Late winter is already a busy time for so many people. Even so, there’s always time to apply to a violin competition or enjoy watching those who’ve already gone pro do their thing.
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Are you ready to purchase your first violin? Or, perhaps even more exciting, upgrade a beginner violin to one that meets your more advanced abilities? If so, there are a few things you should know before you start your search.
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Previously, we posted an Artist Spotlight featuring Damien Escobar – a non-traditional violinist with classical music training that serves as a foundation for his hip-hop inspired music. Today, we're featuring Black Violin – a dynamic duo who also use their exceptional musicianship to produce a mashup of both classical and hip-hop genres. The group consists of viola player Wilner Baptiste (Wil B.) and violinist Kevin Sylvester (Kev Marcus).
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Learning to play a string instrument like the violin takes a lot of practice. During the first year of training in particular, beginner violin students can find it a challenge to cope with all of the new ideas. Not only must you learn new physical skills, if you’ve never studied music before, there are a number of new musical concepts to grasp, such as notation and intonation. These skills take time to develop.
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When you’re a newcomer to the violin market, it's easy to feel wary about selecting an instrument that ranges from $25 at a garage sale to $1 million dollars or more in aficionado auctions. So what's the difference between high-end and low-end violins?
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Victimization by bullying or harassment can have longstanding, negative effects - and the experience can even be life changing, or life ending for vulnerable teens. This is why it's so important to know the signs of someone who's being bullied or harassed and take action.
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Harassment comes in multiple forms. In the childhood landscape, we typically view harassment in terms of bullying by peers. Unfortunately, that harassment can come via those in power - teachers, coaches, instructors, conductors, etc. The current media culture has shed light on a darker side of what it can mean to hold power, and even the world of classical musicianship is not immune.
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Hand and finger exercises for cellists are important for multiple reasons. In addition to allowing you to accurately and expressively play your notes, these exercises benefit your well being.
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Rosin is an important string instrument accessory. It's a catalyst between the bow and cello strings, creating the "just right" amount of friction to produce smooth, consistent, and resonant sound. Too much rosin means the bow won't move smoothly, and the sound is raspy; too little rosin and sounds are faint, hollow, and inconsistent.
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Now that we can all carry around hours of music in our pockets, we’re all living our lives with a constant soundtrack. According to Nielsen, Americans listen to an average of 4.5 hours of music every day. Then add this to the fact that everyone also loves to add music to the videos of life they upload to Facebook or Instagram (watch out for those copyright issues!)
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