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‘The mechanical limits of the viola’ - From the archive: October 1924

2024-10-04T06:51:21.1+01:00

The pseudonymous ‘Ike’ calls for a rethink of the orchestral layout, and describes an instrument resembling the ‘Parramon’ tenor viola of 1932 (see In Focus, September 2022)

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Preparing a National Youth Orchestra audition: violinist Sakura Fish

2024-10-03T11:11:00+01:00

Violinist Sakura Fish shares her top tips for preparing for an audition, as well as other ways to get involved with the NYO

NEW

Cello Notes: Music and the Urgency of Time by adult cello learner, Mavis Himes

2024-10-01T10:38:00+01:00

Psychoanalyst Mavis Himes presents an excerpt from her memoir, which explores her musical journey of learning the cello later in life

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Thriller night: improvising scores for silent cinema on the viola

2024-09-30T09:20:00+01:00

In anticipation of his tour playing in UK cinemas, violist and filmmaker Hugo Max reflects on his unique process of improvising live soundtracks for silent horror movies on solo viola

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The DIY approach: Self-taught string playing

2024-09-27T09:06:00+01:00

Can you teach yourself the violin? Violinist, teacher and author Celia Cobb believed it to be impossible – until a new book made her re-evaluate some of her assumptions

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‘Imagination is one of the most important things in music’ - Alexander Baillie’s life lessons

2024-09-27T08:58:00+01:00

The British cellist on playing fundamentals and developing musicality

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Premium ❘ Feature

My Space: Corvus Kwok’s Hong Kong workshop

2024-10-04T06:51:30.79+01:00

The luthier takes us on a tour of his shop in Kowloon, Hong Kong

Lead cr Veikko Jaatinen

Premium ❘ Feature

Making Matters: Testing an instrument’s sound using weight ratios

2024-10-04T06:51:25.327+01:00

In contrast to the normal practice of using tap tones to determine an instrument’s sound, Veikko Jaatinen presents a method based on the weight ratios of a violin’s various parts

AB on left2

Premium ❘ Focus

‘Imagination is one of the most important things in music’ - Alexander Baillie’s life lessons

2024-09-27T08:58:00+01:00

The British cellist on playing fundamentals and developing musicality

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Premium ❘ Focus

Postcard from Scotland: East Neuk Festival

2024-09-20T08:53:00+01:00

Simon Thompson visits the picturesque East Neuk of Fife in Scotland, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of a festival that attracts some of the best chamber musicians in Europe

Competitions

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Karol Lipiński Violin Competition names winners

2024-10-06T08:03:00+01:00

South Korean violinist Sunjae Ok scooped the top prize of €15,000

Finalists

Finalists announced for the Karol Lipiński Violin Competition

2024-10-03T09:04:00+01:00

Six violinists will progress to the third and final stage of this year’s competition, which will be held on 4 and 5 October

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Semi-finalists announced at the International Karol Lipiński Violin Competition

2024-09-30T13:52:00+01:00

Twelve violinists will proceed to the competition’s second round

keb 2 Titilayo Ayangade

Premium ❘ News

Premiere of the Month: Kebra-Seyoun Charles’s new bass concerto

2024-10-04T06:51:00+01:00

A New York-inspired bass concerto brings together varying dance forms

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Premium ❘ News

Competitions, Awards and Appointments: October 2024

2024-09-13T08:56:00+01:00

The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests

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The Strad Podcast: How to tailor the Suzuki Method to different students with violinist Meghan Faw

2024-09-19T09:05:00+01:00

The violinist shares her personal experiences with the method as both a student and a teacher

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

Competitions

Laureaci - laureates

Karol Lipiński Violin Competition names winners

2024-10-06T08:03:00+01:00

South Korean violinist Sunjae Ok scooped the top prize of €15,000

Finalists

Finalists announced for the Karol Lipiński Violin Competition

2024-10-03T09:04:00+01:00

Six violinists will progress to the third and final stage of this year’s competition, which will be held on 4 and 5 October

kl

Semi-finalists announced at the International Karol Lipiński Violin Competition

2024-09-30T13:52:00+01:00

Twelve violinists will proceed to the competition’s second round

CK inset pic

My Space: Corvus Kwok’s Hong Kong workshop

2024-10-04T06:51:30.79+01:00

The luthier takes us on a tour of his shop in Kowloon, Hong Kong

Lead cr Veikko Jaatinen

Making Matters: Testing an instrument’s sound using weight ratios

2024-10-04T06:51:25.327+01:00

In contrast to the normal practice of using tap tones to determine an instrument’s sound, Veikko Jaatinen presents a method based on the weight ratios of a violin’s various parts

NEW (3)

Why I rotate between seven bows: cellist David Finckel

2024-10-03T10:52:00+01:00

From 19th-century French bows to modern carbon fibre, David Finckel outlines why each of his seven bows has a time and place in his music making

1715 Domenico Montagnana violin

The Strad Calendar 2025: 1715 Domenico Montagnana violin

2024-10-01T10:12:00+01:00By

A rare example of a violin by the noted Venetian maker of cellos, it has a two-piece back of irregular figure

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In Focus: A c.1750 violin by Michele Deconet

2024-09-27T09:03:00+01:00

Peter Koerner examines the French maker’s mid-century instrument

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One gold medal awarded at 2024 Cremona Triennale violin making competition

2024-09-26T07:18:00+01:00

Alessandro Peiretti received the award in the cello category, while Liu Zhaojun, Borja Bernabeu and Michele Dobner all received silver medals

Pacifica Quartet

Concert review: Pacifica Quartet masterclass and concert

2024-09-13T08:55:00+01:00By

Bruce Hodges attends the performance of Shostakovich and Beethoven as part of the Bowdoin Festival at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 1 July 2024

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Review: Alexi Kenney masterclass

2024-09-13T08:54:00+01:00By

Bruce Hodges watches the violinist’s workshop on at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 9 July 2024 as part of the Bowdoin Festival

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Review: Miriam Fried masterclass

2024-09-13T08:53:00+01:00By

Bruce Hodges hears some words of wisdom from the veteran violin tutor at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 17 July as part of the 2024 Bowdoin Festival

Bach Dam Thomson

Henrik Dam Thomsen: Bach

2024-10-04T06:52:15.52+01:00By

No lack of personality in these fine modern-instrument accounts

Bach Menges

Isolde Menges: works by Bach, Beethoven, Handel, Schubert, Vaughan Williams et al

2024-10-04T06:52:10.927+01:00By

A great British violinist is celebrated in fitting style

Beethoven Calidore Qt

Calidore Quartet: Beethoven

2024-10-04T06:52:07.257+01:00By

A second volume of quartets impresses with its drama

Thumb Position

Book review: Thumb Position

2024-09-27T08:47:00+01:00By

Caroline Emery reviews double bass tutor Charlotte Mohrs’s introduction to playing in thumb position, published in English for the first time

Survey of solo works

Book review: A Survey of Solo Works for the Violoncello

2024-09-27T08:45:00+01:00By

Janet Banks reviews cello professor Brian Hodges’ volume on cello repertoire from the 17th century to the present day

The Instrumentalist

Book review: The Instrumentalist

2024-09-27T08:43:00+01:00By

Anne Inglis reviews Harriet Constable’s fictionalised account of the life of violinist Anna Maria della Pietà, protégé of Vivaldi

Debate

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Opinion: Avoid cheap instruments for beginners

2024-10-04T06:51:41.15+01:00

Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell urges parents not to buy their children cheap stringed instruments online – it’s a false economy and only leads to disappointment and waste

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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

Debate

GettyImages-1135385484

Opinion: Avoid cheap instruments for beginners

2024-10-04T06:51:41.15+01:00

Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell urges parents not to buy their children cheap stringed instruments online – it’s a false economy and only leads to disappointment and waste

Accessories

  • Pacifica Quartet

    Concert review: Pacifica Quartet masterclass and concert

    2024-09-13T08:55:00+01:00

    Bruce Hodges attends the performance of Shostakovich and Beethoven as part of the Bowdoin Festival at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 1 July 2024

  • Screenshot 2024-08-22 090822

    Review: Alexi Kenney masterclass

    2024-09-13T08:54:00+01:00

    Bruce Hodges watches the violinist’s workshop on at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 9 July 2024 as part of the Bowdoin Festival

  • Screenshot 2024-08-22 090835

    Review: Miriam Fried masterclass

    2024-09-13T08:53:00+01:00

    Bruce Hodges hears some words of wisdom from the veteran violin tutor at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 17 July as part of the 2024 Bowdoin Festival

  • Thumb Position

    Book review: Thumb Position

    2024-09-27T08:47:00+01:00

    Caroline Emery reviews double bass tutor Charlotte Mohrs’s introduction to playing in thumb position, published in English for the first time

  • Survey of solo works

    Book review: A Survey of Solo Works for the Violoncello

    2024-09-27T08:45:00+01:00

    Janet Banks reviews cello professor Brian Hodges’ volume on cello repertoire from the 17th century to the present day

  • The Instrumentalist

    Book review: The Instrumentalist

    2024-09-27T08:43:00+01:00

    Anne Inglis reviews Harriet Constable’s fictionalised account of the life of violinist Anna Maria della Pietà, protégé of Vivaldi

Artists

Education Resources

  • The_Strad_directories_2023

  • The Strad Directory is the essential resource for the string music world, with over 2,300 listings providing information on string businesses across North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

    Whether you are a string player searching for a new instrument or a business owner looking to reach your target audience, the Strad Directory remains the most comprehensive and user-friendly resource for the string music world.