All Focus articles – Page 9
-
FocusWoman of the World: 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
-
Focus
In focus: the 1728 'Milanollo' Stradivari
Roger Hargrave examines the Stradivari ‘Milanollo’ violin of 1728, one of the few of the master’s instruments to keep its original sharpness
-
Focus
Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata played on arpeggione
Nicolas Deletaille, arpeggione, and Alain Roudier, fortepiano, play Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata. The arpeggione was invented in 1823 by instrument maker Johann Georg Stauffer in Vienna. It is fretted, has six strings and is tuned like a guitar, but played with a bow like a cello or gamba. Although ...
-
Focus
Words of Wisdom: Alice Schoenfeld
An interview with the late violinist and pedagogue Alice Schoenfeld
-
Focus
Stringtelligence by Thomastik-Infeld: whistling E-strings
In the third part of his blog series for The Strad celebrating Thomastik-Infeld’s 100 th anniversary, Franz Klanner, the Austrian string manufacturer’s director of engineering and technology, concentrates on whistling and other common issues of violin E-strings
-
Focus
Tabea Zimmermann's top 6 practice tips
To tie in with our review of her Berlioz CD, Tabea Zimmermann shares her wisdom on getting the most out of your practice
-
Focus
Masterclass: Philippe Graffin on Ravel’s Violin Sonata no.2
The French violinist explores how to create an orchestra of abstract colours and characters in the first movement of Ravel’s last chamber work
-
Focus
7 warming up and cooling down exercises for musicians
Suggested warm-ups prior to playing and cool-down stretches following performance and/or practice
-
Focus
9 views on antiquing a modern violin
Tips and opinions from The Strad's archive on capturing a classic look in new instruments – or not
-
Focus
5 tips for conquering performance nerves from 5 solo string players
Artists share their wisdom on battling the fear monster, as featured over the last five years of The Strad
-
Focus
In focus: the 1696 Stradivari 'Archinto' viola
John Dilworth praises the archetypal beauty of Stradivari’s ‘Archinto’ viola, a magical example of form and aesthetic
-
Focus
Jascha Heifetz – champion of modern violins
Dario Sarlo reveals a lesser-known passion of the great violinist, and how it led him to start his own lutherie competition
-
Focus
4 reasons why Arabic poetry inspires me
To tie in with our review of her Inner Rhyme CD, Lebanese violinist Layale Chaker explains why she finds musical inspiration in Arabic poetry
-
Focus
7 tips on motivating yourself to practise
7 different string players share their wisdom on maintaining motivation - as featured over the last 10 years in The Strad
-
Focus
Looking after Paganini's 'Il Cannone' violin
Entrusted with the task of conserving one of the world’s most valuable violins, Bruce Carlson has made it easier to play, while taking it closer to how it would have looked to Paganini. In this article first published in 2004, he explains
-
Focus
Why aren't more British string players making it big internationally?
Despite the large number of young and talented string players in Britain, few seem to make an impact as leading soloists on the world stage. Charlotte Gardner explores the reasons for this phenomenon
-
Focus
5 views on Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto
Five violinists share their insights into this pillar of the repertoire in these snippets of interviews featured in The Strad
-
Focus
6 ways to improve shifting for string players
Advice on how to shift smoothly and cleanly from 120 years of The Strad
-
Focus
Resonanzio resonance podium for double bass
Turning everyday practicality to musicians’ acoustic advantage
-
Focus
Musical emissaries: The Shanghai Quartet
The players of the pioneering ensemble, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary, speak to Charlotte Smith about forming at a time when Western chamber music was barely understood in their native China
