All Focus articles – Page 36
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FocusGood vibrations: How violin modes influence tone quality
In the August 2021 issue, Joseph Curtin examines the evolution of neck setting. In part two of his article about violin modal analysis from 2009, he discusses low-frequency resonances that influence a violin’s acoustic behaviour
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Focus'A shocking surprise': uncovering Bach’s Partita for Solo Violin no.2 in D minor BWV1004
Following analysis of Bach’s Partita no.1 in B minor BWV1002, Lewis Kaplan introduces the mighty Partita no.2 in D minor BWV1004 in this extract from the August 2021 issue
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #6: Johannes Moser on the Elgar Cello Concerto
Johannes Moser shares his thoughts on living alongside this iconic work, as well as the practical elements of performing such a challenging piece
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FocusHow useful are Ševčík exercises for violinists, violists and cellists?
From the archive: Violinist Ivry Gitlis, violist Bruno Giuranna and cellist Christopher Bunting share their views on the influential method
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FocusOpinion: Relaxed body, focused mind
The art of Chinese calligraphy has much to teach us about playing a stringed instrument, writes violist Hsin-Yun Huang
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Focus‘It’s a great diagnosis tool’ - Leon Bosch’s etude of choice
In this extract from 2012, double bassist Leon Bosch shares why Simandl’s etude no.1 covers the fundamental aspects of playing
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FocusStick your neck out: the pros and cons of adjustable necks
In this extract from the August 2021 issue, Joseph Curtin discusses how he experimented with adjustable necks, progressing from the various changes made in connecting an instrument’s neck to its body since the Baroque era
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Focus‘Makers should pay attention to these three modes’ - Joseph Curtin on violin acoustics
In the August 2021 issue, Joseph Curtin examines the evolution of neck setting. Twelve years ago he looked into a violin’s acoustic behaviours, and how its signature ‘modes’ indicate its sound and response
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Focus‘Good grief, there are 40 of them!’ - Alexander Baillie on Popper studies
In this extract from August 2013, cellist Alexander Baillie shares his experiences of the studies as well as strategies for students embarking on learning them
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FocusA blessing in disguise: recording Piazzolla’s works during a pandemic
In this extract from the August issue Session Report, violinist Karen Gomyo shares the challenges imposed by Covid-19 that resulted in unprecedented upsides while recording her new album of works by Piazzolla
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Focus‘A complete workout for the bow’ - violist Patricia Pollett’s study of choice
In this extract from 2012, viola professor at the University of Queensland Patricia Pollett shares why Ševčík’s op.2 no.5 allows players to focus on a variety of bowstrokes, and why it’s more difficult than it looks
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FocusThe ‘Ševčík Colony’: the global spread of a master pedagogue
In this extract from the December 2009 issue, Endre Granat outlines the international movements of violin professor Otakar Ševčík in the early 20th-century
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FocusEsther Yoo: ‘I try to share my journey so that people are aware of the challenges, not just the fancy end product’
Our August issue cover star Esther Yoo illustrates how she uses social media to share her musical knowledge and dispel the mystique of an international concert career
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FocusLeft-hand agility in Dont Etude op.35 no.8
In this extract from the May 1999 issue, violinist Zakhar Bron shares tips on hand shape and intonation when playing thirds in Dont Etude op.35 no.8
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #5: Hsin-Yun Huang’s philosophies on playing and teaching
’Ultimately technique is a way of communicating. But communicating of what? Of your whole being’
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FocusAvoiding the ‘neutral zone’- what to do with your bow when playing violin trills
Violinist Zakhar Bron discusses creating a smooth line when playing trills in the op.36 no.6 etude by Dont
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Focus‘The best medicine for string-crossing, spiccato and the right arm’ - Felix Andrievsky’s etude of choice
In this extract from September 2012, violin professor Felix Andrievsky shares how Paganini’s Caprice no.2 is an excellent tool to develop your right arm technique
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Focus‘Celebrate each note in terms of its beauty and excellence’ - Timothy Eddy on playing expressively
In this extract from the August 2021 issue, professor of cello at the Juilliard School Timothy Eddy provides tips for students and teachers on building an emotional connection with music and harnessing technique to play with expression
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Focus‘I value them as supremely sharp tools’ - Colin Carr on Popper studies
In this extract from the August 2013 issue, Colin Carr, Professor of Cello at the Royal Academy of Music, shares his thoughts on using the technical studies to create fluidity in music making
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FocusWhen Kyung Wha Chung met Bach’s Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas
Our August 2021 issue features Juilliard professor Lewis Kaplan examining Bach’s Solo Partitas. Read an extract from our October 2016 Session Report issue featuring violinist Kyung Wha Chung
