Many advancing violinists, violists, cellists, and bassists have a fear of playing in the registers beyond the neck position. Here are 3 keys to conquering those upper-position anxieties.
By Yevgeny Kutik I am preparing Alexander Glazunov’s Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 82, for a concert with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra and music director Dirk Meyer. I first studied this piece when I was quite young, probably around…
By Atar Arad It’s the first day of school. Viola—let’s call her Viola—is a new freshman student in my studio, and her first lesson is about to begin. I intend to welcome her warmly and, perhaps, tell her that she…
Going through this process is beneficial even for those students who don’t need a full technique overhaul, for three main reasons
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By James N. McKean It might sound odd that one of the leading dealers in rare antique violins would also be an ardent supporter of contemporary makers, but it was true. I experienced it firsthand, as did many of my…
By Louise Lee Players seeking to break the routine of weddings and corporate events can consider a more-unusual kind of gig: performing on a cruise ship. Entertainment is a must on any cruise, and operators routinely book soloists and ensembles…
By Cristina Schreil It’s August 2016 at SUNY Purchase, a college just north of New York City. As she’s done countless times in her two decades with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, violinist Elita Kang dons concert attire. She’s all made…
By James N. McKean The worst piece of playground equipment in days of old was the see-saw. They’re mainly extinct now, and had a predatory look to them: a long pole, balanced in the center, with a seat at each…
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By Thomas May “Question authority” isn’t just a political slogan. This quintessentially Socratic imperative is also characteristic of visionary artists who are drawn to challenge cultural assumptions that put a damper on the power of the art they practice. For…
Italian-born, Grammy Award–winning violinist Augustin Hadelich started his musical journey at just five years old, when his father—a German amateur cellist and agriculturalist—introduced him to the violin. Catching occasional lessons and master classes from traveling violinists who stopped at the…
By Cristina Schreil Navigating through foggy safety goggles, I follow a mariachi band onto a Long Island factory floor. I confront a cacophony: countless machines all whir and click at once. As if conjured, an electric-bass string winds into shape…
By Cristina Schreil “Hello sugarplum.” It’s an odd thing to hear a room of people utter in unison. Then again, this crowd was unique. A black-and-white photo of late violin teacher Dorothy DeLay—the frequent speaker of this warm greeting—glowed on…