All Focus articles – Page 77
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FocusI discourage my students from using a shoulder rest, says violinist Aaron Rosand
Only without a shoulder rest can one develop a personal sound that is identifiable, insists the Curtis Institute and Mannes College professor
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FocusThe evolution of violin bow hold
From the awkward grips of the past to the relaxed approach of today, the bow hold has come a long way. Globalisation has a lot to do with it, says John Krakenberger
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FocusHow to successfully network at a post-concert reception
If all you want after your concert is to go home to your hot water bottle, think again: attending that post-concert reception could be essential to your career, says Ellen Highstein
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FocusChristian Tetzlaff on Beethoven's Violin Concerto cadenza
The violinist discusses Beethoven's original piano cadenza for the work, which he has arranged for violin
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FocusHow to play the violin without a chin rest
After years of pain Elizabeth Wallfisch finally found comfort by removing her chin rest. She offers a step-by-step guide
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FocusHow to master bow speed and distribution
Physicists think of time and space as aspects of the same thing. Gerald Fischbach applies the same theory to bow division
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FocusAsk the Experts: how to help a student with a short fourth finger
Strad readers submit their problems and queries about string playing, teaching or making to our experts
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FocusViolinist Eugene Fodor on studying with Jascha Heifetz
American-born Fodor counted among his teachers not only Heifetz, but also Ivan Galamian and Josef Gingold
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FocusThe history of the viola joke
Why pick on the poor violist? Martin Boyd searches for the origins of the viola joke
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FocusThe pros and cons of using a shoulder rest
Filling the area between the jaw and the left shoulder is a perpetual problem for violin and viola players, writes Tim Homfray
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FocusFinding the perfect cello endpin † and how to stop it slipping
Most cellists can tell an embarrassing tale about a spike calamity, says Alice McVeigh
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FocusDid early string players use continuous vibrato?
Contrary to current thinking, a light vibrato was the order of the day for 18th-century musicians, asserts Beverly Jerold
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FocusFree sheet music: Joachim's Violin Romance in B flat edited by Itzhak Rashkovsky
Royal College of Music professor Rashkovsky offers advice on recreating the spirit of the great playera in this charming piece by the 19th-century virtuoso. Download the score as two PDFs at the bottom of the article
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FocusFree sheet music: James Ehnes's cadenzas to the early Mozart violin concertos
The violinist describes the process behind writing his own cadenzas for Mozart’s First and Second Concertos. Download the scores as a PDF at the bottom of the article
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FocusBritish violinist Fenella Barton on overcoming rheumatoid arthritis
Conquering pain taught the solo and chamber musician to play as if every performance was her last
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FocusDouble bassist Leon Bosch on avoiding back and finger injuries
The musician was forced to listen to his body to prevent the recurrence of back and finger issues
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FocusCellomania: Amsterdam’s Fifth Cello Biennale
With appearances from Mischa Maisky, Gary Hoffman, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Anner Bylsma and 2Cellos, this year's event was not to be missed, writes Heather Kurzbauer
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FocusMusic examiners should be fair and encouraging
As an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Ita Herbert has spent years coaxing the best out of her candidates in the UK and overseas
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FocusChoosing the right rosin for your instrument
It's that yellow - or brown - stuff you put on your bow before you play and the white dust you clean off afterwards. But what is it and how do you choose it, asks Sonia Joseph
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FocusIs playing on the same string the only way to achieve even tone colour?
How much and where should we change strings in order to obtain different colour and different intensity, asks Rok KlopÄiÄ
