All masterclass articles
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Premium ❘ Feature
Masterclass: Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider on Elgar’s Violin Concerto
The violin soloist, chamber musician and conductor gives practical advice on the great English composer’s noble string work. From November 2010
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Premium ❘ Feature
Masterclass: Ida Haendel on Bach’s Chaconne in D minor
To mark the 120th anniversary of The Strad, the great virtuoso Ida Haendel draws on a lifetime of playing to explore what is for many the pinnacle of the solo violin repertoire. From the May 2010 issue.
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Premium ❘ Feature
Masterclass: Erik Schumann on the Haydn ‘Sunrise’ Quartet, first movement
Erik Schumann, first violinist of the Schumann Quartet, looks at how a good structural understanding of the work’s first movement can lead to a more profound interpretation
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Premium ❘ Feature
Masterclass: Vadim Gluzman on Brahms’s Violin Sonata no.1
The Israeli violinist discusses why colour, shading and restraint are key in the first movement of this often-misinterpreted work.
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News
Benedetti Foundation announces winners for Rachel Podger Baroque violin masterclasses
Six violinists have been selected to partake in masterclasses with Baroque violinist Rachel Podger as part of the Benedetti Foundation’s 2023 Baroque Virtual Sessions
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Video
Dvořák masterclass with cellist Irene Sharp
The late cello pedagogue is seen here teaching Noah Krauss at California Summer Music, the festival she founded in 1996
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Video
Masterclass video: Paul Laraia on Glazunov’s Elegy in G minor
The US violist discusses the one-movement piece in the May 2023 issue of The Strad
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Premium ❘ Feature
Masterclass: Jack Liebeck on Bruch Violin Concerto no.1
Thoughts on sound, colour, phrasing and interpretation of the first movement from British violinist Jack Liebeck
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Video
Masterclass: The Takács Quartet performs Brahms’s String Quartet no.3
Violist Richard O’Neill gives his thoughts on performing the work in the November 2021 issue
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Debate
In their focus on technical prowess, conservatoires neglect music theory
Instinct isn't enough for true musicality. Instead of simply drilling technique, performers should have a profound an understanding of music theory, argues cellist David Watkin
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Focus
Masterclass: Johannes Moser on Brahms E minor Cello Sonata no.1 op.38
The German-Canandian cellist takes a look at structure, character and speed, and explains why it is so important to honour the composer’s bowings, in the first and second movements of the E minor Sonata
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Video
Ray Chen teaches Harmonics
In the latest in Ray Chen’s ‘Masterclass Monday’ YouTube series, he looks at natural and artificial harmonics and offers some hard-won tips on getting them right
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Article
The Strad Masterclass: Paul Silverthorne on Brahms Viola Sonata op.120 no.2
Whatever choices you make, remember Brahms's reply to a musician asking for advice: 'Play it how you like, but play it beautifully'' Paul Silverthorne speaks about performing Brahms’s Second Viola Sonata to The Strad, and performs the entire work in the video above. Silverthorne continues The Strad’s marked-up sheet music ...
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Article
The Strad Masterclass: Pieter Wispelwey on Brahms Cello Sonata op.99
We need to look at this awesome, great, powerful and heroic movement with fresh eyes' Pieter Wispelwey talks about performing the first movement of Brahms's Cello Sonata op.99 and provides demonstrations in the video above. Wispelwey continues The Strad’s marked-up sheet music series in association with Henle Verlag with the ...
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Article
Violinist and violist Pinchas Zukerman on sound production
You need to have the mechanism organised so that you can feel free to express yourself - which then becomes Schubert or Beethoven or Brahms. So you must separate the technique from the music. Most of the time when we try to express ourselves we lose the ...
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Article
Violinist Maxim Vengerov on making one violin sound like three in Bach
I want to hear two or three violinists at one time'Maxim Vengerov gives a violin masterclass on the Fugue of Bach's Sonata No.1, recorded at the Royal Academy of Music in London. The student is Nasrin Rashidova.The full 45-minute video is available to buy as a download or ...
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Article
Cellist Frans Helmerson on bringing out the separate colour of each string
I love the specific colour of each string - it's not always about making the sound as equalised as possible. Each string has a different voice.'Kronberg Academy professor Frans Helmerson gives a cello masterclass on Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata, recorded at the International Musicians' Seminar, Prussia Cove. The student ...
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Article
Alisa Weilerstein gives cello masterclass at Prague's Rudolfinum
You play much better in tune when you don't stare at the fingerboard. The brain should tell the fingers what to do. If you look at your fingers before your brain has had a chance to direct, you will reverse the process' Alisa Weilerstein gives a cello ...
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Article
The Strad Masterclass: Danjulo Ishizaka on the Grieg Cello Sonata
In the video above cellist Mischa Maisky and pianist Martha Argerich perform the first movement - Allegro agitato - of Grieg's Cello Sonata, op.36. Cellist Danjulo Ishizaka continues The Strad’s new marked-up sheet music series in association with Henle Verlag with the work's first movement – giving bowings, fingerings and ...
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Article
Cellist Ralph Kirshbaum gives Haydn masterclass
You should play with a feeling of improvisation, as this is a cadenza. At the moment it feels too self-conscious'Ralph Kirshbaum gives a masterclass on Haydn's Cello Concerto in D for Play With A Pro Music Academy. The full 42-minute video can be downloaded here.Watch: Cellist Ralph Kirshbaum ...