Podcasts
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #105: active string teaching and learning with violinist Mahaliah Edwards
Mahaliah shares how she aims to get pupils to enjoy music making, as well as how she strives to be the teacher she would’ve liked to have had
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #104: Brescia vs Cremona with luthier Linda Lespets
What was life like for instrument makers in Brescia? What was the making style like? Why hasn’t Brescia retained the same reputation as Cremona? Linda spotlights the home of Da Salò, Maggini and Rogeri
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #103: adult learner mindset with violinist Rachael Ridge
Embracing gradual growth and progress, curiosity and a willingness to make mistakes is crucial for adults learning a musical instrument, says the violinist
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #102: teaching students to teach themselves with cellist Laurence Lesser
In celebration of his 85th birthday and 50 years at the New England Conservatory, Laurence speaks about his teaching approaches, including valuable ’a-ha’ moments from throughout his career
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #101: inside the Zemtsov viola dynasty with Dana and Mikhail Zemtsov
What’s it like being in a family where everyone plays the viola? The father and daughter duo share all
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #100: Cheng² Duo on new works for cello and piano
Our 100th episode features a chat about celebrating cultural heritage, sibling collaboration, as well as how to emulate the sound of a horse on a cello
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #99: how to lead a string section with violist Daniel Foster
Principal violist of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington DC since 1995, Daniel shares his experiences leading a section, as well as advice to those in their first principal roles
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #98: finding new double bass repertoire with Valentina Ciardelli
Transcriptions of existing repertoire should celebrate the double bass in all its glory, rather than present a poor imitation of other instruments, says the double bassist
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #97: Pavel Berman on playing Oistrakh’s Stradivari violin
What’s it like playing the Shostakovich Violin Sonata - a piece written for David Oistrakh - on Oistrakh’s former violin?
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #96: Christian Tetzlaff on Bartók Violin Concerto no.2
The violinist shares his personal experience and thoughts on the work
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #95: Historical instrument chat with violinist Rachel Podger
Rachel speaks about the tools of her trade in this episode of the ‘Podgecast’
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #94: a theatrical Verklärte Nacht with cellist Matthew Barley
The cellist speaks about creating a theatrical experience with a multitude of access points for new and existing audiences to Schoenberg’s piece and other related works
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #93: creative storytelling with cellist Alexander Hersh
The star of ‘Absinthe’ shares how narrative and multiple access points can benefit classical music in reaching new audiences
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #92: remembering violinist Geoff Nuttall of the St. Lawrence String Quartet
The ensemble’s founding violist Lesley Robertson shares her memories of the violinist
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #91: ‘The Music Critic’ with violinist Aleksey Igudesman
‘The most horrible reviews of the most beautiful music ever written’
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #90: on the road with the Aizuri Quartet
With a busy touring season, how do the players cope with learning lots of repertoire, rehearsing with limited time and being away from home? Violinist Emma Frucht shares the group’s strategies
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #89: playing in Broadway shows with violist Stephanie Baer
Playing in musical theatre and commercial productions cultivates skills that will feed your classical playing, says the violist
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #88: Silkroad’s Global Musician Workshop with cellist Mike Block
Mike shares his thoughts on cross-cultural artistic collaboration ahead of this year’s programme
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #87: Yoga and string playing with violinist Melissa White
‘Our bodies are our best teachers’
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #86: violinist Francisco Fullana on the 1735 Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ ’Mary Portman, ex-Kreisler’ violin
Steeped in history, this violin has enabled Francisco Fullana to unleash his musical creativity