Does it Matter If a Conductor Has a String-Playing Background?

Many conductors are former or current string players. But when a conductor has stringed-instrument experience, is he or she more disposed to nurturing the art of string playing?

Effective Teaching Strategies for a Music Student With Alzheimer’s Disease

By Scott Flavin | From the May-June 2022 issue of Strings magazine Some years ago, I taught a private violin student, an adult amateur who was a highly resp... Read More...

Prophets of Possibility: Bang on a Can Is Building a Musical Cadre of American Experimentalists

Founded in 1987 as a response to the absence of new music in American concert halls, Bang on a Can is now a major force in the new-music movement.

Why the Music of Bassist and Composer Charles Mingus Still Resonates 100 Years After His Birth

The music of jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus, who was born 100 years ago and died in 1979, continues to challenge musicians.

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.

Adult Summer Music Camp: 4 Ideas for Some Chamber-Music Fun (and Study!)

Summer chamber-music programs abound for adult amateurs looking to hone their chops, expand their musical horizons, or just have fun. Here are 4 camps that do just that.

Elinor Frey Explores the Piccolo Cello on ‘Early Italian Concertos’

Elinor Frey emerged from pandemic lockdown in 2021 to record an album of early Italian cello concertos by Vivaldi, Leo, Sammartini, and Tartini on piccolo cello.

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.

Violinist Lili Haydn is Making a Name for Herself in the TV and Film World

The classically trained jazz and New Age violinist Lili Haydn (Opium Moon) is spending her time scoring music for such TV and film projects.

Bassist Tori Elker Charts Her Journey with Good Morning Bedlam

When Good Morning Bedlam's bassist left the group, Tori Elker taught herself to play the bass so she could tour with her husband and do more than just run the merch table.