Music is one way of expressing one’s feeling and it is an artistic way to convey the feelings of others. There are many ways in which music is produced. There are also many instruments that are involved in music production. One such instrument for music production is the violin.

There are many classifications of instruments including the bass, horn and the string instruments. The violin belongs to the string family. It is the soprano member of this family. The different parts of the violin include viola, violoncello and the double bass.  It has four strings with fifth intervals in between the strings. Its four strings are tuned as G3, D4, A4 and E5. A violin is also consists of a fingerboard and a shallow body. The Kit is played with a bow and is flexible in terms of range, tone and dynamics.

Violin is thought to stem from the Latin word, Vitula.  Vitulare means to sing or rejoice. Vitula originally means string or lute and eventually evolved into fidula and fithela. Vitula also evolved into the French word vielle and became vyelle. Vyelle then evolved to become viol and then violin.

The violin is played by resting it under the chin and the left shoulder. The left hand controls the vibrato and pitch and produces sounds that are artificial and of natural harmonics.  The right hand bounces or strikes the bow to shape the movement required for the effect. These effects include bow tremolo, loure’, martele’,portato, spicatto and staccato.

One important factor to ensure great music through the violin is the bow direction. The upstroke is used to create a crescendo and the down stroke creates a decrescendo. The upstroke is done by drawing the bow across the strings at the bow point’s beginning. The down stroke requires drawing of the bow across the strings at the bow points endings.

It is believed that violin originated in Central Asia.  A person who repairs the violin is called a violin maker or a luthier.  It is usually made up of wood and is strung with nylon or steel strings. The violin is used in orchestras. It also functions as a solo instrument. The violin is used in jazz, blues, Hungarian gypsy music among others. A person who plays the violin is often referred to as a violinist or simply a fiddler. A violinist produces sound by plucking the strings or using the bow. Famous violinists include Midori, Fritz Keisler, Anne Mutter, Niccolo Paganini and Isaac Stern.

There are many ways to determine the manufacture by date and the maker of the violin. One way of doing this is called violin authentication. This process aims to determine the manufacturer of the violin and the value of the violins. This process is also done to separate original works from forged works.

Violins have been widely used by many artists in their recitals and in producing music. However, many people do not really appreciate violinists and refer to their music as boring. Violins have been stereotyped as instruments which produce sounds with slow tempo. What people don’t know is that violins can also be used in producing fast tempo music.

The values of violins in the music industry have long been taken for granted by people who claim that they are music lovers. Violins are essential instruments in the production of harmony among the orchestra instruments.

There are many instruments used in the production of music with the violin. These instruments are divided into sub-groups according to their components and parts. Some of these groups are bass, horn and string instruments. String instruments basically have strings as their component and it is through these strings that they create sound. The violin is a member of this group of instruments.

The violin is the soprano member of the string family. It is made up of bow, strings, and the fingerboard and a body. The Violin has a colorful history, it is said that the string musical instrument with bows originated from Europe in the ninth century. The first bowed instrument was the lira from the Byzantine Empire. Ibn Khurradadhbih cited lira as equivalent to the Islamic Empires rabab. The lira proliferated during the 11th and 12th century and European writers used the fiddle and lira when they referred instruments with a bow. The Islamic instrument rabab was introduced through the Iberian Peninsula in Western Europe and spread throughout Europe. The lira and the rabab gave birth to bowed instruments.

The first violin came from Northern Italy in the 16th century.  These first violins only had three strings and it is possible that the first luthiers borrowed the violin concept from the rabab. It was precisely described in the book Epitome Musical in 1556 by Jambe de Fer.

The Violin was considered as a lowly instrument but in the 18th century, well-known composers used the violin and it gained popularity and respectability. It gained more popularity and prestige in the Baroque period. The violin’s earliest form is different from the violins from today. The early forms of violin had a shorter neck, were thicker and had fewer angles. The fingerboard was shorter, the strings were from gut and the bridge was flatter.

Throughout the centuries, European countries have two prominent kinds of bowed instruments;

lira de braccio, lira de gambe; The Lira de braccio is a square shaped instrument that is held in the arms while lira de gamba is held within the knees. The gambas were popular during the Renaissance period but they were replaced by the braccios and the violin as time went on.

The famous luthier, Andrea Amati made the first real violin in the 16th century. Amati made the violin because the Medici Family ordered an instrument that could be used by musicians who roamed the streets. The Medici required the instrument to be of equal quality as the lute which is considered to be the noblest instrument at that time. Amati used the method of applying a mould to accurately build the instrument. He also made the body of the instrument slightly arched.

The oldest surviving violin is the “Charles IX” by Andrea Amati. It was made in Cremone in 1564.  “Le Messie” is possibly the most popular and perfect violin which was made by Antonio Stradivari and was never used.

The violin has changed throughout the years; it has risen from the lowly status to an instrument which is highly regarded today, it is a very important part of the orchestra. Throughout the years, there have been many changes in the specifications and parts. These changes have changed the aesthetics of the violin as we see it today.

Just like in playing any other instrument, there are also things that you have to remember when playing the violin. How you hold the violin and bow along with your posture can really affect how you play it. So you have to keep in mind that being a good violinist does not only mean that you have to be good in playing it alone, but you also have to know what things to avoid so that the music that you play will be appreciated.

Do not disrespect your violin. This means that when you are having difficulty hitting a note and you are starting to get really frustrated, never swing your violin around. Take note: swinging it around will not make you any better as far as playing the violin is concerned. What it will do is that it will damage your instrument because there can be a tendency for the neck to break from the body.

Do not have long fingernails when playing the violin. Why? Because this will affect how you touch the strings, resulting in poor sound quality. If your fingernails are long, chances are you will keep on touching the other strings and even the fingerboard. So, the best thing to do is to keep your fingernails short.

Do not hit the bow on anything and never touch its hairs. Take note that the hairs on your violin’s bow are very delicate, that’s why you should never touch them. And never attempt to hit the bow on anything because even small pressure can cause it to snap in just a fraction of a second. So treat your violin well even if you are getting frustrated playing it.

Do not slump! Keep a good posture at all times. Make sure that your back is straight and that your feet are a bit apart when playing the violin. Although slumping will not affect the overall sound quality when playing, it can very much affect your physical condition, thus you’ll find the activity tiring rather than fun.

Do not get into any bad habits like bowing with the tip of your bow past your left shoulder, because it will affect how well you play the violin.

Do not rush learning the advanced part if you are not yet well-versed to the beginner’s lessons. No matter how strong your desire is to learn more than the basics, you will never be really good in playing the violin if you do not master the basics first. You have to remember to take one step at a time. The more you try to advance without mastering the basics will just lead to more frustration.

Do not allow rosin to build-up on your violin, to the extent that the rosin becomes caked on the strings. This can interfere with the playing of the violin and can affect the overall sound quality. So, make sure that you clean it after every session. You can use a soft cotton cloth when doing so.

These are the things that you have to keep in mind when playing the violin. They are not as hard as you think. Simply follow them and you will be off to a really great experience playing the violin.

The violin is just one of the many musical instruments that continually capture the interests of those who have a passion for music. If you have decided to concentrate on learning how to play it, then, now is the best time to start. It will take up a lot of your time, effort, and dedication to be able to play it efficiently. There are many things that you need to learn prior to being successful in playing a single note. These include your posture, your physical, emotional, and mental preparedness, and your inner desire to make it work.

You will always improve, just because you are a newbie there is no reason that you can’t improve over time. This is the prime reason as to why you are attempting to learn this craft. In anything that you do, you always start at the bottom before you finally hit it right. Take a look at the following beginner’s tips that will be of great help in your desire to play the violin.

Focus on your goal. Obviously, your goal is that of learning how to use the bow so you can produce sounds from the violin. This will never be possible if don’t pay any attention or dedicate yourself to whatever it is that you want to do. Whether it is just a hobby for you or you have an ambition to become a great violinist someday, it takes time and effort on your part to learn the fundamentals.

Seek an instructor. Although books and online courses are popular these days, nothing can compare with having a live teacher beside you through your learning process. This expert knows everything that you should learn. Thus, it is important to work with someone that you are comfortable with.

Never play the violin with long fingernails. For safety purposes, cut your nails before holding this instrument. It is not only going to be difficult on your part but handling the strings as well as the fingerboard should be done with utmost care. It is very uncomfortable to reach through the strings and apply pressure if you have long fingernails. The sound that you produce will also be affected.

Respect your musical instrument. If you truly want to improve in your craft, give your violin the due respect that it deserves. Don’t throw tantrums whenever you feel bad about your practice. Don’t swing it around or else you might break its neck. Treat it like a prized possession.

Keep your hands off the hairs on the bow. The hairs are very delicate so don’t play with them. The natural oils that emanate from your fingers can damage the bow. Also, prevent the rosin from getting in touch with the hairs. If this happens, you might need to replace the hairs.

The bow is only for your violin. Don’t let it touch any other object.

Don’t slouch when playing. Your posture can affect how you execute the proper bowing, fingering, as well as the sound that must be produced.

Keep your bowing straight. Practice this good habit right from the start.

These are some of the vital tips that a beginner like you should keep in mind. Remember that playing the violin is fun. So, start now!