Don’t just watch your favorite famous violinists, learn from them! Here, music instructor Julie P. shows you the violin techniques you can learn from watching famous violinists…
You have probably seen videos of famous violinists on YouTube and various violin blogs. In fact, these videos may have inspired you to pick up a violin and take lessons.
Want to know the best part?
While these videos are inspiring and entertaining, they’re also educational. You can learn important violin techniques by watching the masters at work!
So grab your violin and your computer, and get ready to watch and learn. Here’s what you can pick up from five famous violinists.
Lindsay Stirling
Stage Presence
Lindsay Stirling is a talented violinist who enjoys her craft and adds her own style.
The famous female violinist combines playing with acting, dancing, and storytelling. The result is a pop-infused violin party.
Her performances are great examples of stage presence and how to enjoy playing the violin. Lindsey is an inspiration to dance to the beat of your own drum and make you dreams come true!
Mark O’Connor
Fast Bowing
Want to learn how to bow super fast? Mark O’Connor shows you how it’s done in this video of “Orange Blossom Special.”
He plays 16th notes at breakneck speeds with incredible bow technique. Watch his right arm work as one unit, supporting his bow hand.
Also, notice how his right-hand fingers stay relaxed and don’t tense up. His playing is efficient, with no wasted movements.
Want to improve your finger strength? Try these exercises!
David Oistrakh
Projecting Your Sound
In this video, David Oistrakh plays the Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto,” and has no problem projecting over the orchestra.
Watch how he uses his entire bow and a fast bow speed to create more sound. Even on shorter notes, he uses a lot of the bow length to create his enormous sound. His right hand is sometimes just a blur!
His bowing engages his whole arm, which allows him to bow with speed and power without taxing his bow hand.
Taylor Davis
Creativity / Brand
For you aspiring violinists, the internet is full of potential fans, if you can find the right way to engage them. Another famous female violinist, Taylor Davis, has made her mark with a YouTube channel full of videos of her performing video game and movie music.
The millions of views have allowed her to release multiple albums and go on tour. Taylor loves playing this music, so she used her creativity to build a full brand around it.
In this video, she plays music from Pirates of the Caribbean, you can see how she has crafted a full video experience with costuming, staging, and a dynamic accompaniment.
You can learn even more about Taylor in this Q&A she did for us at TakeLessons!
Jerusalem Quartet
Communication
Watching string quartets, like the Jerusalem Quartet, is great a great way to learn about communication between musicians, which is important if you want to play with other performers or in an orchestra.
In this video, notice how the Jerusalem Quartet moves to the music, look up at each other, and gesture at various points in the music.
Solid communication will help you have a smooth performance!
The more you watch famous violinists, the more you will learn. When you find a video you like, watch it several times; you’ll notice new violin techniques each time.
Besides videos and lessons, there are lots of helpful violin resources available online. Take advantage of these materials and use them to boost your violin skills!
Post Author: Julie P.Julie P. teaches flute, clarinet, music theory, and saxophone lessons in Brooklyn, NY. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Ithaca College and her Masters in Music Performance from New Jersey City University. Learn more about Julie here!
Maile Proctor