Featured stories
Strings courses: Jude Chandler, double bass
I think what appealed most of all about the National Youth String Orchestra (NYSO) was its smaller size compared to the orchestra I was playing in before. I started out on a 1/10-size bass when I was six years old and joined my local youth orchestra a couple of years ...
Strings courses: Karen Vaughan, violin
I’ve been on a few courses at Benslow, but for the four-day advanced course you just bring along some repertoire you’ve been learning, usually around ABRSM Grade 8 or diploma standard. As well as the course tutor, there’s an absolutely fantastic pianist who plays with you, which would be very ...
Gil Shaham on the advice he received from mentors
As part of the Dorothy DeLay MasterClass Series, organized and directed by the violinist and teacher Dmitri Berlinsky, violinist Gil Shaham talks about his teachers Samuel Bernstein and Dorothy DeLay, advice he received from Isaac Stern and more.
Degree courses: Artur Chakhmakhchyan, violin
Glenn Gould School, Toronto
Degree courses: Anna Agafia, violin
Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, Waterloo, Belgium
Orchestra disbanded 6 decades ago is revived to support English musicians hit by pandemic
The Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra is due to accompany major headline acts and to go on a concert tour
The Inner Monsters responsible for performance nerves
In order to equip musicians for emotionally disconnecting from their negative thoughts, flautist Katie Frisco unpacks the three categories of Inner Monsters she characterises as being responsible for performance anxiety
Easing back into performance post Covid-19
Berenice Beverley Zammit, Graduate Teaching Assistant for Music Performance Psychology at the Royal College of Music, gives guidance on getting back into practice after a year of lockdown
Steven Staryk on violin and bow forgeries
The former concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among other ensembles, shares his thoughts on violin and bow forgeries
What technical exercise has brought you the swiftest results?
The Strad's panel of experts answer string teaching questions from readers as part of our Teacher Talk series
How has COVID-19 affected the Italian lutherie business?
Violin makers worldwide were hit hard by the Covid-19 outbreak as the customers dried up – nowhere more so than in Italy. Peter Somerford speaks to some of the country’s makers to find out how the industry is gradually getting back on its feet
Video: Violin Makers – The Renaissance of Italian Lutherie
A 60-minute documentary featuring interviews with some of the greatest 20th-century Italian luthiers
Outside the box
During 2020 music courses around the world were forced to contend with travel restrictions and distancing regulations owing to Covid-19. Some were able to adapt with scaled-back live events, while others turned to online solutions. As the pandemic continues, Peter Somerford investigates how courses plan to operate in 2021
Degree courses: Samuel Vargas, violin
Schwob School of Music, Columbus State University
Degree courses: Martin Egidi, cello
Basel Academy of Music
Degree courses: Anthony Jones, viola
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
Degree courses: Julia Filón, violin
Codarts, Hogeschool voor de Kunsten
Lawrence Power: life lessons from lockdown
The violist tells us what the lockdown has taught him about playing and teaching, and ponders the impact of the pandemic on the future of live music