Just like every other instrument in the orchestra, starting out with the right fundamental is important. How you hold the violin and move the bow, for example, are completely critical to any future success. But beyond this most basic skill, others are also required to build a strong foundation on which to musically grow. Even if you do not pursue music as a career or avocation, these skills will give a deeper appreciation for how music works, and why it’s so important.
Essential Skills for the String Section
Tone Production & Bow Control
Perhaps the most foundational skill for instruments in the string section like the violin, viola, or cello is the ability to produce consistently pleasing, clear, and resonant tones. This requires strong bow control, including the use of different weights and speeds, as well as various strokes and articulations.
While tone production and bow control are indeed foundational skills, they are also cumulative skills; they are meant to be built upon over time. Begin with simple prectice, and build complexity as your skills imrprove.
Acoustics
String players have a unique advantage over much of the rest of the orchestra; they can actually see their strings vibrate–especially when performing pizzicato. For beginners, it’s a great visual of how acoustics work through sound vibrations. It’s a simple idea, but highly effective for helping musicians understand acoustics, the science of sound.
Listen carefully to a plucked open string. Listen as the sound as it decays and fades. The key is to focus on sound quality and the things that affect your listening experience.
Ear Training
Ear training–the ability to identify notes and chords by sound–is a critical skill for any musician, but especially the string section. One way to work on this skill by yourself it to listen to a recording os a perfect octave, and compare how it sounds to a perfect fifth. Go back and forth between the sounds until you can identify each by their sound alone. If you have someone that can play them randomly for you, even better. You can gradually add in more intervals over time.
You might be surprised by how quickly your ear develops!
Counting and Rhythm/Subdivision
Most musicians are sometimes guilty of sight-reading a piece, and not sticking perfectly to the written rhythm as they go. The only real way to get it right is to subdivide consistently. Even a simple rhythm becomes sloppy quickly without consistency. For beginners, and sometimes veterans that need a reminder, the metronome is an excellent tool.
For beginners, pizzicato is fine. Start with a slow click, and gradually increase both your speed and the complexity of your rhythms as you improve.
Cooperation/Playing Together
One of the best things about playing music is the chance to play with other people. Students taking private lessons may not always have this opportunity, and should take it when it arises. Group lessons or performance, on the other hand, offer students a chance to observe and learn from one another. Much like participating in a team sport, student learn to play together, as part of a larger whole with a shared goal in mind: a successful and cohesive performance.
What’s more, many young students are inspired by their more experienced peers, and are then motivated to play more and develop a consistent practice routine to help the reach those levels.
Foundational Skills with The Music Studio
At The Music Studio, we believe that learning the violin or viola is not just about mastering an instrument—it’s about unlocking a new realm of expression, creativity, and connection. Whether you’re a complete beginner with a newfound passion, an intermediate player aiming to refine your technique, or an advanced violinist seeking to explore new musical territories, our comprehensive curriculum is designed to cater to your individual needs.
Our faculty consists of accomplished violinists with extensive teaching experience. Passionate about music and skilled in various teaching methodologies, they are adept at inspiring students of all ages and abilities.
It’s never too late or too early to start your musical voyage. The Music Studio welcomes students from the tender age of 4 to adults who are young at heart, making violin mastery accessible to everyone.
Learn more, and sign up today!