The Biggest FAQs About The Violin

Learning the violin is an exciting journey, but it also comes with a lot of questions! Whether you're just starting out or refining your talent, you're bound to encounter curiosity along the way. From bowing and intonation to music theory and performance tips, every violinist--beginner or advanced--has questions that need answers.

Below is a list of some of my favorite frequently asked questions from students, parents, and colleagues. I hope that in sharing these with you, it'll provide clarity and confidence in your playing or allow you to share these with others in your musical communities! As a side note: always consult your teacher first--they'll know what's best for you!

Let's dive in:

1. How do I rosin my bow, and how often should I do it?

   1. Rosining your bow often develops into personal preference but I'll state the examples that I share with my students: When applying rosin, I begin by scratching lightly on the top layer of the glossy rosin cube. This allows the hardened rosin (which is really just tree sap) to come back into a powdered form. We want the powder to coat the bow hairs. In doing so, that helps create better contact with the strings and a more consistent sound with each bow stroke. As to how often to rosin your bow: start with once a week. You can always add more if you feel you need it.

2. Is it typical for my fingers to get little indents while I'm playing?

   1. Yes, this is completely expected. Our fingers are naturally soft and our goal is to press and hold a string between our squishy finger and a hard surface so it's typical for indents to form; and in some extreme practicing cases, you can develop calluses (cue the reel of my entire college experience). It's all okay as long as it doesn't cause injury to you. That is an important reminder for anything we do with the violin. (more on this later!)

3. How do I know when to use an open string or when to use a 4th finger?

   1. This is such a great question. There are a couple of answers to this one: first, it often comes down to preference, though if you're working with a teacher they might encourage you to use that pinky (ughh growth amiright?!) The most pragmatic angle is deciphering the music around the note in question. Are all of the other notes around the potential 4th finger/open string note on one string?: Probably better to use 4th finger. Are the notes fast or close together?: Probably better to use 4th finger. Are the notes fast but sporadic?: Probably better to use open string. Is it a longer note where vibrato could be involved?: Probably better to use 4th finger. Consult your teacher for a specific piece of music or exercise where you're needing clarity.

4. Do I really need a shoulder rest?

   1. In my teacher opinion, I would say YES. However, I do have students who have tried several options and they just don't feel good. In all transperancy, there are plenty of professionals who don't use them. Even Anne-Sophie Mutter only uses a cloth! In my experience as a musician and teacher, I always encourage trying a shoulder rest. It offers assistance on better posture and helps train us to shift our "grip" from our left hand to our shoulder. It also prevents muscle fatigue in our arm and back. If your shoulder rest has never felt comfortable, try others. There are so many options out there--HERE are some of my favorites.

5. How often should I practice and/or how long should I be practicing?

   1. I have a couple of answers to this. I've always loved this saying that came from one of my mentors, she said: 'practice until it's done." I love that phrase because it both extracts any bounds and invites some discipline and structure. It invites us to release any tie between practice and time. Often, when I was learning the violin, it was: "start with 15 minutes a day and then 30 minutes and gradually continue to add time". But if you aren't using that time effectively, are you really practicing? So by saying "practice until it's done" implies that there's work to accomplish, there's an achievement of sorts and allows us to lay out & practice what is most important; it may take 5 minutes or 2 hours. If however you are a structered type A who needs a clock or a timer set, HERE are my recommendations on how to block that time.

6. How do I stop my violin from squeaking?

   1. Practice. Repetition. Practice. Plain and simple. Oh! But of course there are some techniques that can be applied to assist as well. 😉 A few things to check about how you are playing the violin:

      1. Are you applying a lot of pressure with your bow hand? If you release the pressure, does it squeak less or maybe not at all anymore?

      2. Did you rosin?

      3. Are you watching that your bow stroke is parallel to the bridge? Flat hairs on the string, making for consistent contact?

7. Should a parent/guardian sit in on lessons?

   1. I LOVE this question. I always encourage parents or guardians to sit in on lessons with children (under the age of 13). Knowing what your student is learning and being involved with your student's learning is supportive for the student and also ensures that there's accountability for practice at home. I've even had some parents learn to play the violin alongside their student. Currently, I'm working with a student and their parent separately, and they are truly enjoying the experience: they have a practice accountability partner, someone at home who understands what they're learning, and even a bit of friendly competition. 😈 It's also an excellent way to learn to play with another person!

8. My __________ always hurts when I'm done playing.

   1. Nothing should hurt when you're playing or when you're finished playing for the day!! Re-read that sentence and put it in the stone tablet memory bank. When we're first learning how to play the violin, things will feel uncomfortable but should never hurt or be painful in any way. If they are, make sure to bring this up to your teacher right away! Believe it or not, playing a musical instrument is a lot like playing a sport. It's important to stretch before and after we play and maintain proper posture to support our muscles. If I'm being completely transparent: as a teacher who teaches more than 50 students each week and performs, you better believe I'm using my HSA for massages! 😜

9. Is taking violin lessons online or in-person better?

   1. Lucky for you, I wrote a whole blog post on this! HERE it is. Ultimately, it comes down to preference and finding the right teacher.

10. How often should I replace my strings?

    1. Definitely touch base with your teacher, but my recommendation would be every 1-2 years. If you're playing every day like I am, I replace mine every 6-12 months. If you're a beginner who is playing only a few times a week, you'll probably get a few years out of your string life. Remember when changing strings, you want to change them one-by-one and not all at once.

I had so much fun answering these common questions. If you've thought of some that aren't on this list, drop them in the chat below and I'll add them to the post!

Did you enjoy this blog post? I bet you know someone who could benefit from this information! 😉 Share it with friends, family, the stranger at the grocery store...honestly, anyone who can read. Aside from playing and teaching the violin, I love writing and sharing my life lessons aaaand wouldn't mind getting paid for sharing my knowledge with the world. In all seriousness, thanks so much for reading! If even one person receives benefit from this post, I'm a happy little camper.

Stay tuned for the next post...arriving regularly to an electronic device near you!