Just What is Musicality, Anyway? Musicality is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “the quality of being musical.” What does that mean, though? Is there a method to defining what is musical versus what is not? One can instinctively hear when a phrase sounds natural, beautiful, convincing -  musical - versus when it is not. Phrasing, much like public speaking, can be made more or less convincing depending on the manner with which you deliver a phrase. Quantz, the famous

Have you been looking for violin warmups that will get you ready for your daily practice sessions, and help you improve your skills in the long run? Want to make sure you enter your violin lessons all ready to go, with your violin in tune and your body limber? It is important to get a good warmup in before diving into a productive practice session or performance. Feeling good and comfortable on your instrument on any given day will depend on this. Your violin is affected differently each day

The term “Fiddle Tune” is very broad, and can be defined several ways. It could be simply: a tune that is played on the fiddle.  It could also be defined more specifically as: a short piece of traditional music with a repetitive form of at least two parts. This article will answer the question, "what are fiddle tunes?" We'll talk about what fiddle tunes are, where they’re found, and other important information about how to learn and play them. So, Just What Are Fiddle Tunes, Anyway? In

For anyone who loves music, the violin is a beautiful instrument that has been around for centuries. Though the modern violin has only been around since the 16th century, there are still many different types of violins that can be played.  One type of violin that has become increasingly popular in recent years is the vintage violin. But what exactly is a vintage violin, and how are they different? Let's take a closer look. Why Are Old Violins So Valuable? Many factors contribute to t

If you, or your child has decided to take up the violin, there are many things to consider. For example, should you buy or rent the violin? And, is a half size violin or a full size violin right for you? In fact, determining the correct size violin for you or your child is one of the first things to do when you get ready for your initial violin lessons. The violin actually comes in 8 different sizes ranging from 1/16 to a full size which is 4/4.  As a child, I started to play the violin as

No matter how much students may groan when it comes to scales, they are very important for all beginners to know, particularly for the violin. Almost all of your knowledge about playing the violin starts with learning how to play scales, from reading sheet music to better understanding the fingerings. Of course, it is not nearly as exciting as playing one of the songs you love, but practicing scales will give you a strong foundation that will help you progress and improve. Violin scales are typ

Learning how to play the violin has never been easier, thanks to the wide variety of online resources available today. Whether you’re looking to teach yourself the violin or you simply want to supplement your current violin lessons, YouTube has a great selection of violin tutorials to choose from. Violin YouTube tutorials are a great alternative learning tool. Students can try out tutorials from many different violin instructors until they find the one that best fits their needs and

What is Violin Restoration? Violins are can be finely crafted instruments made by master luthiers with decades of experience or machine-made student models put together on an assembly line. These are the two extremes that one can encounter when owning or renting a violin.  There are, of course, many variations of these extremes that will affect the cost and value of these instruments. One thing that all of these different levels of violins have in common is that they come from the workshop or

Are you a new or expert violinist interested in learning more about the German violin? If so, you’re in the right place! This guide will tell you everything you need to know and some fun facts about violins from Germany. You may have heard that Italian violins outplay any other one. While this is true to an extent, other violins can also be great options! Whether you’re considering purchasing a new violin or you’re reading for fun, find out if German violins are any good, their history,

Some start optimistically young, others driven by passion start much later in life, but when is the right time to start  violin lessons? Like any other form of art, there’s simply no black or white when it comes to exploring music. The right time to start can’t be measured exclusively by age. Some ambitious parents start their kids at the age of two, and while many go off to become YouTube sensations, a whole lot more tend to give up by the age of five. So what should you consider before d