Music Learning

Classical

When anyone thinks of the violin, classical music always seems to come to mind. Throughout history, the violin has been an important aspect as classical music has progressed. Due to the violins ability to stand out over other instruments, it is perfect for playing a melody line. The masters can tell vibrant stories through the violin, using fast strokes and reaching a wide array of notes. A classical orchestra is usually comprised of a large group of violins, as they can compliment each other with harmonic tones or play different octaves, achieving a full, rich sound. The violin will always be one of the key ingredients in classical music.

Jazz

It may be hard to imagine a violin in a jazz band, but since the early 1900s, violins have added a whole new sound to jazz. Joe Venuti was one of the first jazz violinists, playing with Eddie Lang in the 1920s. Many others have contributed to the violin in jazz such as Regina Carter, John Blake and Johnny Frigo. Sometimes jazz recordings need an orchestral accompaniment, which is where the violin fits in perfect. There are many opportunities to play the violin in jazz.

Bluegrass

Usually when you think of bluegrass or folk music, you think of the fiddle, which is just another word for the violin. They are the same, but over time, bluegrass and folk musicians adapted their fiddles to make it easier to play double and triple stops as well as chords. Bluegrass is still widely played and there will always be a place in it for the violin.

Folk Music

In folk music history, families of musicians would hand down memorized songs over generations, carrying on the traditions of old. A lot of these were not written down, but were passed simply by memory. Folk music is still alive and thriving, offering the violinist a unique style of music to learn.

Indian Music

South Indian classical music utilizes the violin through mostly solo orchestration, often using dynamic harmonics to create sounds which invoke deep feelings. It is also used in Indian movie scores. The Indian violinist holds and tunes his instrument differently than the traditional way. The violin is held basically upside down while the musician squats on the floor. If you’re looking for a different way of playing, it might be interesting to give this method a try.

Current Popular Music -

During the 20th century, the violin was used to add texture to popular music. From the great Crooners, to Motown and on into the 1980s, the violin and orchestra played a big part in music history. At that time, technology ushered in a new era with the advent of electronic music and synthesizers. String quartets only required pushing a button. There were many hard-core groups who still used the violin in progressive rock, although it has little use in most hard rock. Over time, the violin has been added back in, and holds an important place in new music creation. Playing the violin to current music opens up many avenues for interaction with other musicians.

So, as you can see, when you learn how to play the violin, the sky’s the limit to what you can do with your new craft!