All Focus articles – Page 3
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FocusThe harmonious string quartet - a balance of four personality types
No one said that living in a quartet was easy - but the most successful groups develop a unique identity that survives vitriolic relationships and even personnel changes, writes Paul Robertson
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A method for viola-playing, according to Karen Tuttle
Violists, particularly in the US, regard Karen Tuttle as a pioneer of pedagogy. As this month marks the 100th anniversary of her birth, Carlos María Solare outlines some of her ideas on playing the viola
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8 tips for second violinists
Views on second violin playing from experienced orchestral and chamber performers
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7 tips for carving a scroll
How to perfect the head of your instrument from 125 years of the Strad
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Hilary Hahn marks 30 years since her debut solo recital aged ten
‘I built up to it for months, and I’ll never forget it,’ says the American violinist
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6 tips for improved coordination
Guidance from The Strad’s archive for greater synchronisation between left-hand fingers and bow
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Michel Collichon, enigma among French viol makers
Just a handful of instruments by Michel Collichon have survived to the present day – but they demonstrate the skill and techniques of a master innovator. With a tenth example recently identified, Shem Mackey explains the appeal of the 17th-century viol maker to modern-day luthiers
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Violinist Yehudi Menuhin's first appearance in The Strad, aged 10
We republish a snippet introducing the prodigy to Strad readers in 1926
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I know that I know nothing: Tomás Cotik concludes his series on Bach
Ahead of his 2020 album release of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas, the violinist concludes his blog series, in which he discusses the contradictions between the opposing trends and traditions in Bach interpretation, and his personal solutions to them.
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What do violinists Sarah Chang and Hilary Hahn keep in their instrument cases?
Ever wondered what players keep in their instrument cases, apart from their Strads? We talk to some well-known performers to discover the secrets they hold
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Jerry Horner on talent and practice
In February last year, former Fine Arts Quartet violist Jerry Horner died at the age of 83. Here, his past student James Dickenson shares part of his philosophy of learning, drawing on interviews with Margaret Clements, his widow
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How to make scales enjoyable
Encouraging students to practise scales needn't be an uphill struggle, says Paul Harris - in fact, it can even be fun!
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How important is happiness for effective practising?
Adopting a positive mindset helps to prime you for learning, writes musician and performance psychology expert Christine Carter
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5 ways to improve playing in thirds
Tips for hand position, bow distribution and intonation from The Strad Archive
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Technique: double bassist Alex Henery gives tips on controlling left-hand finger pressure
How to place down, lift and move your fingers in a way that minimises fatigue, by Alex Henery, Principal double bassist of the Sydney Symphony and head of double bass studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
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Exploring the secrets of Stradivari's workshop
The workshop where Stradivari made the instruments of his golden period was demolished in 1938. Andrew Dipper uncovers the clues that give an insight into the great master's working environment
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Kaunzner in Korea: a nation of winners
In recent years, string players from South Korea have made headlines as the winners of numerous international competitions. German violinist–composer Viktoria Elisabeth Kaunzner speaks to South Korean colleagues and draws on her own teaching experience in the country to examine the phenomenon
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7 ways to become a more confident instrumental teacher
In their 2012 book 'From the Stage to the Studio', Cornelia Watkins and Laurie Scott give practical advice to help young musicians become more confident in teaching
