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'Let's Work Together' - hear Laurie Niles on Mind Over Finger Podcast with Renée-Paule Gauthier

September 24, 2021, 12:51 PM · As editor of Violinist.com for the last nearly 25 years, I frequently interview people, but I'm less accustomed to being the subject of an interview! Nonetheless, I enjoyed a wonderful conversation with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier for her Mind Over Finger podcast this week. We talked about devotion to practice, the process of learning expression, how young people can learn from collaboration and much more. Here is the episode, which you can also find on iTunes; Spotify; and Youtube. Please enjoy!

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For the Record, Op. 171: Elena Urioste and Tom Poster; ARC Ensemble; William Goldstein and Pei-Wen Liao

Laurie Niles

September 23, 2021, 2:10 PM · Welcome to "For the Record," Violinist.com's weekly roundup of new releases of recordings by violinists, violists, cellists and other classical musicians. We hope it helps you keep track of your favorite artists, as well as find some new ones to add to your listening!

The Jukebox Album
Elena Urioste, violin
Tom Poster, piano

In March 2020, violinist Elena Urioste and pianist Tom Poster - a married pair - decided to share a music video for every day spent in isolation. They called it The Jukebox. Little did they know it would turn into 88 days of musical adventures, with thousands of viewers tuning in and submitting requests throughout lockdown. It led to some eclectic performances, from Mozart to Led Zeppelin, and a medley of Come On Eileen/Toxic/Baby Shark. After winning the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Inspiration Award, the project has now hit the studio. The Jukebox Album features a collection of Jukebox favorites as well as six new works written for the project by Mark Simpson, Clarice Assad, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Huw Watkins, Donald Grant, and Jessie Montgomery. BELOW: Trailer for the album.

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You can play in tune without a chromatic tuner: Ringing tones explained

Laurie Niles

September 21, 2021, 8:15 PM · Don't fret, you can play in tune without a chromatic tuner. I advise my students to use a chromatic tuner to tune the strings on their instruments, and when it comes to finger placement, I direct them to other references.

So if you have been using a chromatic tuner to help you place your fingers, how do you learn intonation, if you take it away? The advice, "Just use your ear!" -- said with frustration and a sense of moral superiority by a respected teacher -- probably will not help a student who just isn't hearing what's wrong.

A good, basic place to start learning intonation is by becoming sensitive to the ringing tones, also called "resonant notes," on your violin (or viola). What I'd like to do in this blog is to give you an introduction to ringing tones, if you are a student who doesn't yet know about them, or give you some ideas for explaining them, if you are a teacher. Keep reading...

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The Week in Reviews, Op. 321: Stefan Jackiw; Hilary Hahn, Anne-Sophie Mutter

Laurie Niles

September 21, 2021, 12:33 PM · In an effort to promote the coverage of live violin performance, Violinist.com each week presents links to reviews of notable concerts and recitals around the world.

Stefan Jackiw performed the world premiere of Conrad Tao's Violin Concerto with the Atlanta Symphony Orcheatra.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Tao’s violin concerto is important commentary on the here and now by an established piano virtuoso and an important young compositional voice that joins a burgeoning genre of pandemic art."

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