Violin

The violin is a portable four-stringed instrument that is traditionally tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest member of the violin family. Also often referred to as a fiddle, the violin is played by using the bow to draw across the strings or by plucking the string to produce a more jumpy sound.

Since violin is such a delicate musical instrument, there is often a lot of attention given to the craftsmanship of the maker or the luthier. For example, the violins that were made by Stradivari or Guarneri are often valued at handsome amounts by performers and collectors. The most expensive Stradivari violin was sold at an auction for a hefty 15.9 million US.

Traditionally, the violin is held with the left hand and rested on the left shoulder with a shoulder rest. The fingers of the left hand are responsible for fingering the right notes on each string. The right hand and arm holds the bow and is responsible for making the stroke movements. Advance players can use the left hand to produce pizzicato notes and vibrato effects. Multiple strings can be played at a time with the bow.

One of the most important things to master when learning how to play the violin is bowing technique. Without proper bowing technique, the sound will not be smooth and songs will get harder to play as you move forward with your learning. Here is an excerpt on the proper way to use the bow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin):

The most essential part of bowing technique is the bow grip. It is usually with the thumb bent in the small area between the frog and the winding of the bow. The other fingers are spread somewhat evenly across the top part of the bow. The pinky finger is curled with the tip of the finger placed on the wood next to the screw.

The violin produces louder notes with greater bow speed or more weight on the string. The two methods are not equivalent, because they produce different timbres; pressing down on the string tends to produce a harsher, more intense sound. One can also achieve a louder sound by placing the bow closer to the bridge.

The sounding point where the bow intersects the string also influences timbre. Playing close to the bridge (sul ponticello) gives a more intense sound than usual, emphasizing the higher harmonics; and playing with the bow over the end of the fingerboard (sul tasto) makes for a delicate, ethereal sound, emphasizing the fundamental frequency. Dr. Suzuki referred to the sounding point as the Kreisler highway; one may think of different sounding points as lanes in the highway.

Various methods of attack with the bow produce different articulations. There are many bowing techniques that allow for every range of playing style and many teachers, players, and orchestras spend a lot of time developing techniques and creating a unified technique within the group. These techniques include legato-style bowing, collé, ricochet, sautillé, martelé,spiccato, and staccato.

The violin is an intricate instrument and playing it gracefully takes a fair bit of finesse and a great deal of practice. Once mastered, it can produce some of the most profound and rich music. But this instrument can be frustrating to learn. It is important to get the right foundations when learning an instrument that depends so much on intricate techniques. And there is no better way to get the right guidance than to hire a private violin tutor that will be there right beside you to insure that you are practicing the right way.

Tutorspree will help you find a violin tutor that will teach you how to play the violin with ease. Whether you are a beginner that wants to learn to play, or an advanced performer who wants to move up to the next level, we can find a tutor that will suit your violin needs.