So much of what we enjoy today has ancient origins. People have been fermenting grapes into wine for 10,000 years. Baking bread goes back even farther. The way these things are made by hand varies little today from the ancient…
Read moreTOP 8 GIFTS FOR STRING MUSICIANS
The holidays are right around the corner, so it’s time to make those gift lists. If you have a string musician in your life, the following eight gift ideas are right up his/her alley. We’ve done our homework and found…
Read moreSPOTLIGHT ON HISTORIC VIOLIN MAKER ANTONIO STRADIVARI (1644-1737)
Italian instrument maker, Antonio Stradivari, has long been regarded as one of the finest instrument makers of all time. Primarily a builder of violins, violas, and cellos, his career started around 350 years ago. Today, many instruments he made with…
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MUSIC INTERPRETATION ACROSS THE CENTURIES
on one hand, there are no rules in art. Art is whatever the artist has created. But does that mean all art has merit? Some say no. However, there is plenty of room within that statement to reasonably argue whether…
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2019 UPDATE: BEST HOLIDAY SONGS FOR THE VIOLIN
he holiday season is a special time for making and sharing music. Often it is the first experience young string musicians have with playing in public or performing in front of others.
Between growth in musicianship and greater playing experience…
Read moreDIFFERENT BOWING TECHNIQUES FOR THE SERIOUS VIOLINIST
In the beginning, you learned the basics of violin bowing – a proper bow hold, keeping your elbow at a right angle with a relaxed wrist, and using a mirror to check your form. Now that you’ve arrived at the…
Read moreHOW TO REPLACE YOUR INSTRUMENT’S BOW HAIR
The good news is unless you’re in a group like Apocalyptica, you won’t need to replace your instrument’s bow hairs nearly as often as you need to change its strings. Even so, bow hairs break, wear out, and become sticky…
Read more10 MUSICAL VENUES YOU HAVE TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE
As someone with a serious appreciation for classical music, chances are you’ve been in the audience for your share of live performances. But, have you experienced a concert in any of the world’s most historic or interesting venues?
Some are…
Read moreHOW TO CONVINCE MY FRIENDS THAT CLASSICAL MUSIC IS COOL
Approach any circle of friends at random and you’ll find common interests. Maybe it’s gaming, or the Marvel or DC universe. Sports could be a common thread. Books, or culinary adventures, perhaps.
When it comes to classical music, though, it…
Read moreHOW TO REPLACE YOUR VIOLIN STRINGS
Most non-professional violinists replace their strings every 300 playing hours or so. That works out to about every three to six months. More serious students and professionals change strings more frequently. Since this routine maintenance task takes place so often…
Read more8 TECHNIQUES FOR TEACHING ADULT LEARNERS THE VIOLIN
For many teachers, adult students are the calm in the teaching storm. What a treat it is to spend time teaching students who are eager and willing to learn because their interest in the violin is entirely self-generated.
On the…
Read moreHOW TO PROTECT YOUR HEARING WHEN PLAYING IN AN ORCHESTRA OR BAND
ccording to the Hearing Health Foundation, normal conversation has a decibel (dB) level of sixty. A symphony orchestra runs around 110 dB, same as a jackhammer. No wonder that as many as 50% of musicians suffer from a hearing problem.
…
Read moreBEGINNER BASS SONGS THAT MAKE YOU SOUND AWESOME - UPDATED!
Tired of playing the same ol’ harmonic bass lines that support your melodic orchestral peers? We get it!
Beginning bass players have two major challenges when compared with their newbie violinist or viola counterparts. First, your part is rarely the…
Read moreMUST-HAVE COOL GEAR FOR THE STRING MUSICIAN
nce you’ve purchased your first string instrument, you can begin acquiring essential tools and gear that protect, accessorize, and facilitate easier playing and optimized sound.
Here’s our list of must-have cool gear that will enhance your experience as a string…
Read moreHOW TO REPLACE YOUR INSTRUMENT’S BOW HAIR
he good news is unless you’re in a group like Apocalyptica, you won’t need to replace your instrument’s bow hairs nearly as often as you need to change its strings. Even so, bow hairs break, wear out, and become sticky…
Read moreTHE CLASSICAL PERIOD OF MUSIC
he Classical Period of music may have given its name as the popular descriptor for all of Western sophisticated instrumental composition, but its actual timeline is relatively short. All of the other delineated musical eras get at least a full…
Read moreTHE STRING MUSICIANS ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ROSINS
Rosin is a crucial player on the list of string instrument accessories, with enough clout to hold a place in the annals of musician jokes. That being said, failing to find the right rosin for you and your instrument is…
Read moreTHE BENEFITS OF PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS
Private lessons have a notably positive impact on a string musician's progress and ability. First and foremost, private lessons provide customized – and differentiated – instruction for the string player, ensuring s/he remains at the edge of the learning curve.
…
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HOW LOSING A COMPETITION CAN MAKE YOU A BETTER MUSICIAN
“Winning isn’t everything,” as the old saying goes, but it can set you up for more accolades down the road. Losing, on the other hand, serves a totally different but ultimately complimentary function on that same path to success. This…
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ADULT BEGINNERS’ FINGER EXERCISES FOR VIOLIN AND VIOLA
There is a plethora of information available regarding proper violin and viola technique – from postural recommendations to proper fingering and bowing. Those are all helpful, but strong, nimble fingers are foundational to your ability to adhere to those recommendations.
…
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