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Carl_Flesch c United States Library of Congress

‘He has brushed aside all the absurd habits’- From the archive: September 1934

2024-09-06T09:24:24.573+01:00

Violinist and conductor Henri Temianka gives some thoughts on the teaching style of his former tutor Carl Flesch, on the occasion of the latter’s 60th birthday

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Sentimental Work: Raphaël Merlin on Charles Mingus’s Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

2024-09-06T09:24:00+01:00

The Charles Mingus jazz standard Goodbye Pork Pie Hat has become the cellist’s own farewell to the Ébène Quartet after more than two decades performing together

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What can string players learn from tennis players?

2024-09-04T11:15:00+01:00

Strength of mentality, discipline, adaptability and an understanding of the basics are all skills that cross between the fields of tennis and string playing, writes cellist and tennis enthusiast Davina Shum

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How to adapt the Suzuki Method for adult learners - violinist Meghan Faw

2024-09-04T09:10:00+01:00

Using the method while teaching adults requires a different approach from teaching children, writes the Suzuki-trained violin teacher

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How I found my violin (or rather, how my violin found me) - Lois de Cruz

2024-09-03T10:43:00+01:00

Lois de Cruz shares how buying a £150 violin led to a musical journey that has helped her through a time of need and grief

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Chromatica: the birth of a new orchestra

2024-09-03T09:17:00+01:00

Violinist Maren Bosma, concertmaster and associate artistic director of the brand new orchestra Chromatica, writes about the journey of setting up an ensemble from scratch

Carl_Flesch c United States Library of Congress

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‘He has brushed aside all the absurd habits’- From the archive: September 1934

2024-09-06T09:24:24.573+01:00

Violinist and conductor Henri Temianka gives some thoughts on the teaching style of his former tutor Carl Flesch, on the occasion of the latter’s 60th birthday

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Premium ❘ Feature

Trade Secrets: Purfling and edgework after closing the box

2024-09-06T09:24:00+01:00

A method that allows for more aesthetic freedom than completing the plates before finishing the soundbox

GettyImages-1712991057

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Opinion: What makes a good stand partner?

2024-08-30T08:41:00+01:00

It takes much more than turning up on time and playing the right notes to be a reliable stand partner, says violinist Alexandra Gorski. There are many essential rules to be followed

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Postcard from Brussels: 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition

2024-08-13T15:26:00+01:00

The 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition confirmed that the standards and the stakes are higher than ever. Melissa Lesnie reports from one of the most influential string events on the international circuit

Competitions

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Velvet Quartet wins 2024 Gianni Bergamo Classic Music Award Chamber Music Competition

2024-09-11T10:23:00+01:00

The Germany-based quartet receives €12,000

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Yo Kitamura wins 2024 Enescu Competition cello division

2024-09-10T20:48:00+01:00

The Japanese cellist receives €15,000 alongside concert engagements and career guidance

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Twelve violinists proceed to the 2024 Enescu Competition second round

2024-09-09T18:23:00+01:00

The next round will take place on 11 and 12 September in Bucharest

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Premium ❘ News

Premiere of the Month: Tom Coult’s new work for the Adelphi Quartet

2024-09-10T13:14:00+01:00

A new string quartet explores the rich possibilities of the genre

[3] Ayres Extemporae © malouvdh_photography

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Competitions, Awards and Appointments: September 2024

2024-08-16T11:56:44.16+01:00

The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests

Paul Huang cr Marco Borggreve

The Strad Podcast: How to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang

2024-09-12T08:49:00+01:00

The violinist speaks about his teaching approaches in a unique learning experience, in the third part of our four-part education-themed podcast series

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The Strad Podcast: how to teach collaborative skills with violinist Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet

2024-09-05T09:47:00+01:00

‘We should live in a chamber music world’ - the violinist speaks about the importance of collaboration inside and outside of the practice room, in the second episode of our four-part education-themed podcast series

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The Strad Podcast: How to practise effectively with violinist Ray Chen

2024-08-29T10:06:00+01:00

The first in our new four-part education themed podcast series features our September 2024 cover star

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The Strad Podcast #115: designing your own musical education as an adult learner with violinist Julia Reddy

2024-04-11T08:38:00+01:00

How can adult students gain musical enrichment beyond the practice room? The violinist, teacher and podcaster shares her strategies

Competitions

459279302_914325584065927_9016772746644082075_n

Velvet Quartet wins 2024 Gianni Bergamo Classic Music Award Chamber Music Competition

2024-09-11T10:23:00+01:00

The Germany-based quartet receives €12,000

458741798_1061819575390660_4222061371542991877_n

Yo Kitamura wins 2024 Enescu Competition cello division

2024-09-10T20:48:00+01:00

The Japanese cellist receives €15,000 alongside concert engagements and career guidance

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Twelve violinists proceed to the 2024 Enescu Competition second round

2024-09-09T18:23:00+01:00

The next round will take place on 11 and 12 September in Bucharest

collages (18)

Why I only make violas: luthier Gabrielle Kundert

2024-09-06T09:36:00+01:00

The maker shares why she has dedicated her craft to the viola, as we take a close-up look at her copy of a 1787 Castello viola commissioned by National Symphony Orchestra principal violist Daniel Foster

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Trade Secrets: Purfling and edgework after closing the box

2024-09-06T09:24:00+01:00

A method that allows for more aesthetic freedom than completing the plates before finishing the soundbox

Main pic

My Space: Olivier Calmeille’s Montpellier workshop

2024-09-06T09:24:00+01:00

Examine the Atelier Scordatura in the south of France

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Making Matters: Optimising sound spaces for good acoustics

2024-09-06T09:24:00+01:00

Any luthier’s workshop requires a room or area with good acoustics to assess an instrument’s sound quality. Gideon Baumblatt and Simon Eberl explain how they optimised their sound spaces

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In Focus: An 1845 violin by Johann Georg Stauffer

2024-08-30T08:44:00+01:00

Jakob Nachbargauer and Adrian Elschek examine a mid-century violin by the successful Austrian guitar maker

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Centre of attention: centring and alignment

2024-08-30T08:43:00+01:00

Inspired by the work of the Cremonese masters, David Folland explains his method for finding the centre line of an old instrument

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Concert review: Gould Piano Trio

2024-08-16T11:56:00.113+01:00By

Tim Homfray visits London’s Wigmore Hall for the performance of Brahms and Dvořák on 16 June 2024

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Concert review: Chiaroscuro Quartet

2024-08-16T11:55:56.03+01:00

Edward Bhesania pays a visit to London’s Kings Place for the recital of Haydn and Beethoven on 5 June 2024

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Concert review: Pavel Haas Quartet

2024-08-16T11:55:52.957+01:00By

Tim Homfray visits London’s Wigmore Hall on 9 June 2024 for a performance of Smetana and Janáček

Szekely Hungarian Qt

Zoltán Székely: Bartók, Glazunov

2024-09-06T09:25:07.49+01:00By

A revered Hungarian violinist celebrated as soloist and chamber musician

Braunstein Abbey Road

Guy Braunstein: Braunstein, Delius, Vaughan Williams

2024-09-06T09:25:04.257+01:00By

Two works by English masters rub shoulders with the Beatles

Clement Lin

Haoli Lin: Clement

2024-09-06T09:25:00.99+01:00

World premiere of Beethoven dedicatee Franz Clement’s solo violin works

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Book review: Teaching Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass: Historical and Modern Pedagogical Practices

2024-08-30T08:40:25.367+01:00By

Philippa Bunting peruses a volume on historical teaching methods penned by US educators Dijana Ihas, Miranda Wilson and Gaelen McCormick

String Virtuosi

Book review: String Virtuosi in Eighteenth-Century Naples: Culture, Power, and Music Institutions

2024-08-30T08:40:21.447+01:00By

Robin Stowell appraises Guido Olivieri’s monograph on the great players of the mid-Italian city during the Enlightenment era

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Book review: Employment and Vulnerabilities in the World of Orchestral Musicians: Symphonic Metamorphoses

2024-08-30T08:40:18.367+01:00By

Mark Pemberton, former chief executive of the Association of British Orchestras, gives a critical apprasial of Heather Kurzbauer’s volume on the running of an orchestra

Debate

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Opinion: Avoid overloading students with information

2024-08-05T08:05:00+01:00

Double bassist Alex Ferkey believes that young string players are often derailed by information overload, and should trust more in unconscious processes when trying to perfect their technique

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Opinion: Mass discardment of cheap bows

2024-07-01T08:05:00+01:00

Cellist Andrew Janss was shocked to discover the phenomenon of the cheap, single-use bow: one that costs more to rehair than replace. He calls for a change in manufacturers’ attitudes to such waste

Debate

GettyImages-1277426194

Opinion: Avoid overloading students with information

2024-08-05T08:05:00+01:00

Double bassist Alex Ferkey believes that young string players are often derailed by information overload, and should trust more in unconscious processes when trying to perfect their technique

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