Archive for September, 2009


Ever dreamt of being a professional violinist? Perhaps your family is hooked on music and maybe that’s why you want to learn to play an instrument as well? Or do you simply want to learn because you find playing it so fascinating? Whatever your reason is in trying to learn this craft, you are bombarded with questions of how to go about deciding which lessons to take and so on.

Can anyone learn how to play the violin in just one sitting?

Short answer, NO!

If you think that you can play the violin like a pro in just one sitting, well think again. What you can expect is that, during your first day, you will be able to play at least a few simple major scales and a couple of familiar songs often played by beginner violinists.

If you already have a background in music, for instance if you already know how to read the notes and land properly on the right finger positions, your progress will be a little bit quicker than those who do not have any background at all. Plus, if you follow the four fundamental habits of mind and work ethics such as careful listening, concentration, patience, and discipline, chances are you will advance really quickly.

How often should you practice?

There are no required hours for you to practice every day in order to be a really good violinist. It all depends on your desire to learn. If you have a tutor, he or she will determine how long you should be practicing depending on your skills. If you learn fast, then perhaps lesser time can be allotted, but if not, more time should be devoted to it. However, if you are learning on your own and you really want to be good at it, then you can practice as long as you want. Your desire, passion, and emotion will be your determining factors as to how long you practice.

Make your practice more fun

To make your practice more fun, you have to make sure that you master the reading of the music. If you are having a hard time reading and hitting the notes, then you’ll find playing the violin more of a problem. So the best thing to do is to educate yourself further as far as reading music is concerned. How to do it? Well, you can always download or order sheet music to familiarize yourself with the notes. Or you can arrange practice with friends who also play orchestral instruments. That way, you’ll find practice more fun.

How do i know if I am progressing?

If you are learning through the help of a tutor, your teacher will be the one to let you know how you are doing after every session. If you are progressing, of you will be tutored on more unfamiliar songs, but if not you will stay playing familiar notes until you perfect them. Now, if you are learning on your own, the best way to know if you are progressing is by listening to yourself.

Your own ears and muscles will provide you with the feedback, unless your tone deaf in which case you shouldn’t be playing any instrument. (-:

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Antique Style Natural Color Full Size 4/4 Violin with Case and Accessories
 
Manufacturer: Austin Bazaar Affiliate
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List Price: $399.95
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Product Description

This violin is ideal for the budding musician. It is a beautiful antique style full size Violin. It includes a genuine horse hair wood bow, rosin and a featherweight carrying case. Accessory colors/style may vary. Comes with an Austin Bazaar product guide. Here are some hints to help keep your violin in tune: 1. Although the violins come with a bridge, it is not installed. Installing a bridge is not difficult, but if you have a problem, please email us. The bridge has to be installed for the violin to play correctly. 2. Strings do tend to slip and lose their tune on a new violin because they need to stretch. If this happens, just give it time. The strings just need time to settle in. 3. If the violin pegs keep slipping, try to push the peg in while turning it. If they still dont stay in, peg drops are available at most music stores. They are relatively inexpensive and should help the pegs stay in. 4. If a strand of hair breaks on the bow, take a pair of nail clippers and cut it from the frog (bottom of the bow) or the top of the bow. A few hairs are bound to fall out with play. Remember to rub a little rosin (included) on the bow before playing. This is a great violin to get started with. And at this price it is an unbeatable value.

Product Details

  • Full Size Antique Style Violin
  • Beautiful Natural Color
  • Maple Sides and Back
  • Wood Bow with Genuine Horse Hair
  • Includes: High Quality Carrying Case, Rosin, and Bow

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4/4 Antique Style Natural Color w/ Striped Back
 
Review Date: February 13, 2008
Reviewer: N. Walton, LA, USA
Antique Style Natural Color Full Size 4/4 Violin with Striped Back

This violin was better than I thought in looks it has beautiful white dots on the ends of each peg, on the tailpiece, on the knob on the front of the violin, and on the bow. It had 2 scratches on the violin on the right side, top. The knob on the front wasn't in line correctly, but my instructor, a Dr., said it was playable. The knob, being off centered, made it a trouble for him to move the chin rest over a bit so that the tailpiece could align itself, for when the bridge was in place...so the strings could be tuned, etc. It is a beautiful instrument, the flaming on the back isn't that spectacular, but still pretty and for a beginner it is great! I like the sides of the violin and the pretty white dots that are on the pegs, tailpiece, etc. The bow is nice looking although you can tell it's not as "High quality" as they say, it does have a grip on it, it's just that frog had a white strip that I'm assuming was meant to be as pretty as the white dots...it wasn't it was plain white plastic looking. It looks kind of cheap to me (the bow); the case isn't one of those plastic outside cases (that's what I consider a hard case). I think it's got a hard shell underneath the soft covering on the outside. The zipper caught on one side for a while until it was able to be, how do you say, zipped time and time again (broken in) until it wasn't catching like it was. The inside is pretty, it even has a sleeve, I didn't like the rosin that came with it because it was dark rosin. Dark rosin is not good for hot climates like mine, but the shoulder straps were good! I like how I can pack it around on my back instead of just on my shoulder, that saves using my hand for other things and not worrying about it falling off as I move around. I also advise buying a Care Kit for beginners as well because it comes with peg drops, polish, duster, soft cloth, dark rosin (makes a face), etc. for your violin care. Just remember if you are in colder climates use dark rosin; in warmer climates use light rosin. All in all it was a great buy! No matter how much I complain about it I fell in love with it instantly when I held it in my hands.
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL violin!
 
Review Date: March 6, 2009
Reviewer: Kathy Kult, Northeast Illinois, USA
This is an absolutely gorgeous violin! The flaming, stripes on the back, and detailing of the accessories are awesome. The tonal quality is good for beginning adult students who want to learn and practice playing the violin. The bow takes a bit of rosining at first, but once it's rosined up, it plays beautifully. I like the violin case too -- it comes with a "sleeve" to protect the violin a bit more, and also has a bigger accessory box than most violin cases. There's also an extra zip-around pocket on the outside of the case that can hold sheet music (if it's folded in half). This is a great violin set at this price.

Austin Bazaar's customer service is fantastic as well -- I had a problem with the first shipment, but they rectified it completely and quickly. Their standard shipping is also quite fast... via UPS, it only took two days from Texas to Illinois. Thank you Austin Bazaar!

A couple tips:
> The first time you open the rosin that comes with this violin, be sure to open it over a wastebasket, as it may have small pieces/crumbs in it (probably due to shipping). So for heaven's sake, don't open it while holding it OVER the violin or case!
> The strings that come with the violin break easily when you tune it up for the first time... be prepared to have a backup set in-house by the time your beautiful new violin arrives, or you will be upset that you can't play it right away if one (or more) of the strings break on you too.
> You will have to install the bridge on the violin, since it shouldn't be shipped with the bridge in place. This is EASY; just read up on it first. There's a ton of sites on the internet about installing a bridge.

Accessories you'll need with this violin if you're just starting out:
> as mentioned above, an extra set (or two) of strings -- Super-Sensitive Red Label Violin String Set, 4/4 is good for beginners (currently only around $15-20 on Amazon).
> a shoulder rest (the Kun Collapsible 4/4 Violin Shoulder Rest is awesome and is quite comfortable with this violin)
> a tuner (I'm using the Korg Chromatic Tuner CA-30, which is great, and seems to be the one of choice on Amazon -- Austin Bazaar currently sells these)
> a metronome - I'm using the Seiko DM50 Compact Metronome - Blue, which seems to be working okay (plus it was cheap). If you go digial, make sure you can adjust the volume, and also adjust the tempo by increments of 1 or 2, from at least 40 to 208 (the DM-50 goes from 30 to 250 by increments of 1). Austin Bazaar currently sells these too.
> Of course, you could just get the tuner/metronome combo and avoid having two separate devices.
> if you have "others" in your household, you may also want to invest a couple bucks in a good practice mute (Enough said there...)

Other useful items for your accessory box:
> two soft cloths -- one to wipe down the strings after playing (the rosin gets on the strings, and will build up over time), and one to polish the body of the violin. I don't recommend using the same cloth for both -- the rosin from the strings could potentially scratch the finish on the violin if the same cloth is used.
> a very small piece of sandpaper for scoring the rosin. You need to "score" the rosin before "rosining the bow".
> fingernail clippers. You may have to cut your nails down on your left hand!

Anyway, if you're thinking about investing in this violin, I highly recommend it -- it's well worth it, and is a bargain at this price!
Wonderful instrument to learn on, beautiful for display
 
Review Date: August 30, 2009
Reviewer: Raberta Head,
I ordered this violin when it was only $99.99, and was amazed at the quality as was my instructor when it arived. I was a little disappointed at the amount of time it took for shipping and the condition of the external packaging on arival, however, the contents were intact and in perfect condition when I opened the box.

My only problem was with tuning the instrument. The pegs slipped quite a bit and I did have to visit my local music supply store to purchase peg drops which did work wonderfully. My instructor informed me that this happens with almost every new instrument so I suggest that when you aquire any new violin, invest in some peg drops as well.

The sound quality was really good, (at least when my instructor plays it), and I was really impressed with the beauty and craftsmanship of the woodworking in the instrument itself. I am sure it will remain in our family for a long time as my five year old is taking an interest in music as well.
Bargain
 
Review Date: February 7, 2009
Reviewer: YW, CA USA
My son has been asking me to sign up for violin lessons since he was in pre-school, and I have been thinking about fixing my old violin for him when the time comes.

This violin was a gift from my mom, and I did not take care of it for over 30 years. It looked okay but needed some repairs which might cost a few hundred dollars. When I told my friend of my concern for the price of repairs, she told me that she bought her daughter a practice violin for $150 at a local store. It seems much cheaper than the cost of repairs, so I decided to buy him a full size violin for beginners.

When I checked Amazon, there were several practice violins in the range of $100 to $300. I read the reviews posted to each violin and liked the comment posted by another reviewer for this violin.

Original price of this violin is around $300 and it seems to be the right price for what I paid for. The sound of violin is much better than I expected, and it only cost $100 for a violin, a bow, a carrying case, and a small rosin. It is definitely a bargain that can't be passed on.

In short, I am glad to find such a nice violin at an extremely reasonable price. If you are looking for a beginner's violin, this one is highly recommended.
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People say music is the sound of the soul.  Music is used to convey all sorts of messages. There is music and sounds that talk about happiness, sorrow and depression. Despite the genre and message that music sends, there are many people who can relate to these sounds. It is sad to note however that music is not truly appreciated by its value but by the artist who produced the music. As we all know different instruments are used in the creation of music. One such great instrument that produces wonderful sound is the violin.

The violin has gained popularity because of its inclusion in the orchestra. It belongs to the group of string instruments and has the highest pitch among these instruments. It has many parts that coordinate to produce quality music that an artist could ever produce. But how exactly is a violin played?

A violin is played by using a bow. The violin can be played by drawing the bow (arco) across the strings and by plucking the strings (pizzicato). The violin is placed under the chin while the left hand controls the length of sound of the strings by manipulating the fingerboard.

As much as the left hand regulates sound, it also helps in achieving the correct pitch for a piece. In practice sessions, the fingers are numbered and there are different positions on the violin itself. The method of numbering and positions are placed in sheets of paper for memorization. A violinist must memorize these positions.

One method of playing the violin is open strings. The open strings produce a different timbre. Open strings means that a finger must not touch the strings. The string sounds produced in open strings are different because of the absence of the fingers.

There are certain steps to follow to correctly play the violin. Here are some of the steps to follow.

Adjusting the bow so that it is not too tight and not to lose. A measurement of the correct adjustment is obtained through fitting a pencil between the bow hair and bow wood. Adjusting the bow is done in a clockwise manner. Remember to loosen the bow after playing the violin. Also, new bows require rosin and rosin needs to be renewed depending on how many times the violin is played.

Hold the bow correctly. The index finger is positioned on the grip while the other fingers are positioned at the same distances between each other along the same edge. The pinky finger is placed lower and is angled slightly.

Hold the violin with the chin and shoulder. The jaw should be placed on the chinrest. Stand up straight at the end of the violin.

The bow should be placed at the middle between the bridge and the fingerboard. The bow should pull as straight as possible and parallel with respect to the bridge.

Practice the open strings which entail not touching the string with any finger.

To correctly play the violin you need to continually practice. Playing the violin requires many hours and dedication along with plenty of effort. It is not something that is learned overnight. Practicing everyday is a good way to achieve the correct way of playing violin and delivering quality music.

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Small World Express Tune in Violin
 
Manufacturer: Small World Toys
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List Price: $20.99
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Small World Toys Tune In ViolinStrike a chord with this realistic violin that plays music as lights flash! Press a button to hear 18 different songs, or move the bow over the faux strings to play notes. An engaging way to introduce kids to music and playing musical instruments, this pretend play violin includes a built-in violin stand, on/off switch, and adjustable volume.

Product Details

  • Strike a chord with this realistic violin that plays music as lights flash!
  • Press a button to hear 18 different songs
  • Includes built-in violin stand. on/off switch and adjustable volume.
  • An engaging way to introduce kids to music ad playing

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Best I've seen
 
Review Date: January 11, 2007
Reviewer: R. Simmons, St. Charles, MO
My 3 year old grandaughter wanted a violin for Christmas. This was the best "toy" violin I saw anywhere. It is a very good size for a small 3 year old. It plays classical music as well as scales and you can control the notes using the bow or just listen to the music. It is not loud and obnoxious. She has enjoyed it greatly and hopefully it will inspire her to someday want to learn to play a "real" violin and continue her music education.
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To become a master of the violin takes a lifetime to learn. Just like any other skill, this one needs to be developed and nurtured. Although the passion for music can come within in an individual, the ability to be able to play this musical instrument is something that is learned and harnessed over time. The great violinists have gone through a tremendous amount of training and practice before they have reached the top.

What is the vibrato?

The vibrato is the musical effect that is produced either in singing or by means of playing any musical instrument. The violin vibrato is commonly produced by those who use this instrument. The technique is normally employed to create a kind of emotion for its audience. It’s necessary that the violinist can create a connection with his or her listeners. Through this, he will be successful in letting the listeners feel the power of his performance. Such a technique is also used so that the pitch of the notes will become varied.

Who should learn the vibrato?

Learning the violin vibrato is not meant for people who are faint-hearted. Amateurs are generally not taught this technique since bad habits may be formed. And if you have started letting the bad habits in to your style, you will find it hard to shake off. Trying it too soon will also affect your effort of establishing your confidence.

How is the vibrato learned?

The violin vibrato is created by pressing on a certain string and then moving it a little bit forward and backward. Vibrato techniques differ, there is one that is created with the use of only the fingers, there is one that is employed with the use of the whole forearm, and one that is played with the use of the wrist. All of these methods produce different effects and they are also employed in a myriad of musical styles.

Steps to learning the wrist vibrato

First, you need to relax your fingers, wrist, and arm. This is a key technique in order to play any style. The rigid fingers, wrist, and arm will only make things difficult for you because you will not be able to play it with speed and fluidity.

Prepare for the playing position. Your wrist should not only be relaxed but straight as well. Practice waving back at yourself to execute the right motion.

Then, lightly put your finger on the A string towards the D without applying any pressure downwards. Generally, it is easy to do the vibrato by using the 2nd as well as the 3rd fingers. The vibrato using the 4th finger is advisable to do only when the other styles have been mastered.

Next, practice waving back at yourself. Then, notice how your fingers move a bit backward and forward on the string.

Let your fingertip stay in the same position. As you do the waving motion, your fingers should rock backwards and forwards on the string. There are going to be changes in the pitch as you use the bow.

The final step to learn is improving your speed, follow these comprehensive steps and you will definitely improve your skill with the violin!

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Suzuki VI-SC Violin
 
Manufacturer: Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation
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List Price: $299.99
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Product Description

Quality and Affordability. Perfect Violin for beginning/intermediate students. The Suzuki VI-SC Violin features a beautiful rich sound. Special care went into designing this violin. The bridge is hand cut and grooved for proper alignment. The inlaid performing edges are applied by hand for a custom, professional look. The tail piece is comprised of one piece construction with 4 tuners. From utilizing superior aged woods to hand varnishing the beautiful spruce tops and maple back and sides that contain stunning flamed grain, our expert craftsmen have painstakingly produced this violin for you. Both The high grade strings and bow ensure long life, exceptional tone quality, and enhanced ease of playing. Suzuki- the leader in music education.

Product Details

  • 4/4 Size deluxe violin outfit, everything included!
  • Deluxe Case: Every Suzuki Violin comes complete with a beautiful hard canvas carrying case with handle, shoulder strap and accessory compartment.
  • ACCESSORIES: SHOULDER STRAP, FULL SIZE ROSIN WRAPPED IN CLOTH, Polishing Cloth, Care, Maintenance & Assembly
  • Aged Solid Spruce Top, Maple Back And Sides With Beautiful Flamed Grain
  • High Grade Strings And Bow, Hand Cut Bridge, Exceptional Quality Tone

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Music performances attract many people. Concerts and dance performances are increasingly big hits for many producers. Solo concerts and performances are amongst the most awaited by aspiring artists. It is through solo performances that an individual can gauge his following and his fame. It is sad to note that violin performances and orchestra performances do not generate as much audience as other types concerts generate.

Audiences are more attracted to rock music and band members banging on their drums and plucking their guitars. Very few people attend to violin concertos and other orchestra performances. Only orchestra enthusiasts and parents support the performances of people from the orchestra.

Violin concertos suffer the same fate with other orchestra performances. The Italian word concerto is used to refer to a musical work with three parts wherein one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra. Concerto has risen from the Baroque period and the concerto grosso. Violin concertos have been structured into four movements by Dmitri Shostakovich, Igor Stravinsky and Alban Berg.  The famous violin concertos include the works of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Paganini.

The violin concerto was a perfect avenue for artist’s performances during the 19th century. The concerto advanced during this century and violinists were regarded as heroes. They were honored, respected and given high acknowledgement.  Violin concertos often have recitative elements. These elements show the influence of the opera in Italy. Paganini flourished in this century and used his unique abilities in staging performances. He took advantage of the potential of the violin and pushed the possibilities to the limits.

Two concertos that are worth mentioning is Johannes Brahms and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy concerto. Brahms concerto was the only concerto he ever composed. It was first played on January 1, 1879 and Brahms conducted this first ever performance. The concerto was dedicated to Joseph Joachim and Joachim had the privilege of playing it during the first performance.

Brahm worked on the concerto when he retired in Southern Austria in 1878.  The concerto was a collaboration of Brahms and Joachim. Joachim was a good friend of Brahm. The first three movements of the concerto were finished in august 1878 and Brahm sent a copy to Joachim. Brahm asked Joachim for his suggestions and Joachim obliged. The concerto’s first movements were thematic and dramatic. The second movement was composed of many themes and variations.

The Mendelssohn concerto is often associated with child prodigies. The composer was educated in musical schools and had a public appearance at the age of 9 and collected his compositions when he was 11.This concerto was dedicated to Ferdinand David and was completed over many years. The concerto’s first staging was a success. However, David couldn’t make the subsequent performances and sent his pupil to perform his act.

The next artist who performed the concerto was the then 14 year old, Joseph Joachim. Joachim did a great job in the concerto and this was his claim to fame.

The concerto had a wonderful melody because of the composer’s gift. The first movement of the concerto was straightforward and simple. It was understandable. The movements in the concerto were well coordinated and the transitions sustained the mood.

These two violin concertos have gained fame and popularity in their times. Up to now, these concertos are still considered as two of the best violin concertos. Contemporary artists often perform these concertos to gain the fame that they want to achieve.

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The ABCs of Violin for the Absolute Beginner - DVD
 
Manufacturer: Carl Fischer/Eko Productions
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List Price: $19.95
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This DVD is perfect for new violin students of all ages, new teachers and parents. Covers violin and bow positions, tuning, attaching the shoulder rest, using the mute, pizzicato, finger graphs, counting, the metronome and instrument maintenance. Easy play-along with Mary had a Little Lamb and A Major Scale. Performance pieces include Beethoven's Ode to Joy, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Arkansas Traveler, A Shakespeare Play and Home on the Range. An ideal Violin DVD for the Absolute Beginner!

Product Details

  • This DVD, featuring Janice Tucker Rhoda, is the perfect beginner s approach to the Violin. It covers all the basic,essential points for the new player. This is a powerful supplement to the book, The ABCs of Violin for the Absolute Beginner, Book 1 and to the accompaniment/performance CD ABC1CD. Highlights include instruction on finger positions, bowing techniques, basic music-note reading and play

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This article will help you on the fundamentals of bowing.

Developing Your Potential

Being a left-handed person will not be a hindrance for efficient playing of the violin. In the beginning, you will find it hard to do. But take things easy. You will soon find the right technique to perfectly execute. Being left-handed will actually give you an advantage. That is, fingering and doing the vibrato will be easier and more precise for you.  After practicing, you will then discover that you have turned into an ambidextrous. Meaning to say, you can use both of your hands.

They say that practice makes perfect. Thus, you can count on the master violinists’ expertise in automatically moving their hands. Your constant practice will likewise develop your mastery and concentration which is going to be driven by habit.

Getting to Know the Bow

The violin is made up of different parts. Each part has a name of course. Technically, the “bow” is the wooden stick wherein the hairs are connected. The “grip” is the one that wraps around one of the ends of the stick. The “frog” adjoins the hairs and the bow.

The bow is then composed of a big screw at the tip. It is used either to relax or to tighten the hairs. It is important to check the tightness of the hairs before you start practicing. If it is too tight it may cause the hairs to break. On the other hand, the hairs may not produce the right sound when they are too relaxed. See to it that the hairs are aligned and the tightness is just enough so as not to sacrifice the quality of sound that is produced.

The violin bow is a stick that is essentially lithe and semi-elastic. It is stretched from one end to the other. In playing this musical instrument, the bow should be driven and pulled across those strings. The vibration then results in the production of the sounds.

Types of Violin Bows

There are various types of violin bows:

Tropical hardwood: These bows are made out of Brazil wood. These are cheaper and always available so they are perfect to use by the neophyte players.

Carbon fiber: These bows are the ones that are heavy duty. These are also bonded with the use of resin and are high-grade. This material features almost the same quality as the pernambuco so it counts as a cheaper alternative.

Pernambuco: These bows are more durable and heavier. They are also elastic, dense, and responsive. They boast of a soft feel so they are generally more comfortable to use. Pernambuco violin bows are not only expensive but rare as well.

Fiberglass: These bows are durable. They last for a longer time and easily bought anywhere. Being inexpensive, they are best to use by those who have just begun learning how to play the violin.

When buying your violin bow, you should consider its durability and price. Also take note of the frequency that you are going to use it. Also, choose one that will give you all the comfort when playing.

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Cover of "Toxicity" by System of a Down. Jennifer Lynn, Electric Violin; Christine Wu, Electric Violin; Meytal Cohen, Drums; String Arrangement by Jennifer Lynn. Video editing by Jennifer Lynn. Co-produced by Gil Baram, Jennifer Lynn and Meytal Cohen.
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50+ Easy Classical Solos For Violin
 
Manufacturer: Music Sales America
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Easy to play melody line arrangements for violin, complete with chord symbols in concert pitch. Includes music by Mozart, Beethoven, Elgar, Bach and Handel.

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