Thank you guys for all your responses to The Hot Violinist end of 2015 Official Survey! Reading through them has got me reflecting on what a long strange trip it’s been since I started playing violin. Many of the things you said sounded like a letter from my past self.
I started at age 18 when many people said it was too late. I remember sitting on my bed with my violin after an entire year of trying to learn with my first teacher, and truly thinking that there must be something wrong with how my arms were attached to my body. Sure, I could play a collection of Irish fiddle tunes but EVERYTHING SOUNDED LIKE SH*T! (excuse my french, and pardon the yelling, but it was really frustrating…)
I can’t say I was perfectly dedicated to practicing every single day (confession: sometimes I even showed up to my next lesson without having practiced at all), but I was taking lessons each week and making an effort, so I could only think there must be something wrong with me. This thought made me terribly sad because I really wanted to play.
Even though I wasn’t really interested in classical music and no longer considered myself a complete beginner, I ate my humble pie and decided I probably needed to start all over with some classical technique. Over the next six months I tried three different teachers and still felt frustrated and confused! Then I found Bassam Nashwati, who at that time was second chair in the San Antonio symphony and has since taken the first chair.
He started me at the beginning of the Suzuki method and in that next 6 months I improved more than I had in the entire first year and a half. That’s when I discovered all my bad habits from playing without the basic good technique. That was a tough pill to swallow too because I had to realize that my prior 1.5 years of effort had actually made me worse not better in a way.
This era involved a whole bunch of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and other equally annoying and humbling repertoire, but I was having fun because it felt great to make some good sounds and actually track progress even if it seemed slow.
Then I spent a summer in Upstate New York living with my grandparents and studied with the amazing Judy Hyman, a professional performing fiddler with a classical background— perfect!! When I got back the next fall, I finally felt like I could maybe play in public, but I still wasn’t that great. Many thanks to Ren Faire shop owner Bill Vestal, there is actually footage of this stage.
Notice the very conservative tense playing style. And outfit to match.
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Since then I took part in building two different bands that played the largest stages at festivals nationwide and released 4 studio albums and 2 live albums (All-in-all I released 4 versions of the Theme from the Last of the Mohicans!! :-P). I’ve become an expert in adult violin learning from my own experience and from teaching over 20 students in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, and South America.
And all this is in competition with people who had been playing since they were 3 or 7, or whatever beautifully young age, and likely had college degrees in violin. There’s no way I had enough time to catch up to these people who had been playing since they were kids!
I had to figure out how to work on the right things- the things that give the most musical impact for the littlest time and effort.
I’m not trying to brag, but I just want you to know that it’s possible to do what you want on violin no matter when you start. My goal with the Hot Violinist is to distill my trial and error into bite sized helpful info for all of you.
Happy New Year Hot Violinists!
I decided to avoid the party animals on the highway this year, and had a nice quiet New Years Eve at home with a Bach manuscript Santa brought and nice glass of sparkling rose (not the sweet kind!).
I wrote down a few resolutions and goals. I want to work up to a full body weight pull up (I’ve never been able to do one without assistance), learn the second movement of Bach’s violin concerto in Dm, and be able to balance a shot glass atop my booty. (Not necessarily at the same time!)
Also- I’m committing to post a lot more videos for you this year!
I’m starting out with a very simple quick bow-hold hack. Watch the video to see if you’ve been making this common mistake that’s totally deadly to your tone yet very easy to fix:
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Do you have any New Years resolutions or bow-hold secrets?? Please let me know in the comments section below!
I’m back with a fresh new list of fiddler and violinist gifts! I’ve personally tried and enjoyed everything on this list of my 11 favorite violin gift ideas.
Several of these are from small businesses (Yay! Let’s send some Holiday cash their way!), a few are from right here in The Hot Violinist shop, and some link to Amazon. (A portion of sales from Amazon links comes back to help support thehotviolinist.com! Thanks!)
Okay, so this one is not violin-specific, but it’s about being happy and happy is HOT! There’s a page for each day, and it really does just take five minutes, and it really does make me a happier person. I use mine every day! (Almost…)
I love this small company and their meditation cushions! Practicing meditation helps me develop patience and observation skills which apply directly to my violin practice.
By violin maker Andrew Caruthers. I’m so geeked about his entire line! Andy is a violin maker based in Santa Rosa CA, and he has started this fun line of violin related shirts. He cuts the designs into linoleum blocks using violin carving tools and hand prints each shirt. So cool…
I make a lot of my skin care from stuff found in the kitchen, but this is one commercial product I really like. I totally believe in the magic powers of charcoal. It’s great for men or women because it smells good, not girly. My favorite is the cleanser, but the kit makes a fun gift.
Okay, this is a repeat from last years list, but I had to post again because this rosin is the bees knees! A stocking stuffer for smooth full tone- yes!
I’m featuring this violin because one of my students, Gabs, recently traded in her “Hot Fiddle” beginner model as an upgrade for this one and it reminded me how sweet it is. She is an advancing student and within a couple weeks of getting her new violin, she just happened to land her first professional public gig. Part of it is because the great tone of this fiddle gives a huge confidence boost. This fiddle is equivalent to the violin I am playing in the original “Hot Violinist” video. The Hot Fiddle has a solid good tone, but this one takes it to the level of artistry.
I’ve always followed my teacher’s advice to have one wood bow and one carbon fiber bow always in your case. Carbon fiber acts the same no matter what the weather and sounds really good for the price. I was amazed when I first learned that the bow choice is just as important to the sound as the violin and sometimes more! I’ve had this exact bow in my case since around 2006 and sometimes I even choose it over my German-made wood bow that cost me $1600. This one sounds really darn good for under $300!
A luxurious treat! I don’t always use these strings because they are a little more pricey, but I treat myself to them every few string changes, and definitely go to them when it’s time to record. If you put these in your loved one’s stocking they will enjoy about 6 months or more of buttery smooth feel on their violin.
I consider this a must read for any musician! My mom plays guitar and sings (Janet Darlene Drew, check her out!) and she brought a copy when she came to visit a couple months ago. It has a lot of nuts and bolts tips for happy, fun, productive practicing.
And don’t forget Hot Violinist lesson packages are completely giftable! Purchase any of the lesson packages in the Shop and I’ll send you a printable giftable voucher.
What are your ideas for gifts for violinists and fiddlers? Share them in the comments below!
Hiya Folks!
Kelly and I have been playing around with new arrangement ideas for LOTM! I’ve added a shift into 3rd position (High notes!! Wee!) and the quiet living room setting is perfect for Kelly to play some more delicate picking patterns on guitar. Some of this is reminiscent of the track Promentory on the Tideland recording we did with Circa Paleo, but it’s put together a little differently.
By the way…. Happy Thanksgiving! I’m really grateful to you guys for helping me connect and share the music I love. Tonight we are going to brave the grocery store and hope that they still have a few yams left!
During this holiday week Kelly and I are working on a new medley. Hint. Two words:
STAR
WARS!!!
Stay tuned….
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I got an email this week from David, an electrical engineering student at Clarkson University, who is developing an illuminated electric violin. I’ve always been a bit of a traditionalist fuddy-duddy when it comes to electric violins, so you can imagine how my old-fashioned eyebrows went up when I saw a violin that actually puts on its own light show while you play it! I’ve never seen anything like this before and am impressed by the truly beautiful sound (and the fact that he plays Ashokan Farewell on the video!), so I thought some of you Hot Violinists out there might wanna check it out.
If that tickled your fancy and you want to support the project, check out David’s Kickstarter page. If he gets enough support, he’ll be able to bring the violin into production.
Q:
If I decide to get a violin and mess around with it…
My first thought was to check local pawn shops, but I’m not sure what signs of “quality” or brands to look for – I might end up with something shoddy or discouraging in some other way.
Do you have suggestions regarding where I might get a decent quality violin for not a whole lot of money? (Especially if I later end up wanting to plug it into some electronics.)
Or should I just go dirt-cheap at first, see how it works for me, and then upgrade later?
Money isn’t super-tight at the moment, but I don’t want to spend more than necessary.
– Ben S A:
Hey Ben,
The instrument you choose is going to make a huge difference.
A lot of people have come to me saying that they’ve tried violin and just couldn’t get anywhere. They were ready to give up, feeling like there was something wrong with them, when in reality they were working with a violin that was nearly impossible to create a pleasant sound with.
Many violins at the entry level price range are literally unplayable even though they may look like a violin. The internet is full of them! These earned the nickname “VSO” which stands for Violin Shaped Object.
Looks like a violin, but it really isn’t!
You just have to be careful. Here are some general tips about price range, where to shop and how to spot a VSO. Price Range
Resist the urge to “go dirt-cheap at first” — your hunch is right that a cheap violin could easily be discouraging.
That said, you shouldn’t have to break the bank for your first violin. I’ve found that $450 for a violin outfit complete with bow and case is the realistic entry level price for something that is good enough to learn on. Any less than that is highly suspect (unless it’s some kind of great deal from a friend).
If your budget isn’t in the $450 range, your best alternative is renting. It costs $15-$20 per month to rent a violin of comparable quality, and a portion of the rental fee goes toward your future purchase. It’s a fantastic way to give things a try without a huge investment. That said, you still have to make sure the rental violin is a good quality instrument.
From there I see a leap in quality at about $1,000 and then another leap at about the $2,500 price points.
So to wrap up:
-Rent for $20 per month until you’re ready to spend $450
-Beginner outfit should be around $450
-Save up to get a $1,000 intermediate violin at about the 1-2 year mark
-Your dream violin may be $2,500 and up Pick a Shop Carefully
Go to a dedicated violin shop.
General music stores that sell guitars and/or high school band instruments don’t know violins. You’ll pay too much for a violin that’s poor quality or set up improperly.
I recommend Terra Nova Violins in San Antonio TX, 210-239-4700.
Tell them Jenny sent you! Have some patience and understand they are a small local shop, not an online mega store. You may have to call a couple times and nudge them along. You don’t want a violin that’s a stock item off a shelf anyway.
Their instruments are worth it and they always take excellent care of my students.
Now that I’ve (hopefully!) convinced you that your first violin should not be the “bargain basement” variety, let’s talk about how to get the most bang for your moderate buck. How To Know You’re Looking at a VSO
Ah, the dreaded “Violin Shaped Object.” Looks like a violin. Might even smell like a violin. Certainly doesn’t sound like a violin. Here are a few dead giveaways: Bridge Feet
Look at the photo below (the VSO is on the right). The feet of the bridge of the VSO are thick and rectangular. Also notice that the curve of the bridge is symmetrical. This is a blank bridge that has not been set up. The chunky rectangular feet do not efficiently transfer the vibration to the top of the violin so it will be easier to squeak and the sound you produce will generally be thin. The even curve will make it hard to play the E string without hitting the A unintentionally, which is very frustrating, and playing on D and G strings will be weird too. Not to mention, if a violin is sold with a bridge that looks like this, there is a good chance the rest of the violin is junk. In contrast, the bridge on the left has been carved and customized by an experienced luthier. Notice the feet are curved and very thin. These have been masterfully customized by a luthier to fit the specific violin. The curve has been artfully shaped to allow easy string changes, including a steeper slope down toward the E string. There is a good chance that you are looking at a decent instrument if this kind of attention has been given to the bridge set up. Fingerboard
The VSO fingerboard can be made of a soft wood and painted black to imitate ebony. Look under the fingerboard for gaps in the paint. A real violin will be solid black underneath because it is solid ebony. Purfling
“Purfling” is a fancy word for the very thin strip of inlaid wood around the edge of the body of the violin. Purfling protects the violin body from temperature changes and is a sign of good craftsmanship. VSOs do not have purfling, but rather might have a thin strip of paint to imitate purfling. Tuning Pegs
A VSO’s tuning pegs can be made of a softer wood and often are not fitted properly to the instrument. This makes it very easy for them to slip. If your violin, or the one you are looking at, goes constantly out of tune, there’s a good chance it’s a VSO. Strings
Cheap strings sound tinny and harsh. The good quality strings that come with a good violin cost $25-$50 per set and this is part of the value you get when buying something good. BSO
Only thing as frustrating as a VSO is a BSO: “Bow Shaped Object.” Ironically, BSOs often are not bowed enough and will appear somewhat straight. Or it will bow in the wrong direction curving side to side. You can also sometimes notice sloppy connections where the hair meets the bow.
It’s amazing, but a bow is just as important as the violin!
If you encounter one of these objects I suggest using it for backyard baseball or as a backscratcher, but minimize trying to use it to learn violin! Location, Location, Location
The store you buy from makes the biggest difference.
I haven’t found any online dealers I can recommend wholeheartedly. Early on in my learning journey I had a $1500 violin from Shar which is a reputable online dealer.
It ended up having a strange problem where the finish was tacky and never fully dried. I ended up getting one from Terra Nova that sounded way better and cost only $1000.
After that experience I’ve gone local and never looked back.
And like I said before, also avoid music stores that specialize in guitars or school band instruments – their violin selection is likely to be a gorgeous array of VSOs. Signs of Quality and “Good Brands”
It’s not like a guitar where you can buy a good brand and know what you’re getting. This is because it’s relatively easy to mass produce a good quality guitar. Not so for violin!
You can’t tell what you will get based on brand name alone until you get into the very high price ranges of makers.
It’s easy to give a checklist for spotting a VSO (what not to buy), but the only way I know to get the very best for your money is to use a personal connection. Shop extensively with an experienced violinist or find a dedicated violin shop that you trust. I trust my friends at Terra Nova Violins the most, so I send people there.
Another good way to find the best violin shop local to you is to call your nearest symphony and ask where the symphony members go.
Good luck!
Keep me posted,
Jenny
In contrast, the bridge on the left has been carved and customized by an experienced luthier. Notice the feet are curved and very thin. These have been masterfully customized by a luthier to fit the specific violin. The curve has been artfully shaped to allow easy string changes, including a steeper slope down toward the E string. There is a good chance that you are looking at a decent instrument if this kind of attention has been given to the bridge set up.