August/September 2001, Issue 96




 

A TEACHER AT THE TOP

What does it take to become a professor of wonderment to your students? Hollis Taylor opens the door to the inspiring mind of violinist Charles Castleman.

THAT FIRST VIOLIN

School loaners and garage-sale clunkers only do for so long. But investing in a brand new instrument doesn’t have to break the bank. Among these 18 great outfits, critiqued by Heather K. Scott, are sweet deals for every beginner, step-up student, and amateur.
Read the review on-line.
Read some tips about how to buy a violin outfit.

Check our at-a-glance comparison chart of popular violin outfits.

MUSIC SCHOOL DIRECTORY

Our annual guide to North American music schools: what they offer, where they are, and how to contact them. Plus tips for students on choosing a degree program, auditioning a school, and more.

Click here to view the updated listings for 2001/2002. Our exclusive on-line directory includes all the data from the print version plus additional details about each school.

DEPARTMENTS

News and Notes
Violinist Judith Ingolfsson's latest award confirms her place among the stars.
Read the story on-line. Plus the Guarneri String Quartet plays musical chairs, Tilson Thomas welcomes Alexander Barantschik, and more. Click here for the latest news.

Q & A
Answers to your questions about fingerboard buzz, gold-mounted bows, and more.

Practical Musician
Ready to start teaching in your home? John Blasquez has tips for equiping your studio, welcoming your students, and dodging the pitfalls. Read the story on-line.

Master Class
A wealth of sound hides below the violin’s open G. Composer and performer Mari Kimura reveals how to find it and use it, with illustrations from a recent cadenza.

Play It!
Rebecca Rust introduces Karl Michael Komma’s "Furusato No," a cello-piano duet inspired by traditional Japanese melodies. With music to play.

Your Instrument
Breaking in a new violin, viola, or cello? You probably aren’t getting its best sound yet, says Jim McKean. Here’s everything you need to know.

Shop Visit
A top soloist often shuns his 1727 Stradivari cello to perform on one built by Michigan luthier Tim Jansma. David Fox discovers what the versatile builder is doing right.

Letter from a Lefty
Southpaw fiddling helped Ryan Thomson beat a right-arm disability and restart his career.

Classified Marketplace
Check out our classified ads on-line by clicking here.

New Products
No-stick tuning pegs, a seven-string violin, a better chin pad, and more.

Auction Report See the results of recent sales at Christie's, Skinner, and Bonhams & Brooks..

Encore
When your cello’s carved from ice and the venue’s at 12,000 feet, a chilly reception isn’t such a bad thing. Roger Landes reports from Taos, New Mexico.

REVIEWS

On Record
Andrew Palmer unearths some 20th-century gems. Read his review essay on-line.

On Stage
Bill Smith reports on a dozen remarkable spring performances in Portland, Oregon.

Short Takes
A book that demystifies the violin and a new CD that brings the North American fiddle repertoire within reach.

Cover: Student violins, by Barbara Gelfand

 


 Return to Top