All Focus articles – Page 18
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FocusFrancesca Dego: Life Lessons
Students must be helped to find the right advice from the beginning, says the Italian violinist, who reflects on her own formative experiences
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #38: Eldbjørg Hemsing on Norwegian music
The violinist outlines the history of classical and folk music in Norway and illustrates her sentimentality behind the sound of her home country
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FocusChallenges at the bench: mental health and luthiers
Mental illness is often comorbid with chronic physical conditions, resulting in multiple challenges for many luthiers, as Peter Somerford examines
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FocusA string quartet is an ‘instrument’ that students must master
Graham Oppenheimer, senior chamber music tutor at Chetham’s School of Music, shares some of his teaching strategies for school-age students
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Focus‘Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to people in the trade’: how to enter the lutherie profession
In this extract from March 2022, luthiers reflect on their early professional experiences and give advice to those entering the profession
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #37: Paris Andrew from Women in Lutherie
’It feels good to have a space where women can be talking about issues. It can feel comforting, but at the same time, it’s infuriating how many of these stories we come across’
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Focus'A very supportive role': 8 tips for second violinists
Views on second violin playing from experienced orchestral and chamber performers
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FocusFranck Chevalier: Life Lessons
As he marks 25 years with the Diotima Quartet, the French violist talks about life as a chamber musician and the importance of conversing with peers
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FocusA ‘Taylor-made’ concerto: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s collaboration with violinist Maud Powell
How the composer and violinist overcame prejudices of the day and logistical challenges to premiere a new violin concerto successfully
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FocusMy experience: Sagnick Mukherjee, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Sagnick Makherjee shares how his love for cross-disciplinary music making and encouragement from teachers inspired him to pursue a masters degree in Glasgow
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Focus8 pieces of advice for happy string quartets
Words of instruction and inspiration on quartet playing from the pages of The Strad
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FocusA glimpse into the lives of two mid-century female violinists – both called Shapiro
Though unrelated by birth, US violinists Eudice Shapiro and Frances Shapiro (later Magnes) forged parallel careers which provide a fascinating insight into the lives of female musicians during the mid-20th century, writes Tully Potter
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #36: Coco Tomita on forging a solo career during the pandemic
The young violinist shares her experiences of the last two years, as well as the time she was lucky enough to play on a Stradivari violin
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FocusMusical groundbreakers: Ševčík’s female pupils
At the beginning of the 20th century, a small number of female violinists became internationally renowned. Linking the members of this intrepid group was the famous Czech string teacher Otakar Ševčík, as Rosalind Ventris discovers
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FocusSentimental Work: Jennifer Pike
For the British violinist, Szymanowski’s Violin Sonata in D minor brings back fond memories of old holidays, family reunions and a three-concert marathon in 2017
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Focus‘Slightly grotesque but always so full of colour’- Laura van der Heijden on her latest recording
Cellist Laura van der Heijden speaks to Tom Stewart about her latest recording of Czech and Hungarian music
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FocusA learned crowd: Postcard from Cambridge
The Cambridge Music Festival marked its 30th anniversary in the unusual format of two instalments during 2021. Toby Deller attended three performances during the autumn celebrations
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FocusDeveloping arm, wrist and finger vibrato
Rok Klopčič takes a look at different types of vibrato through the eyes of the great teachers and players - from the June 2003 issue
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Focus‘You are forced to listen when there is no conductor’
Jacqueline Vanasse examines how performing without a conductor encourages individual players to listen and take responsibility, in this extract from the March 2022 issue
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FocusMy experience: Violinist Lisa Archontidi-Tsaldaraki, Benslow Music Instrument Loan Scheme
The London-based violinist reminisces about the various instruments she has borrowed from the scheme that have enabled achievements throughout her musical journey