Tuning a Violin: The Best Ways To Keep Your Violin Sounding Fantastic

All stringed instruments need to be tuned on a regular basis. Pianos, guitars, harps, and especially violins all can get out of tune. Because the strings are so fine and subject to stretch during use, most experts recommend tuning a violin each time you take it out of the case to play it. IF you are playing it for long periods of time, you may need to re-tune it.

The violin has four strings known as the "G" string, "D" string, "A" string and "E" string. A good way to remember their order is the saying - "Good Dogs Always Eat". Or you can make up an acronym of your own. Each string must be tuned to what is termed a "perfect fifth" pitch. When tuning a violin there are three things you must have - a good ear, a steady hand and patience. But most importantly you need something that sounds the perfect fifth in order to get your violin strings to mimic that sound.

There are many different types of tuners -- electronic, chromatic (which tunes with other instruments), tuning forks, a pitch pipe, even online and smart phone apps. Beginners should seek the help of their instructor in choosing the correct tuner to use. None are very expensive.

Tuning a violin is accomplished with two tools called pegs (i.e., string adjusters) and fine tuners. Each has a specific purpose in helping your violin strings getting in tune. Most of the time, the pegs are used first if that particular string is more than a half-note out of sync with the note produced by the tuner. The fine tuner is called that because it simply fine tunes the string's sound which is less than half a note out of sync by tweaking it ever so slightly until the perfect matched sound is achieved.

Violin strings are not all equal. Each one, if you look closely, is a bit thicker or thinner than the ones next to it. The G string is the most durable of the four, where as E string is the most delicate. You should begin with the most durable, i.e., the G string first.

Always tighten the four strings in sync with each other. If you tighten only one string at a time, it will place a skewed amount of pressure on the bridge, which is the little wooden comb at the base of the head which separates the strings. The proper way is to use a peg to tighten each string until it is within a note of the tuner, then do the same again for each string until it is within a half-note of the tuner's perfect fifth sound. From there you can carefully fine tune the strings with, you guessed it, the fine tuner.

Keep in mind that the violin's bridge is not secured. The violin's bridge is purposely designed to shift with the tension of the strings. That helps them produce a better tone. The most important thing is keeping the bridge at a perpendicular angle to the head of the violin the whole time you are tuning a violin. If the pressure applied while tuning causes the bridge to slip, very gently push it back into an upright position.

At close examination, the pegs are not uniform. They are slightly tapered at one end. This is so the peg can put the right amount of pressure on the strong you are tuning without slipping. Once again, only use the pegs until you believe you are within a half-note of the correct pitch, then switch to the fine tuner.

Use caution with applying the fine tuner. The main purpose for the peg is id you applied that much pressure with a fine tuner it would leave and indentation in the violin head. What if you can't tighten string with the fine tuner any further but still feel your string is not in perfect pitch? Simply loosen the fine tuner and again try the peg.

When it comes to tuning a violin, patience really is a virtue. Even if you think the strings are just a hair out of tune, get in the habit of using the pegs first before the fine tuners, all the while ensuring the bridge remains at a 90 degree angle. It takes time and practice, but eventually tuning a violin will seem almost an automatic action.

My name is Benjy Portnoy, and ViolinLessonsNow.com is a website that I set up to help people learn how to play violin. I first picked up the violin in third grade (many years ago), and it helped spurred my endless love for all types of music ever since.

In making this site, I'm hoping to share that spark and passion for music with players of all ages. The goal of this site is to help anybody - female or male, young or old to learn more about this seminal instrument and start down the path of becoming a solid player with good habits. Get great tools and free tips on learning the violin, including a no-cost, 7-day mini-course: http://www.violinlessonsnow.com/tuning-a-violin/

View the original article here

Violin For Beginners: How to Get Started on the Violin

People who wish to learn the violin rarely understand how tough it is to master. Perhaps you have played a guitar or ukulele and think, "Hey, what could be so hard about a violin?" That's a common misconception. Playing the violin for beginners can seem daunting no matter how much or little musical experience they have.

With a guitar, even if you play the wrong note, it will still more than likely come out in the same pitch, so it at least sounds okay. Not so with a violin. Plucking is very different from "bowing" or running the bow hairs across the strings. The sound can be crystal clear and in perfect tone, or it may sound like fingernails on a blackboard. Learning to "bow" a violin adds another element of difficulty to the mix.

If you are great in physics, the explanation is easier to comprehend. For the rest of us, picture in your mind a slow motion camera. A hand plucks the guitar string and the string forms an arc that expands, like a wave, then straightens back into position. That makes a "ping" sound. This is called the vibration mode or resonance tone. The tighter the string is, then the ping becomes a higher pitched tone, right? That's the amplitude. It adds a harmonic element to the several arc vibrations until the string settles back down and the energy is dissipated. Agreed, we are talking milliseconds here, if that. With the guitar, you can change the amplitude by how you pluck, and with what like a finger, fingernail or pix, and also by where you pluck at different places on the fingerboard. But the tonal quality still remains about the same. Not so with gliding a bow over the strings.

When you glide the bow hairs over the violin string it makes an elongated oval-like vibration, not a linear wave like the guitar. Why? It is because as the string vibrates it is continuing to come in contact with the bow which is applying force or friction. Again we are talking milliseconds at most, but even with the naked eye you can see the string vibrate. Hermann Van Helmholtz discovered almost 150 years ago that, unlike the guitar string's arc, the violin string makes a V, then an inverted V in a more elongated back and forth motion. If the bow doesn't make a firm contact, the V becomes skewed and the sound becomes a screech.

What this all means is that the playing the violin for beginner students consists of more than learning where to put your fingers. It also is about how much pressure to apply to the glide of the bow hairs and how far to glide the bow forwards and back. It also depends on the amount of rosin that has been applied to the bow hairs, which of course is transferred to the strings. Getting those factors down correctly takes practice, a lot more than plucking a guitar.

So be patient and allow yourself time to get these techniques of applying rosin, then bowing the strings down to a being natural thing for you to do. And remember, even the masters hit a screech every now and then.

My name is Benjy Portnoy, and ViolinLessonsNow.com is a website that I set up to help people learn how to play violin. I first picked up the violin in third grade (many years ago), and it helped spurred my endless love for all types of music ever since.

In making this site, I'm hoping to share that spark and passion for music with players of all ages. The goal of this site is to help anybody - female or male, young or old to learn more about this seminal instrument and start down the path of becoming a solid player with good habits. Get great tools and free tips on learning the violin, including a no-cost, 7-day mini-course: http://www.violinlessonsnow.com/violin-for-the-beginner/

View the original article here

Violin Lessons - The Best Way To Improve Your Child's Education?

Whether you would like your child to be the next Paganini, or are just looking for a way to give him or her the best possible start in life, taking violin lessons can be rewarding and fulfilling for both child and parent. Learning any musical instrument, and especially the violin, will give your child a head start in their learning skills. If you have heard of the Mozart Effect you will know that just listening to classical music, and Mozart in particular, produces astonishing results. So imagine the effect playing an instrument must have.

The first, and most important step is to find a good teacher. If you are considering violin lessons for a young child, I would recommend you try to find a qualified Suzuki teacher. Look on the internet for your nearest Suzuki organisation, which will be able to direct you to your nearest teacher.

Find out where the teacher gives their classes. Is it close enough for you to be able to make that journey, week in week out, for the next ten years? You are embarking on a big commitment, so practicalities count!

If you are lucky enough to find a trained Suzuki teacher, he or she will probably take very young children, starting at around the age of 3 or 4. Although progress is slow at the beginning, the Suzuki teacher will make it interesting and fun. These first years are fundamental to establishing a good technique. The self-discipline required for playing any musical instrument is also a crucial step towards achieving success in future life.

Suzuki teachers hold both individual classes and group lessons, so each child has the benefit of concentrated and technical attention in the private lesson, combined with the joy of sharing music with their friends and peers in the group lesson. It is so motivating seeing your friend doing something better than you, and realising that with a little more effort you could do it too!

The group lessons also teach important social skills - the children have to wait for their turn, to listen to each other with attention and respect, and to participate as a team effort when they play together in unison.

One of the important skills very young children acquire when they start to crawl is the cross-body co-ordination movement of opposite arm and leg - eg. right arm with left leg, etc. Playing the violin develops exactly the same connection as the right arm crosses in front of the body in the bowing movement. This has been proven to benefit right and left brain integration, and helps with concentration and emotional development.

Ideally, the teacher will allow you as the parent to be present in the lessons, in order that you can help with home practice, and to have an awareness of exactly what is being expected of your child. Once you realise how difficult it actually is, I am sure you will be patient and appreciative.

Another important part of parent participation is encouragement and praise. Even at the very early stages, try to arrange for your child to play to visitors, to relatives - in fact anyone who comes into the house should expect a little concert. This gives the child a great sense of achievement and gives value to the daily efforts in their practice.

It will also greatly lessen performance nerves when he or she has advanced enough to be participating in 'real' concerts.

It is difficult to imagine how learning to play the violin could be so beneficial to the growing child. Self-discipline and concentration, as well as the precise co-ordination skills acquired when learning to play any instrument, and especially the violin, have far-reaching benefits for later life. Learning to participate as a musician in an orchestra is a life skill in itself, and the journey to becoming a musician - amateur or professional - has hugely rich rewards.

Elizabeth Arnott

Elizabeth Arnott is English, and has lived in Mexico for the past ten years. Having spent most of her adult life as a violinist and Suzuki violin teacher in London, she now plays in the local professional orchestra in Merida, Yucatan, and gives a few lessons to individual students. Totally committed to the Suzuki method, she believes it is the best way to start beginners, be they young children, adolescents or adults, and to follow the Suzuki program using the repertoire which has been so thoroughly worked out as to provide the perfect foundation for violin technique.

View the original article here

How to Practice the Violin - Essential Steps for Adult Beginners

Every time you lovingly unpack your violin from its case - tighten up the bow, tune the strings - you are taking one more step towards your goal. Whether you are aiming to be the next Paganini, or just wanting to take it as far as you can, learning to play the violin is a journey filled with joy and despair, pain and pleasure.

Your mental attitude is most important. As an adult you are more aware of your inadequacies and limitations than a child, but try to see the long view, and know that each day you are progressing one tiny little step more.

The first important decision is to find a good teacher - one who is sympathetic to your goals. Ideally your teacher should also be a good musician, who can demonstrate instead of just explaining what you need to do.

Your teacher should be able to give you guidelines on how to practice. I should like to add a few thoughts to help you on your way.

First, you need to practice every day. Even if you only have a few minutes to spare, just do it! My teacher, Dr. Suzuki, said "You only need practice on the days that you eat," (I like the 'only'). Find a regular time in your day and schedule it in. Make it as much a routine as cleaning your teeth in the morning.

Second, you need to repeat. Repetition is the name of the game. If you repeat an exercise, a scale, a phrase, a piece a couple of times, you are not going to learn very much. However, if you repeat 10, 20, 100 times, you are really going to know how to do it. But be careful. Make sure you know exactly how you are supposed to do it. If you repeat a mistake 100 times, you are going to know very well how to do it - wrong!

Third, you need to copy. Copy your teacher, how she stands, holds her bow, her violin position, left hand position, where is her head?... Go to concerts, and carefully watch professional violinists, their positions, postures, etc. There are hundreds of videos of violinists on YouTube. Pick your favourite musician, and piece.

Fourth, you need to listen. Listen to your teacher, how she plays, her phrasing, tone quality, vibrato etc... Listen to CDs. Try to decide whether the phrase starts with an up bow or a down bow. Are they playing at the tip or the point, or in the middle of the bow? Can you guess what string they are playing on? Immerse yourself in the world of violin music.

My last recommendation is to have fun. To play a musical instrument is to be able to communicate in a universal language. There are no language barriers. Music is its own language. Try to find a friend who is at the same level as you, or better still, slightly more advanced, and play duets together.

To sum up: practice every day, repeat, copy, listen, enjoy.

The old adage is right. "Practice Makes Perfect"

Elizabeth Arnott is English, and has lived in Mexico for the past ten years. In London she was a Suzuki Violin Teacher for 25 years, and taught a range of students from age 3 to adult. She now lives in Merida, Yucatan, plays violin in the Orquesta Sinfonica de Yucatan, and has a few private students.

View the original article here

How to Choose Light Vs Dark Violin Rosin - What Is Best for Beginner Violinists?

First of all, what is violin rosin?

Violin rosin is made from hardened tree sap, and is rubbed on the violin bow to give it the friction you need against the violin strings to make a good tone. Without it, no matter how hard you press down with your violin bow you will get almost no sound.

Light vs. Dark

Violin rosins come in many shades between light and dark.

Light Rosin produces a "smoother" sound. Dark Rosin produces a "bigger" sound.

Dark rosins are stickier (have more friction), so while they give you a really good grip, this can contribute to that scratchy sound beginner violinists are so famous for. Light rosins give you a lesser grip, meaning you can't dig in quite as well, which gives you the smoother sound.

I will tell you up front that most violinists use lighter colored rosins, but it is by no means set in stone which type you should use. Ultimately it's all about your personal playing style and preferences.

That is why I recommend trying out a lot of different rosins until you find your favorite (many are relatively cheap, under $10). Here are some of the top factors to consider when making that determination:

3 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Violin Rosin

Humidity - Humidity makes rosin stickier than usual. This means that violinists living in more humid climates (or during more humid parts of the year) may want to consider choosing a lighter rosin to offset the extra stickiness. Conversely, those living in drier climates may want to consider darker rosin.Dust Tolerance - Playing the violin with the bow causes rosin dust to collect on the body of the instrument. Lighter rosin usually produces more dust, while darker, stickier rosin can be more difficult to wipe away. If you have a dust sensitivity you may want to choose a darker rosin. There are also hypoallergenic rosins available to violinists with allergic reactions to rosin.Packaging - This may seem nit-picky, but packaging can play a part in the long term usability of your rosin. Some beginner violin rosin comes in a rectangular wooden block. This makes it easier for beginners to apply it to the bow. However, many players get irritated by this packaging because as it is used over time, the rosin breaks apart sooner than with other packaging, rendering it useless much more quickly. So: get rosin that comes in hard packaging (to protect it from bumps during travel), preferably in a round or square shape.

These guidelines have probably given you a pretty good idea of what type of rosin may work well for you. It is a good idea to use one type for a month or more, and then switch to see if you like a second type. Keep switching like this, comparing your current favorite to a new type, and eventually you can be pretty confident you've found your favorite violin rosin.

For more tips about how to choose the right beginner violin equipment and training, please visit http://www.beginnerviolintips.com/. Beginner Violin Tips is a site dedicated to helping anyone become a beginner violinist and advance as fast as possible.

View the original article here

How to Buy a Violin for Beginners - 3 Easy Steps

Finding out how to buy a violin for beginners does not need to be difficult but it can take time. The violin is a hard instrument to learn and play well and it can lead to many beginners giving up quickly, which is something that you have to think about before you decide to go out and buy your own instrument and opt to spend hundreds of dollars on one.

1. How Much Are You Willing To Spend?

The first thing that you need to consider when looking for how to buy a violin for beginners is your budget. You could spend around 800 dollars for a new, high quality violin but you do not need to spend this amount. It is possible to buy a second-hand violin for less than 200 dollars and this is something that you should consider if you are worried about your or the person that you are buying it for not staying on with playing the instrument.

2. Have You Checked eBay?

There are always people looking to sell their violins and eBay is one of the best places to find some that are high quality but low in price. You want to check the seller reviews before you agree to bid and you will need to stick to your budget because you will also need to consider any fixes that you may need to make.

3. What Size Do You Need?

Violins come in three different sizes, which is perfect for children. However, it could cost you a lot of money to buy the violins as your child grows. You should consider cutting your cost down to only buying a full size violin if you know that you child will continue to play for a long time. If you are unsure, opt for the half or three-quarter size so that you really only need to buy two different violins and your child will get a lot of use out of them.

You will need to ensure that when looking for how to buy a violin for beginners that you budget for any extras that you will need. Not all violins will come with a case and a bow, so you should find out whether you will need to buy these. You will also need to bear in mind the need for rosin and extra strings for your musical instrument and add the cost of these to the amount of money that you are willing to spend.

Are you looking for quality violin lessons Singapore? Getting a good and trusted violin teacher has never been easier. Visit our music site now at: http://www.violinlessonsingapore.com/

View the original article here

Things to Consider Before Taking Violin Lessons!

Violin lessons can be exquisitely exciting to look forward to, whether it's for your child's development, or for your own personal growth. You've seen the performances on television and appreciated a concert or two. Now you've got your eye on learning how to play a time-honored musical instrument, or nurturing your child through extra-curricular activities. The question is how do you go about acquiring lessons and choosing a teacher?

If this is your first foray into the world of formal musical lessons, the more time you spend researching what lay ahead will reduce the chances of succumbing to the usual pitfalls common to people who are just starting out.

Private or Classroom Instruction

Would you be more conducive to learning if the setting takes place one-on-one? You will have the advantage of being the sole focus during an instructional period, but there can be social benefits to learning in a class.

Personal teaching situations allow for students who may be shy to play unobserved, without the fear of public ridicule, or perceptions thereof. You or your child may develop a strong bond with the teacher which could last for years on end. Such a relationship will enable a strong sense of trust and respect, two key factors needed for effective learning, but more challenging to acquire in public classes.

Classroom violin lessons permit students to learn as a group, feeding off of each other's sense of camaraderie, while nurturing relationships outside of daily life. Although solo performances display a person's ability to play music on their own, having a fellow musician accompanying you in perfect harmony exponentially adds to a joyous learning experience.

Selecting a Teacher

How many years of experience does the teacher have? Choosing an instructor with a few years under their belt will instill more confidence because they will know how to adapt their teaching style to your needs. If your child is the student, it will be a tremendous benefit to have a teacher who specializes in children.

Has he or she performed at prominent venues? Hiring a teacher for violin lessons who has played at popular concerts would inspire anyone and give them something to look forward to. Though if an instructor is well-known, you may have to pay a premium for the privilege of being tutored by such a talent. One consideration may be to start out with a teacher that is not as known in performing arts circles. Then as the level of skill progresses, so should the level of instruction.

See if you can observe a session of violin lessons given by the prospective instructor. You can see how the student interacts with them in an actual setting. Is the relationship a nurturing one with patience and understanding? Or is it more demanding and stringent? You'll learn a lot about how future classes will go, and it will instantly provide you with valuable information when the time comes to make a decision.

Violin lessons will be the spark of a possible lifelong passion, replete with visions of performing at Carnegie Hall and earning standing ovations. Undergoing violin lessons is the very beginning of this journey, fraught with never-ending practice, but filled with personal fulfillment.

You must visit this great online resource for violin lessons which covers everything you to need to know about learning to play the violin.

View the original article here