writes the American violinist. Practice and more practice is the key
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A novel way to practise double-stops - Rachel Barton Pine
The US violinist advocates emphasising either the top or bottom lines when practising double stopped scales to anticipate more accurately what occurs in the repertoire
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Video: making a violin bow, by former W.E. Hill & Sons maker William Watson
In the ten-minute video below William Watson, employed by W.E. Hill Sons from 1945 to 1962, demonstrates the bow making process - from start to finish. The final pupil of William Retford, Watson continued to make bows after leaving the Hill firm and built a reputation ...
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Blogs
Whatever happened to improvisation in classical music?
'Duelling' violin brothers Vladimir & Anton grew up surrounded by Romani music and use a variety of Romani techniques in their performances - including writing their own variations and cadenzas. Here they discuss the lost art of classical improvisation
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Blogs
Video: violinist Hilary Hahn knocks bridge over during a concert - and is helped by two luthiers in the audience
Hilary Hahn has posted video footage on her Twitter page of luthiers Peter and Wendela Moes re-fitting her bridge after a concert. The violinist managed to collapse the bridge while pushing her mute back on stage before her final encore. The two luthiers of Munich violin ...
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Connecting, communicating and playing with character - cellist and baritone Matthew Sharp
The British artist uses the Greek word 'melos' - meaning both 'melody' and 'limb' - to explain the connection between movement and sound
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Blogs
Venice Baroque Orchestra performs on a tour bus
The Venice Baroque Orchestra, which is currently on a 13-city tour of North America with violinist Nicola Benedetti, missed one of its scheduled flights. Refusing to be downhearted, the enthusiastic musicians gave an impromptu Vivaldi performance on the bus to pass the time. The video was shared on ...
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Violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky on the importance of practising scales
Scales are invaluable to all aspects of playing says the Royal Academy of Music and Royal Northern College of Music violin professor
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Conquering performance nerves: staying focused on stage
Brian Hodges and Diana Allan answer student questions on coping with stage fright
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Blogs
Developing a natural and relaxed approach to string playing – part 2
Portland State University professor Dr Tomas Cotik gives an introduction to kinesthetic feelings and demonstrates techniques and exercises
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Blogs
Developing a natural and relaxed approach to string playing - part 1
Portland State University professor Dr Tomas Cotik gives an introduction to kinesthetic feelings and demonstrates techniques and exercises
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Blogs
10 tips for winning a chamber music competition
The Notos Quartet has won numerous competitions - including the Parkhouse Award in London in 2011, Premio Vittorio Gui in Florence in 2013, the Almere Competition in the Netherlands in 2016 and the Schoenfeld Competition in China in 2016. Here they offer advice to aspiring chamber groups
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Blogs
How to bring 'grain' to your sound - cellist and baritone Matthew Sharp
The British artist describes how to use the body to create a 'fearlessness of expression' and to give the sound meaning 'beyond surface preoccupations'
