Being a multi-instrumentalist is a benefit in the music world. If you currently play the violin and are interested in branching out into other musical instruments or genres, it may be time to consider the mandolin.
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Most non-professional violinists replace their strings every 300 playing hours or so. That works out to about every three to six months. More serious students and professionals change strings more frequently. Since this routine maintenance task takes place so often, it makes sense for musicians to learn how to do it themselves.
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The good news is unless you’re in a group like Apocalyptica, you won’t need to replace your instrument’s bow hairs nearly as often as you need to change its strings. Even so, bow hairs break, wear out, and become sticky and dirty over time – all of which compromise bowing technique, as well as the quality of your sound.
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Violin pickups are the most affordable way to amplify the sound your violin makes without investing in an electric violin, or a violin with a built-in pickup. Pickups work wonders if you’re starting to play violin in rock, folk or jazz bands, where acoustic violins can’t be heard without one, and violin pickups also work well to amplify violins and other string instruments that play in the school marching band.
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It takes time and practice to learn how to use a violin pickup, as well as getting used to how your instrument will sound. In addition to amplification, in order for your violin to sound its very best will require minor adjustments on your part.
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Choosing the right string instrument doesn’t always happen right away. Sometimes it requires trying different instruments and settling into the one that sounds and feels best as you play. Many string instrumentalists decide between the violin and the viola early on. There are multiple differences between the two instruments, above and beyond size, so reviewing these differences may help you determine which instrument is the one for you.
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Traveling with a cello is more involved than traveling with its smaller violin or viola counterparts. For this reason, it’s worth thinking ahead when planning to take your cello along to summer music camp, a relative’s house, or off to your future college.
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Question: What does a bow eat for breakfast?
Answer: Rosin Bran, of course!
Rosin is a crucial player on the list of string instrument accessories, with enough clout to hold a place in the annals of musician jokes. That being said, failing to find the right rosin for you and your instrument is no laughing matter, and negatively impacts the way your string instrument sounds – and feels - when you play.
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