The Strad Podcast

Suzuki-trained violinist and teacher Meghan Faw speaks to online editor Davina about How to tailor the Suzuki Method to different students – after all, all pupils are different and not one single approach is going to fit them all! Meghan speaks about her personal experiences with the method, and what she’s learnt throughout her career implementing the method in her teaching. Find out more about Meghan's work at learnviolinonline.org and on Instagram @suzukiviolinteacher. Read her article How to adapt the Suzuki Method for adult learners - violinist Meghan Faw Read our article in our September 2024 issue: Mother tongues: Global Suzuki Method Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards. Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB Find us on social media: Facebook.com/thestrad X: @TheStradMag Instagram: @the_strad_ Listen to our previous episodes in this series: Listen: The Strad Podcast: How to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang Listen: The Strad Podcast: how to teach collaborative skills with violinist Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet Listen: The Strad Podcast: How to practise effectively with violinist Ray Chen Andante - Sonata no.2 Bach Meghan Faw, violin

Violinist Annie Fullard speaks to online editor Davina Shum about how she teaches collaborative skills in her capacity as a chamber music teacher at various institutes and also as a member of the Cavani Quartet. She is the co-author of the upcoming book The Art of Collaboration: Chamber Music Rehearsal Techniques & Teambuilding which will be published by Oxford University Press this autumn. Listen to why she believes curiosity and openness is key to creating a good chamber musician – and person – as well as why she thinks we should live in a chamber music world. Stay tuned for our next episode: how to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang. Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards. Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB Find us on social media: Facebook.com/thestrad X: @TheStradMag Instagram: @the_strad_ String Quartet no.2 in A minor, op.13 – I: Adagio – Allegro vivace Felix Mendelssohn Cavani Quartet

Julia Reddy is the host of the Violin Class Podcast and teaches a studio comprising solely of adult learners. She and online editor Davina had a chat about how adult students can be proactive and design their own musical curriculum beyond the practice room - a completely different game from teaching children. What are your favourite ways to enrich your musical education? Find Julia's Violin Class podcast: https://www.violinclass.co/podcast Recommended listening: How to immerse yourself in the violin world Violin practice strategies for busy people Advice from an adult violin student Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards. Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB Find us on social media: Facebook.com/thestrad X: @TheStradMag Instagram: @the_strad_

If you’ve read our February 2024 issue, you would’ve read our feature on the long-lost work by Ysaÿe, his Poème concertant. Violinist Philippe Graffin has recorded the work that had been undiscovered for more than a century – he joins online editor Davina in this episode to speak about uncovering Ysaÿe’s forgotten works, the history and inspiration of the piece, plus how he hopes to cement these lost works as staples of violin repertoire in the future. Read: Ysaÿe’s Poème concertant: shining a light on a long-forgotten piece Watch: Video: Ysaÿe’s Secret Sonata by violinist Philippe Graffin Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards. Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB Find us on social media: Facebook.com/thestrad X: @TheStradMag Instagram: @the_strad_ Poème concertant - Ysaÿe Philippe Graffin, violin / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Jean-Jacques Kantorow Rêves Avie Photo credit: Marco Borggreve

Double bassist Michael Rieber is the first solo double bass player from the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra in Hamburg. Not only does he hold a principal position in one of Europe’s top orchestras, he’s also released a recording of French works called Nuits Blanches. How does Michael find the time to take on two very high-calibre jobs and projects? Michael shares with online editor Davina the lessons he’s learnt throughout his orchestral career, including why patience is critical when it comes to preparing repertoire – both new and frequently revisited, as well as how he structures his preparation time. Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards. Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB Find us on social media: Facebook.com/thestrad X: @TheStradMag Instagram: @the_strad_ César Franck: Sonata in A major I. Allegretto ben moderato (transcription by Balthasar Brockes) Alfred Desenclos: Aria and Rondo for Double Bass and Piano II. Rondo Nuits Blanches Michael Rieber, double bass / Norbert Goerlich, piano Es Dur Photo credit: Jewgeni Roppel

Maja Bogdanović is no stranger to a busy life – she enjoys an international solo and chamber career as well as collaborations with regular musical partners, including her husband the violinist Daniel Rowland. Maja’s shared her thoughts with us previously on thestrad.com about travelling not only with a cello, but also with a small child. How does Maja stay on top of things? She and fellow cellist Davina Shum chatted about strategies for keeping an ideal mindset when you’ve got a busy career, including looking after your mental and physical health, as well as having a caring community around you, to avoid burnout and stress. Do you have a particular strategy or mantra that you employ to avoid burnout and stress? Send an email to thestrad@thestrad.com. Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards. Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB Find us on social media: Facebook.com/thestrad X: @TheStradMag Instagram: @the_strad_ Cello Concerto No. 1- Op. 33 - I. Allegro non troppo The Carnival of the Animals- R. 125 - The Swan Camille Saint-Saëns Lalo • Saint-Saëns Maja Bogdanović, cello / RTS Symphony Orchestra / Bojan Sudjić Challenge Classics CC 72949

In our quest for virtuosic brilliance and flair in our music making, as string players, sometimes we forget that coming back to basics is important for solving many problems in our playing and performance. Many people to get distracted by the complexities of a particular obstacle, or perhaps try and tackle too many problems at once, leading to a sensory overload. Or perhaps overcoming challenges in string playing is so overwhelming and anxiety-inducing that you don’t know where to start! Here to chat with online editor Davina in this episode is cellist Gabriel Schwabe, who is also a cello professor in Cologne and Maastricht. He advocates an awareness or ‘scanning’ of one’s playing and set-up, to pinpoint simple ways to solve problems and unlock one’s playing potential. He shares his favourite strategies, provides a few examples of how basic things have helped his playing and his students, as well as some useful exercises to stay on top of his playing. Read Gabriel's Q&A on Bridge's 'Oration' Cello Concerto and his listening guide on the piece. Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards. Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB Find us on social media: Facebook.com/thestrad X: @TheStradMag Instagram: @the_strad_ IV: Allegro giusto Bridge: Oration – Concerto elegiaco for cello and orchestra Gabriel Schwabe, cello / ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra / Christopher Ward NAXOS 8.574320 Photo credit: Studio Monbijou

Violinist Mahaliah Edwards spoke to online editor Davina recently about her approaches to teaching students in a wide range of scenarios, which call for actively involving pupils in music making and learning, and with Mahaliah taking on the role of ‘being the teacher that she would’ve like to have had.’ Perhaps you’re a string teacher interested in hearing some ways to inject inspiration into lessons, particularly after a holiday break, or when students seem to become disinterested – Mahaliah shares her ideas behind music lessons with a broad perspective, and how teachers can also learn from their pupils. Visit Mahaliah's website: mahaliaedwards.com Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards. Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB Find us on social media: Facebook.com/thestrad X: @TheStradMag Instagram: @the_strad_ Photo credit: Olivia Davy-Hoffman

The topic of adult beginners and adult learners is one that resonates with many readers of The Strad. Here to chat with online editor Davina about the mindset of adult students is violinist and teacher Rachael Ridge, who has written extensively on the subject for thestrad.com. She’s the founder of the Adult Violin Academy and speaks about her experience teaching adults – particularly as adults will approach learning an instrument very differently from a child. She speaks about the importance of growth and progression, having a community, not being afraid to make mistakes and to take risks, as well as other factors, that will help adult learners on their musical journey. Find out more about Rachael here and her Adult Violin Academy Facebook group here. Check out some of Rachael's blogs below. The dark side of being an adult violin beginner: Rachael Ridge 10 tips on how to stay motivated as an adult beginner violin student What are your experiences and challenges as an adult learner? Let us know at thestrad@thestrad.com Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards. Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB Find us on social media: Facebook.com/thestrad X: @TheStradMag Instagram: @the_strad_

Hailing from a family of viola players are Dana and Mikhail Zemtsov. Ahead of the release of their album Fathers and Daughters, the Zemtsovs spoke with me about being part of a viola dynasty. How did this collective of violists come about? What makes a typical violist? The duo share how the family is united by instrument, as well as painting a picture of life home in a viola household, plus what it’s like to work professionally with your family members The Zemtsovs's Fathers and Daughters album with pianists Anna Federova and Borys Federov will be out on 3 November 2023 on Channel Classics. Find out more here: https://lnk.to/fathersdaughters Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards. Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB Find us on social media: Facebook.com/thestrad X: @TheStradMag Instagram: @the_strad_ Cielito Lindo (arr. Dana Zemtzov) Dana Zemtsov, Mikhail Zemtzov, violas Fathers and Daughters Channel Classics

Playing as a principal player in a string section of an orchestra certainly has its challenges – but how do you learn how to lead a section? There’s plenty of tuition on audition preparation and orchestral repertoire for students – but it's unlikely many string players attend a class called ‘Leading 101’ while at college! It’s certainly a job that comes with gained experience and feedback. Here to share his learning experiences of leading a section is violist Daniel Foster. Daniel joined the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington DC in 1993 and was appointed to principal viola in 1995 – sitting next to his father who was associate principal! As he reaches an important milestone of 30 years with the NSO, he shares his approach and philosophy on leading a string section. Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards. Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB Find us on social media: Facebook.com/thestrad X: @TheStradMag Instagram: @the_strad_

Violinist Pavel Berman is in the rather unique and fortuitous position of having the opportunity to play on the 1702 'David Oistrakh' Stradivari violin – not only that, but he has recorded the Shostakovich Violin Sonata recently with pianist Maria Meerovitch, a work that was written for Oistrakh himself! What’s it like, coming face-to-face with the legacy of Oistrakh both in the music on your stand and the fiddle in your hand? Pavel spoke to online editor Davina about playing this special instrument, how it compares to other Strads and Guarneris he’s played before, and how the sound of the violin lends itself to Shostakovich. Pavel Berman and Maria Meerovitch’s album Passacaglia will be released on Orchid Classics on 6 October 2023, featuring violin sonatas by Shostakovich and Respighi. Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards. Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB Find us on social media: Facebook.com/thestrad X: @TheStradMag Instagram: @the_strad_ II – Allegretto Violin Sonata op.134 Dmitri Shostakovich Pavel Berman, violin / Maria Meerovitch, piano Passagcalia Orchid Classics ORC100262 Photo credit: Franco Monti

Violinist Rachel Podger is no stranger to the pages of The Strad magazine, having featured in several articles and reviews throughout her prolific career. Ahead of her busy upcoming season, which sees her as artist in focus at London’s Kings Place, artistic director of Brecon Baroque Festival, a recording release of the Goldberg Variations, plus principal guest directorships with Tafelmusik in future seasons, Rachel makes her first appearance in the podcast to speak about the tools of her trade – including how she met her 1739 Pesarini/Pazarini violin, other instruments she’s met throughout her career, plus an explosive anecdote about a gut E-string. Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards. Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB Find us on social media: Facebook.com/thestrad Twitter: @TheStradMag Instagram: @the_strad_ Bach Toccata and Fugue Tutta Sola Rachel Podger, violin Channel Classics