Mark Wood’s Viper Electric Violin Has Enough Star Power to Make Guitarists Envious
His energy as electric as his violins, Mark Wood has been on a mission to disrupt the most venerable of musical traditions since his first day at Juilliard.
INSTRUMENTS, BOWS, & GEAR
REVIEWS
Sheet Music Review: Claude Debussy’s Dances for Harp & String Orchestra
Debussy wrote these two short dances to a commission from the instrument-making firm of Pleyel, keen to market its newly developed chromatic harp.
Sheet Music Review: Arnold Schoenberg’s Revolutionary Second Quartet Transitions Through His Experimental Style
For all its atonality, Schoenberg’s Second Quartet reverts to the classic four-movement form.
Fiddler Mark O’Connor’s Memoir ‘Crossing Bridges’ Chronicles His Wide-Ranging Virtuosity
Mark O’Connor has lent his wide-ranging instrumental virtuosity to folk, jazz, rock, and classical music.
HOW TO
These stories offer advice, instruction, tips, and tricks to help you grow as a string player.
14 Steps Toward Improved Intonation on Stringed Instruments
Good intonation on a stringed instrument is something you can work on from Day One. Here are 14 steps toward building good intonation on violin, viola, cello & bass.
ESSENTIAL HISTORICAL RECORDINGS
Essential Historical Recordings: The Larger-Than-Life Cellist Gregor Piatigorsky
For several decades in the mid-twentieth century, Piatigorsky was the cello’s greatest international star.
Essential Historical Recordings: Violinist Yehudi Menuhin’s Unparalleled Tonal Purity
Menuhin scaled the most exalted artistic heights, producing tones of unparalleled purity and nobility from his fiddle. Said Einstein upon hearing him, “Now I know there is a God in heaven."
LATEST STORIES
Cellist Laura Metcalf’s Sunday-Morning Musical Series ‘Gather’ Showcases Talent and Diversity of NYC Scene
Metcalf’s current project is a Sunday-morning concert series called GatherNYC at the Museum of Arts and Design on Columbus Circle, the heart of Manhattan.
Jazz Violinist Sara Caswell Returns to the Stage, and Releases ‘The Way to You,’ Her First Solo Album in 17 years
The new album has a broad sonic range with Caswell's band, including bass, guitar, drums and vibes.
Encouragement & Advice for Advancing Amateur Orchestral Musicians
Playing in a community orchestra can be one of the great joys in life
Slaying the Final Boss—Performance—Requires Smart Practice
The process can be broken down into making clear goals, trying out specific methods to achieve them, and then immediately observing if the methods were helpful
How to Start An Adult Chamber-Music Ensemble
If you’re wondering how to get a new chamber ensemble together, there are numerous programs and services that can help get you started.
Gear Tips for Beginning Cellists: What a Student Really Needs to Have
When starting cello lessons, it’s important for beginners to have the appropriate instrument quality and gear. So, what does a student really need to have?
The Catalyst Quartet’s ‘Uncovered’ Project Shines a Light on Forgotten Works by Black Composers
The seeds of the Uncovered Project were initially planted in 2010, shortly after the quartet was formed
6 Tips for Joining an Orchestra as an Amateur Musician
Joining an orchestra can be an incredibly rewarding and enriching experience
Ligeti Quartet Taps the Nucleus of Anna Meredith’s Avant-Garde Universe
This recording includes the newly commissioned Meredith piece “Solstice In/Solstice Out” for string quartet and trumpet, as well as eight other works by her
A Personal Look at Sibelius’ Sixth Symphony, a Paean to the Natural World That Debuted 100 Years Ago
The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius defies the neat categorizations of music history.
A String Player’s Guide to London
London is a resilient city that has much to offer for string players. Here's a string player's guide to London.
New Violist Julianne Lee and Founding Cellist Camden Shaw on the Dover Quartet’s New Lineup
Beginning in September 2023, Julianne Lee will take up her new role as violist of the Dover Quartet.
Seth Parker Woods Reimagines an Immersive Concert Experience as an Audio Recording on ‘Difficult Grace’
Difficult Grace, the new album from acclaimed cellist Seth Parker Woods, got its title long before the iconoclastic musician committed to recording
A String Player’s Guide to New York City
Here are some of the myriad venues, ensembles, restaurants, and cultural institutions that make New York City a great musical destination for string players.
Post-Covid Audio Trends: Apple’s Classical Music App, Listening on Speakers, and a List of Demo Discs
An update on Apple's classical music streaming service, plus trends in home audio gear