How much can an adult amateur expect to develop as a musician in a short space of time? Quite a lot, it turns out, given the right...

Jury places audience favourite in fifth place at Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition in Belgium Music competitions get a lot of bad press...

A new collection of specially commissioned unantiqued instruments offers hope of a new Zeitgeist around modern violins. Will top soloists...

David Byrne turns 63 today, and yet he still has one of the most energetic and interesting careers of any musician anywhere in the world....

Observing masterclasses can be a brilliant way to learn and find inspiration, and yet students rarely turn up to watch. They may be too...

Facebook just kindly reminded me that two years ago today I was in Sarasota, Florida, enjoying the La Musica Festival, and tasting wine –...

I have an article in today's Financial Times about music philanthropy, for which I spoke to some of the legion of generous souls who help...

Violinist Benjamin Baker has just been selected for the final rounds of the Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition. Such contests are...

Today's classical music business may be competitive and tough, but there are also more opportunities than ever. Success lies in knowing...

For violinists, playing the mandolin offers instant rewards and benefits, but some challenges, too. I asked for advice from the best in...

Jazz violinist Regina Carter, interviewed here, offers some advice on exploring the genre Transcribing ‘If it’s not your language you...

Competitions are a vital part of the classical music world, whether you like it or not. They offer many benefits to players and to the...

An 1802 biography of Bach offers timeless insights into the art of teaching, as well as revealing the composer's own pedagogical...

Charlie Chaplin was one of the most expressive and popular communicators ever. What can string players learn from his art? Light and...

Anner Bylsma has some advice for players who want to express their own feelings through music While I was at the Amsterdam Cello Biënnale...

An understanding of the characteristics of the different keys can help you develop a palette of sounds. So do you know your innocent C...

Donna Tartt's brilliant novel The Goldfinch contains insights into the antiques business that might apply to the violin business too I’ve...

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has handily published this wonderfully detailed data about the concerts played in the 2014–2015 season...

A new documentary suggests that Mrs Bach was behind the greatest works by her husband Johann Sebastian. But does it ring true? You know...

Bach’s slurs are are a means of expression and not mere technical tricks and we have lost the art of Rhetoric, says Anner Bylsma...