A very British tradition
Newark School of Violin Making has an alumni list that reads like a Who’s Who of the violin world. As it celebrates its 50th anniversary,...
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- Apr 13
So good they named it twice
On the next stop of my Interrail trip, I head to Baden-Baden to hear Kirill Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic play Strauss From Bach...
- Apr 8
At home with Bach
Hearing Bach’s St John Passion in the composer’s own church was a concert of a lifetime I didn’t think Bach would stick a knife in my...
- Apr 6
I ❤️ Beethoven
For the first stop of my Interrail trip, I make a beeline for Beethoven’s home city of Bonn and find him around every corner I love...
- Mar 25
Human imperfection will save usArtificial intelligence impersonations of human writing are very goo
Artificial intelligence impersonations of human writing are very good – and that’s why this writer isn’t afraid of them There’s lots of...
- Feb 5
Opening the conservatoire doors
There are many good reasons for music colleges to include adult learners, so why do they seem reluctant? ‘I love the idea of building...
- Jan 26
Turn off, tune out
A plea to end the wispy-bulgy school of violin playing Is there a particular sound that makes you reach for the radio off button? For me,...
- Jan 14
Cold Tár soap
Cate Blanchett takes up a baton for the story of Lydia Tár but misses the fire of a great conductor and underplays the struggles of...
- Mar 3, 2022
Death of a salesman
The death of violin expert Norman Rosenberg marks the end of an era and raises questions for the violin world There are some people who...
- Dec 31, 2020
Let’s go outside
With classical music forced out of the concert hall, one of the few positives of this year has been rediscovering it in the wild This...
- Dec 4, 2020
Doughnuts are good for you
The Doughnut theory of economics sets out principles and practical steps towards a sustainable, just and happy world. What can classical...
- Nov 27, 2020
Thank you, Sheila Nelson
Very sad news has come through that the great violin pedagogue Sheila Nelson died on 16 November, at the age of 84. By rights, Sheila...
- Sep 24, 2020
Chaplin’s The Immigrant
Charlie Chaplin‘s 1917 film about the journey to Ellis Island is as funny and moving today as it must have been to the audiences who saw...
- Jul 5, 2020
A plea for the arts
Royal Festival Hotel c.
- Jun 25, 2020
7 ways to support musicians
If music has helped you through this crisis, there are many ways to show your gratitude What has listening to classical meant to you...
- Jun 11, 2020
Responsible adults
New generations of star players are committing to music education at the grass roots level with a focus that might create lasting change...
- May 21, 2020
Revolution in the air
Coronavirus has threatened the classical music world’s very existence while simultaneously showing us how much we all need it. Can the...
- Mar 18, 2020
Words and meaning
In my previous article I described why and how this strange time might be a chance for musicians to start writing. This isn’t just an...
- Mar 18, 2020
Time to write
At a time of crisis for public musical life, performers can remain positive by practising a different way of communicating – with words. Elb
- Feb 9, 2020
How to write musicians’ biographies
Musicians' biographies are an essential and powerful part of their careers, but they are often not effective. Here are some tips from one wh
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