Violin People

Violins are among the most versatile musical instruments, evidenced by their use in many different musical genres. Some types of music that commonly feature violins are classical music, pop, bluegrass, country, and jazz.

A violin is the smallest of the stringed instruments. Other stringed instruments include the viola and the cello. It has four strings, tuned, from low to high, G D A E, each note being a perfect fifth of the one below it. A violin looks like a hollow wooden box with a long neck protruding from one end.

The body of the violin is usually made of a couple of different types of wood. The top of the violin, also called the belly, is customarily made of spruce, which is a strong type of softwood. The sides and back are made of maple, which is harder and more durable than spruce. Read the rest of this entry »

The following article will explore the meanings of music across time and cultures. The music has been companion of man since the beginning of its history. There is speculation that the beginning of his story is related to imitate the sounds of nature, as the song of birds and also of the inner nature of human beings, such as the natural rhythm of the heartbeat, the latest theories concerning the beginnings of art gives great importance to this last point (forms received internally), referring to these influences as “entópicas” and linking them with the hard work of shamans and their inner experiences. Read the rest of this entry »

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra began when a group of citizens became concerned with the city’s reputation in the arts at the end of the 19th Century. As Chicago grew and gained renown as a center of industry and commerce Charles Norman Fay took a trip to New York, representing a group of Chicago’s leading citizens, and met with the respected German conductor Theodore Thomas.

Thomas had gained a reputation as a leader in bringing symphonic music to America. Not long after this meeting Theodore Thomas was established as the leader of the Chicago Orchestra, now known as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Thomas remained music director until his death of pneumonia on January 4, 1905. Read the rest of this entry »

People who want to learn to play the violin often ask: Is violin hard to learn?  How long will take to learn the violin?  Am I too old to start learning violin?  Like learning anything new, it takes dedication, persistence, enthusiasm and the desire to want to practice as much as one can in order to succeed.

Practicing violin cannot become a chore or something that needs to get done.  Just like anything else, some people will have an innate ability or gift to play violin and will learn faster than others.  You never want to compare yourself or your progress to others.  Judge your progress by how much effort you have put into learning violin. Read the rest of this entry »

Due to the cost of both the violin the lessons, many people believe that only the wealthy or the privileged play the violin. Usually it is difficult to find a teacher who is both experienced and reasonably priced within people’s budget.

Although the violin can be a difficult instrument to play, once you become a skilled player it is a talent which is with you forever and cannot be taken away from you. Violins have grown in popularity and are used in traditional forms of music such as classical, but also in many modern types of music such as pop, rock and even techno! Read the rest of this entry »

As an adult, there is much to think about when looking for a violin on the internet. These considerations consist of price, locality of the violin, superiority, and things being offered with the violin. One should surf the internet for a reputable old violin shop in order to locate high-quality violins for sale. In any purchase you make the first and foremost concern is the cost. Read the rest of this entry »

The Gliga Group is Romania’s most successful family of artisans, makers of highly prized instruments at very affordable prices. Using exceptional Carpathian spruce and flamed curly maple from the revered “Italian Valley” of the Transylvanian forests, Master violin maker Vasile Gliga continues a tradition of complex and sophisticated construction to create elegant and resonant violins, cellos, violas and double basses that inspire and enchant musicians and music lovers the world over. Read the rest of this entry »

There are a number of violin shops where people can buy a violin. Many shops sell both new and used violins, giving buyers a number of options. Many violin shops also offer violin rentals. New violins can cost between two hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Used violins can cost significantly less, but may be of lesser quality. Beginners and students often choose to rent a violin from a violin shop. Read the rest of this entry »

The type of strings used on a violin has a great effect on the sound of the instrument. Different kinds of strings can have different tones and sound. Also, strings made of some materials stay in tune longer and often last longer than others. The three most common types of strings are all metal strings, synthetic core strings, and gut strings.

All metal, or steel core strings are known for their volume and their pure, clear tone. They have great pitch stability and stay in tune even after they are first put on the violin. Many country, bluegrass, and jazz players prefer to use steel core violin strings because their simple and direct sound does not have the complex overtones found on some other sets of strings. Read the rest of this entry »

Among the most sought-after old violins are those from French craftsmen. Some of the more famous French luthiers are J.B. Vuillaume, Nicolas Lupet and Charles Francois Gand. Let’s have a look at the lives of these three luthiers and the methods they used in their work.

In Mirecourt in 1798, J.B Vuillame was born. He was associated with Pique and often worked with Francoise Chanot. It had come to his attention that new violins were not as favorable as old violins. In order to profit off of this public preference, Vuillame made many copies of Stradivarius violins. He not only replicated the varnish, but even details such as the label. Often, Vuillame would travel around looking for old wood and furniture with which he could build more authentic looking violins. Read the rest of this entry »