When we look at this incredible engineering feat, the violin, we just wonder how this awesome object can be held together. It is, at the same time, strong and fragile. It can go through time easily: violins from the XVIIth century still exist and are played today.Is a violin glued? The neck is glued to…
Holding the violin just isn’t natural or doesn’t seem natural. Or at least the way we have to twist and hold our left arm to hold the violin. As a consequence, we tend to hold our instrument tight and get tired quickly. And sometimes, pains arrive and stay, hindering our play. Long rehearsals become painful…
Tablatures have been created for guitars or any instruments with frets. The notes still use general conventions for rhythm, but the note itself is replaced by a number. That number is the fret where the finger is. This has several advantages. First, a beginner doesn’t have to learn how to read notes. Then they give…
Everybody has once heard a violinist or fiddler playing with a scratchy sound and slightly out of tune. We all know young children and their first challenging years on the violin… So the violin has a reputation for being a complex instrument. But is it a deserved reputation? On many instruments, like the piano or…
Like me, if you have inherited your violin, or maybe you just have seen that band. In any case, consider starting the violin and envision yourself on stage or having a great time with your musician friends. But contemplating the task, you fear that it can be a too tricky instrument to learn, especially as…
It has happened to a lot of players. We try to play as perfectly as possible and have a good tone and intonation. Then, suddenly, our E string gives that bright, loud, harsh sound: it has decided to whistle. We try to stay concentrated, but we fear that next time it might happen again, and…