All Focus articles – Page 3
-
FocusFrom the archive: Joseph Joachim, endurance violinist
In this extract from an article in the May 1894 issue of The Strad, our correspondent Robin H Legge does not try to hide his adulation for the most celebrated violinist of the time
-
Blogs
String ensemble skills are life skills – not to mention professional imperatives
Damian Iorio, violinist, conductor and music director of the UK-based National Youth String Orchestra, writes about the importance of ensemble skills. From 2018
-
Focus
The 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. From 2005
-
Focus
How do you prepare for a concerto competition?
Performing as a soloist with an orchestra can be a nerve-wracking experience, particularly for competition finalists who have very little rehearsal time. Pauline Harding talks to jury members, conductors and soloists about how to prepare
-
Focus
How to prepare for a competition: Queen Elisabeth winning violinist Ji Young Lim
The violinist won the competition in Brussels in May 2015, receiving €25,000, concert performances and the loan of the ‘Huggins’ Stradivarius for four years.
-
Focus
Adult string students bring unique challenges which can be very rewarding
Teaching those who have come to their instrument later in life can be an extremely rewarding process, writes Ros Stephen. But the psychological complexities must also be handled with delicacy
-
Premium ❘ Feature
How to teach adult string students
Teaching adults need not be a daunting prospect. For Alice McVeigh the rewards outweigh the problems, as she reveals in her guide for tutors. From 2014
-
Focus
Learning a violin as an adult: How do you progress beyond practising for exams?
How can an adult amateur, beginning or relearning an instrument, progress beyond practising for exams? Three tutors examine the various options – as well as suggesting ways to combat shyness
-
Feature
Ask the Experts: how to correct a violin bridge position
Three top luthiers answers a reader's query on preserving the correct instrument geometry after changing strings, in this feature from 2014
-
Focus
The Doric Quartet on switching to Classical bows
In this extract from their cover story in the August 2018 issue of The Strad, the British quartet discusses how a recent experiment with Classical bows has taken the players’ musicianship to new heights. Interview by Toby Deller
-
Article
Life Lessons: David Harrington
The American violinist recalls the path that led him to found the genre-defying Kronos Quartet
-
Feature
Professor Ševčík addresses Strad readers
The Czech violinist and influential teacher passes on words of wisdom to readers of The Strad in February 1912
-
Focus
8 pieces of advice for happy string quartets
Words of instruction and inspiration on quartet playing from the pages of The Strad
-
Focus
Pioneering Female String Players from The Strad archives
Ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March, take a look at these string players who graced the pages of our early magazine
-
Focus
Developing 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
-
Focus
Leila Schayegh's top 5 tips on historically informed vibrato
The Baroque violinist shares her wisdom on how to use vibrato authentically
-
Feature
How to help music students with sightreading
If your students only brush up their sightreading at exam time, they're missing out on an important part of music making
-
Focus
10 tips for learning and teaching sightreading
Advice from The Strad’s archive on how to improve sightreading and reminders of its crucial place in any good musician’s skillset
-
Focus
Playing with a relaxed fourth finger by violinist Ros Stephen
Ros Stephen, author of the Oxford University Press Globetrotters series and Violinworks method books, gives exercises and advice to help string players reach fourth finger notes without straining
-
Premium ❘ Feature
Where should string players look when performing from memory on stage?
Teacher Talk: your string teaching questions answered by our panel of experts. From October 2011
