Behind the Music -- What is a Cello?

If you have ever listened very closely to a piece of classical music, you may have heard an unmistakably hollow haunting sound that can only come from a cello. Interestingly enough, the cello didn’t really begin as a cello at all, and this fascinating instrument was actually christened the “violoncello.” Today, most of us know the deep wood instrument strictly as a “cello,” and by any name this classical gem is still quite extraordinary.

Most often, cellos are made from woods such as spruce and maple, though sometimes celli can also be made from poplar and willow. Each part of a cello requires a different type of wood, and the wood chosen to fashion a cello will impact its overall sound and performance. Much like its cousin, the violin, strings on a cello are made from gut, metal, or synthetic materials, and some older cello strings can actually be made from other curious materials. Although a cello may look stunning from the outside, a cello’s beauty is really only found within.

The inside of a cello consists of a bass bar and a sound post, both of which make a cello sound the way it does today. In fact, without these two necessary parts, a cello simply would not be as fascinating as it is. The sound post is the sole piece that adheres the front and the back of the cello, and the bass bar helps to evenly distribute the cello’s vibrations. Both the bass bar and the sound post work together in order to create a lush sound that only an expertly crafted cello can produce. Although celli are typically popular within classical music, modern music has been including the cello most often as of late. If you are seeking a truly gorgeous instrument, the cello is possibly the best thing that you can buy. Just remember to look at a cello’s overall construction, and to take a person with you that knows a thing or two about music.

History of the Flute

The flute has the distinction of being the oldest member of the woodwind family, dating all the way back to ancient times. The Bible even mentions flutes from time to time. Although the flutes we're familiar with are made of wood or metal, the earliest flutes of all were made from bones.

A flute fashioned from a mammoth's tusk was discovered in 2004. It's thought to be to at least 30,000 years old, though it could be even older than that. It is easily one of the oldest flutes known to exist.

The earliest transverse or side-blown flutes began to appear in the Byzantine period, about the 10th century A. D. Unfortunately, all we have of the flutes from this period are depictions of them in manuscripts. We don't know for certain what these flutes sounded like when they were played.

The tin whistle or Irish flute appeared in the 12th century, an end-blown instrument. This was later followed by recorders in the 14th century.

Flutes were used heavily for military purposes by the late 15th century. The music of the flute was used to coordinate precise movements amongst the soldiers, a technique that proved so effective that it became widespread throughout Europe. Though the bugle would eventually overshadow flutes (or rather in this case, fifes), fifes are still used in some militaries for ceremonial purposes.

The modern flute was invented by a German metalworker named Theobald Boehm. He modified the flute by adding extra keys and repositioning holes so that it was much easier to play. The flute that was perfected in the 1800s is still played to this very day.

Careers in Music Therapy

Music is a universal language that anyone can understand. Since ancient times, humans have intuitively understood the benefits of music -- it was even thought that music had healing powers. Our ancestors were right. To this day, music is still used as a form of therapy. Music therapists are being employed by hospitals, schools, day care facilities, and nursing homes.

Why would someone employ a music therapists in this age of CD players and iPods? Because music therapists possess more than just the ability to play music. They have been trained to understand the psychological benefits of music and how it can be used to overcome learning disabilities, improve motor skills, relieve pain, and reduce fear. The best music therapists know how to assess the needs of the individual and tailor the musical therapy accordingly.

The emotional and physical benefits of music are widely acknowledged even in scientific circles. Studies have proven that music can lower blood pressure and reduce stress.

Music can help a child's development. A three month study on groups of children ages 4 to 6 revealed that children who received musical therapy had noticeably better speaking and listening skills. There was even an improvement in hand-eye coordination.

A music therapist needs musical skills as well as counseling and health care knowledge. A music therapist will need to be able to interact with children and people with disabilities. To pursue a career in music therapy, you will need a college degree in music therapy. The Certification Board for Music Therapists approves music therapy curricula taught in colleges.

If you're musically inclined and love the idea of sharing music with others who could benefit from it, a career in music therapy might be for you.

What is a professional musician?

In order for someone to be considered a professional, they must commit their entire livelihood to one talent or another. For example, bankers, lawyers, and doctors are all considered professionals solely due to the fact that they do not work in any other field. In the same manner, a professional musician is a person that gains monetary value from their trade. A person that plays an instrument on the weekend is not a professional.

There is a large difference between a professional musician and a non professional musician. Simply put, a professional musician has taken the leap into the world of music, and they have placed all their eggs in the proverbial basket, so to speak. Of course, it takes a lot of courage to shun the world of steady income for a passion that you love, which is why most artists (including musicians, writers, painters, and any other type of artist) merely commit to their true love only during their spare time. Although a person might be a professional musician, this does not mean that they make a large amount of money.

Any musician that plays daily can be considered a professional. From a busker to a band member, professional musicians can be found in nearly every walk of life. Some people would argue that professional musicians have also gained a certain amount of training or schooling, which is why they can use the title “professional.” However, this is not necessarily true. Some talents simply are not reliant upon any sort of formal education, and if you can make a living playing music, you can certainly use the title “professional.”

Resonance: the Science of Music

In music, resonance is what creates and determines the sound an instrument makes. Resonance is merely the vibrations of one object creating vibrations in another. For instance, when one blows into a clarinet mouthpiece, the reed vibrates, in turn vibrating the air within the long body of the clarinet. The clarinet then resonates, producing a sound, the tone and timbre of which is uniquely its own based on the shape of its body. Players can manipulate the finger holes to change the sound's pitch, effectively controlling the resonance.

The same principle is at work in string instruments. A string plucked on its own produces a very quiet sound. Attach the string to a musical instrument and pluck it, and a much louder noise is made. The string's vibrations resonate through the instrument, and the exact sound produced is determined by the shape and design of the instrument's body.

In the case of the violin, its strings are drawn tightly across a bridge which is directly attached to the instrument's body. When the strings are struck with the bow, they vibrate. The vibrations are carried through the bridge and into the violin. The sound resonates within the hollow cavity of the body, with the exact sound quality depending on the violin's shape, the wood used in its construction, the thickness of its front and back, and even the varnish used to coat its outside surface.

The String Bass

The string bass, sometimes called the double bass, is the largest string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra. The string bass produces a low-pitched sound, making it a staple of Western classical music, although it can often be found in such diverse musical genres as jazz, blues, rock and roll, rockabilly, and bluegrass.

There is no one standardized design for string basses. Some resemble large violins, while the other most popular pattern follows the general outline of the viol da gamba form. This difference can be seen in the shape of the back, which can either be round and carved like a violin or flat like the viol.

Similar to the violin family, the string bass has a bridge, f-holes, a tailpiece, a scroll, and a sound post. The fingerboard of a string bass is unfretted, and its pegbox has machine heads as opposed to friction pegs. The bottom of a string bass also has an endpin that rests on the floor. Since the instrument is so large, the endpin is bigger than those found on cellos. All parts of the string bass are glued together, except for the sound post, bridge, and tailpiece, which are secured entirely through string tension.

There are four strings on a typical bass. The strings are made from either gut or steel. Gut strings create a heavier thumping sound, so they're often plucked with fingers or slapped. If a bow is used, it's either a French bow, which is similar to the bows used to play other orchestral string instruments, or a German bow, which is broader, shorter, and held in a handshake position.

Antonio Stradivari

The most famous violin maker in history, Antonio Stradivari was born in Italy in 1644. He studied under famed violin maker Nicolo Amati before opening his own business in 1680. Stradivari soon earned a reputation for his brilliant craftsmanship, producing violins that still marvel and amaze to this day.

Stradivari constructed his violins from spruce, willow, and maple. Spruce was used for the harmonic top of the instrument. Willow was utilized on the interior, while maple made up the back, strip, and neck. The master also treated the wood with a unique mix of minerals, including potassium borate, sodium and potassium silicate, and a special varnish comprised of Arabic gum, honey, and egg white. The result was an instrument of unmatched sound quality and beauty.

Stradivari was at the peak of his abilities between 1700-1720. These years are referred to as his "Golden Period," during which time he produced his most exceptional violins. Even then, a Stradivarius violin was a cherished item and obvious status symbol. Their exceptional craftsmanship can be seen in their remarkable longevity, as some 700 genuine instruments remain in existence.

In 2006, a Stradivarius made in 1707 was sold at auction for a staggering $3,544,000, making it the most expensive price ever paid for a musical instrument.

The Spanish government owns the only complete set of Stradivarius instruments in the world. The remarkable string quintet, containing two violins, two cellos, and a viola, is proudly displayed in the Music Museum at the Palacio Real de Madrid.

Carbon Fiber Bows

Modern technology combined with the continued depletion of environmental resources has led to a rise in popularity of carbon fiber bows for violins and cellos. While many musicians are reluctant to embrace change, stubbornly clinging to their old wooden bows, the times are definitely changing.

When most people hear the term carbon fiber bows, they envision a long assembly line where one generic bow after another rolls off a conveyor belt. But that's really not the case at all. Carbon fiber bows are just as handcrafted as wooden ones, with each stick carefully fashioned and finished by hand. They have their own unique personalities. They also have several distinct advantages over their wooden brethren.

First, carbon fiber bows are far more durable than traditional wood bows. Carbon fiber is naturally lighter and stronger, lending to exceptional balance. They resist warping, increasing the bow's longevity and consistency. They're also immune to weather conditions, making them ideal for playing outdoors even during questionable conditions.

Carbon fiber bows come in a variety of designs and styles. Many are just as appealing as the finest pernambuco bows. More importantly, they perform as good as they look, producing exceptional sound quality. They're also extremely economical when compared to high-end wooden bows.

The days of carbon fiber bows being seen as an inferior alternative to wood are long over. Carbon fiber is not only a viable alternative, it could very well be the future of music.

Importance of a Good Mouthpiece

The mouthpiece is the most essential part of the instrument. Without a proper mouthpiece, the musician will never get the most out of the instrument or the music.

The three main parts of a mouthpiece are the chamber, facing, and tip opening. The chamber is the hollow-tube shape interior of the mouthpiece. Thinner chambers produce higher tones, making them ideal for jazz, pop, and rock. Larger chambers are typically used for classical pieces, since the bigger chamber yields lower, heavier tones.

The facing of the mouthpiece is the curved flat portion near the tip. It's shaped the way it is to accommodate the reed. It's the reed vibrating against the facing that creates the instrument's sound.

The last remaining aspect of the mouthpiece is the tip opening, which is where the reed and the tip of the mouthpiece start to move away from each other. The tip opening determines the sound's tone and timbre. A smaller tip opening utilizes a harder reed, resulting in a brighter sound. Softer reeds are used with larger tip openings, with the combination creating lower, darker tones. Between the three mouthpiece components, there are endless combinations, allowing musicians to achieve precisely the desired sound.

A good mouthpiece will help improve control, even registers, and produce superior tone quality. Selecting a mouthpiece with just the right chamber, facing, and tip opening will also increase versatility, making it suitable for all varieties of music.

Antonio Vivaldi

Antonio Vivaldi was a composer of the late Baroque period. He was born in 1678, and as a baby his health was poor. Health issues followed him throughout his life, and he passed away shortly after his 61st birthday.

Vivaldi’s father was a barber who had become a violinist. He taught Antonio to play the violin at an early age, and his later compositions show his great love of stringed instruments. They toured together in Venice, but at the age of 15 Antonio began to study for the priesthood. He was ordained in 1703, but in 1706 he left the priesthood and took up work as a violin teacher at a school for orphaned girls in Venice. He wrote several musical pieces for the girls, and they toured Venice with much acclaim along the way.

Vivaldi’s position as a teacher is considered one reason why many of his violin solos are now attempted by junior violinists. They do require skill, but they can usually be performed well by those who have studied violin for a few years. Younger performers often choose Vivaldi compositions for their solo or audition material.

Vivaldi worked with the orphanage off and on, due to their variable ability to pay him for his position. He did write over 100 concertos between 1723 and 1729 specifically for the school. He wrote over 500 in his lifetime, most of those for violinists. His music was meant to appeal to all, not just the upper classes. With his bright, cheerful music it is often said that his early traveling days with his father must have influenced his compositions.

As he aged, Vivaldi was criticized by contemporary composers, who often felt that his work was repetitive. Late in his life, he moved to Vienna, where he expected his work to be better received. Unfortunately in Vienna, his work was not appreciated and he died alone and impoverished. Interest in his music was reestablished in the 20th century.

Music historians now consider Vivaldi was one of the great transitional artists of the Classical period that radically altered music in the 1750s. Most popular today is the four concerto piece, The Four Seasons. Most of his violin pieces are well enjoyed, but the featured violin parts of the Seasons are what represent the greatness of this composer, who was not given the appreciation he deserved during his lifetime.

Adjusting and Maintaining Reeds

Reeds can sometimes warp over time, rendering them unresponsive. There are a few things you can do to adjust the reed and return it to its previous performance level.

If the bottom of the reed has warped, it will greatly diminish tone quality, since it's the bottom surface vibrating against the mouthpiece that creates the trademark woodwind sound. When this happens, evening out the bottom of the reed can solve the problem. A few swipes with some ultra-fine sandpaper (240 grain) should do the trick. Just be careful not to sand the tip too thin.

The reed can also be smoothed without sandpaper or even removing it from the mouthpiece. Simply wet your thumb and rub the reed with the grain. Continue rubbing it from bottom to top until it feels as though the reed is getting smoother. You'll know it's working if you feel tiny grains rubbing off the reed. It's a quick cure for stiff reeds.

Always wash your reeds at least once a week. It's the best way to reduce bacteria and prolong the life of the reed. Lukewarm water works best. Also, never eat before playing. Not only will the sugars in your saliva deteriorate the reed, they'll also dry and harden inside your instrument. Eating immediately before playing is the best way to destroy a reed. At the very least, make certain to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with water before attempting to play.

Breaking in a Reed

Once you've found a good reed, you'll still have a bit more work to do. You simply can't insert a reed into your clarinet's mouthpiece and expect to start playing beautiful music. Reeds must be broken in. Getting them to sound and respond exactly the way you want can take a little time, but it's certainly worth the effort.

The first step is to soak the new reed in warm water for one to two minutes. This will help loosen it up. You can tell it has absorbed as much water as it can when the blunt end turns a darker color. Remove the reed from the water and place it, flat-side down, on a flat glass surface. Gently massage the reed towards the tip to expel any excess water. This also helps flatten the bottom of the reed and seal it from any dirt and dust particles.

Now play the reed for about five minutes. Begin with a low register to help get a feel for the reed. When you're done, return the reed to the flat glass surface to let it dry. Repeat the entire process each day for at least four days, playing the reed in a gradually higher register each time.

It's also wise to break in more than one reed. Some musicians like to break in 10 at once, ensuring they'll have plenty of options in sound quality not to mention replacements in case of emergency.

What Makes a Good Reed?

Clarinets and other woodwind instruments are completely useless without the right reed. The reed is responsible for vibrating against the mouthpiece and creating the trademark woodwind sound. So exactly what makes a good reed?

While synthetic reeds have made advances in recent years, the best reeds are still made of cane, a tough, bamboo-like wood with long fibers perfect for carrying vibrations. The best cane is grown in the south of France, and reeds from the region do come with a hefty price tag. But if you're a serious musician, the extra added expense is well worth the improved consistency, longer life, and response.

Selecting a good reed is a necessary skill for any musician. The best cane reeds feature a rich, creamy bark. If the wood is poor, the reed won't perform well at all. Faulty wood will also compromise the life of the reed, making it more prone to nicks and chips. And any imperfection in the reed will greatly affect the tonal quality of the instrument.

The other important aspect in reed selection is cut. How the reed is shaped will determine its sound, meaning different cuts are made for different styles of music. Reeds for jazz, pop, and rock tend to be thinner at the heart, producing a brighter tone. Classical reeds tend to be thicker at the heart, producing a heavier, darker sound. Being able to recognize the different cuts will improve any instrument's performance.

The Importance of Reeds

Reeds are essential components of woodwind instruments. The reed is a small strip of material, usually made of cane but sometimes constructed of synthetics, that vibrates to produce sound. In many woodwinds, the reed is connected to the mouthpiece. Reeds are flat on one side, thick near the base, and taper to a thin lip. When the musician blows on the mouthpiece, the reed vibrates and acts as a valve, opening and closing the end of the instrument. The air pressure within the instrument forces the reed to vibrate at a natural frequency, creating the trademark woodwind sound.

The two main types of reeds are single and double. The single reed is used on instruments like clarinets and saxophones. The single reed vibrates against the mouthpiece. In contrast, double reeds utilize two reeds that vibrate against each other. Double reeds are found on instruments like the oboe, oboe d'amore, english horn, bassoon, contrabassoon, and bagpipes.

Cane remains the most popular material for reeds. The wood's naturally springy characteristics make it ideal for the job. Synthetic materials have begun to make an impact in recent years, but they're generally used by amateur musicians who don't play their instrument often, or synthetics are often found in marching bands where tone quality isn't critically important.

Even though commercially-manufactured reeds are readily available today, many musicians still prefer to make their own, cutting and shaving the cane themselves to ensure proper performance.

Investing in Musical Instruments

For some, collecting vintage musical instruments is a passion. It is but natural that music lovers would surround themselves with high quality instruments, especially if these instruments were once owned by famous performers. But collecting musical instruments can also be a sound investment strategy.

It's wise to invest your money, but stocks and mutual funds are full of ups and downs. A stock that does exceedingly well one day could very well plummet the next. Not so for musical instruments: They always appreciate in value. At worst, their value plateaus.

Of course, not just any musical instrument will do. We're talking about fine instruments made by respected and renowned craftsmen. These instruments will be of the highest quality. Most likely they will have been played, which is what they were made for. Even so, they need to be in excellent condition.

The best example would be any violin made by Antonio Stradivari. His shop was in Italy, and he lived during the 17th century. Such was his reputation for making quality violins that even kings and queens valued them. At best guess, Stradivari made over a thousand violins in his lifetime. But only 650 Stradivarius violins are known to exist today. One of his most famous instruments, "The Lady Tennant," could today fetch a price of over $3 million!

The one drawback of investing in musical instruments is that they are perishable. An instrument worth millions will suddenly have a few zeros taken off the price if you drop it. And heaven help you if there should be a fire. That's why you won't want to display these beauties in your living room; they should be stored in safe, climate-controlled rooms in order to protect their value.

Cello: What is It and How is it Made?

The violoncello, which is usually abbreviated to cello is a bowed string instrument. The cello is the second largest of the stringed instruments and their notes have a deep, warm tone. Some people believe that the sound of the cello is like that of a human voice.

The cello is typically made from wood such as spruce, maple, poplar or willow. Sometime, less expensive cello’s are made using laminated wood. Spruce or maple are used for the back, sides, and neck. Poplar and willow are used for the back and sides. The top and back of the cello are hand-carved and the sides are made by heating wood and bending it. The body has a wide top and bottom bout, with the bridge and sound holes below the middle. The top and back of the cello are usually decorated with a border inlay called purfling, which is usually two black strips with one white strip in the middle.

Above the main body is the carved neck. The carved neck leads to a pegbox and the scroll. The neck, pegbox, and scroll are usually carved from a single piece of wood. The fingerboard is attached to the neck and extends over the body. The strings rest on the pegbox, which has four tuning pegs, one for each of the strings. The strings are made of gut, metal, or synthetic and can be mixed to create different sounds.

The tailpiece and endpin are on the lower part of the cello. The tailpiece is made of ebony or another type of hard wood and attaches the strings to the lower end of the cello. The endpin (spikes) is made of wood, metal or carbon fiber and is retractable and adjustable.

The bridge, which transfers the vibrations to the top of the instrument, is not glued but held in place by the tension of the strings. The f-holes are located on either side of the bridge and allow air to move in and out of the instrument. It is this movement that produces the sound.

The bow is made from horsehair that is coated with rosin to make it grip the strings, causing them to vibrate.

Violins Improve with Age

We’ve all heard the adage “practice makes perfect”. While that certainly goes for musicians, it also applies to certain stringed instruments too. The more a violin is played, the better it gets. This is part of why violins tend to appreciate in value. But why? What’s going on here?

Much of it has to do from the wood that the violin is crafted from. Wood starts out as a living organism, which means it’s more flexible and springy than it is once it’s old and dried. You can immediately tell the difference between an old dried-out stick and a branch that has been torn away from a healthy tree. The old stick snaps, the young branch flexes.

So the quality and age of the wood will affect the way a violin sounds. The wood starts out with a higher moisture content. As the wood dries and condenses, it enhances the instrument’s resonance.

Of course, the instrument has to sound good to begin with. A cheaply made violin is not going to improve with age. In fact, it will probably worsen in time. But a finely crafted violin that is played and cared for will age like fine wine.

Most woodwind instruments, unfortunately, don’t improve with age. This is a big reason why violins and other stringed instruments are usually a better investment.

When you’re buying a violin for the first time, a violin that’s “new” may not be your best choice. An aged, time-tested violin in excellent condition is perhaps the most worthy choice for anyone who is serious about playing.

What is a Brass Instrument?

A brass instrument is a musical that the player must blow air into. They are often call “lip-vibrated instruments”. The family of brass instruments includes four main types: trumpet, trombone, French horn, and tuba. These instruments are alike in several ways and are usually made of metal. Since brass was the first metal used, that’s where the name “brass instrument” comes from. These instruments are all long, coiled tubes with a small mouthpiece at one end and a large open bell at the other end.

The trumpet is a brass instrument that is played in both bands. The trumpet player produces tones by vibrating the lips and blowing into a cup-shaped mouthpiece. To produce higher or lower pitches, the player adjusts the opening between his/her lips. The trumpet is the highest sounding member of the brass family.

The trombone is a brass instrument that has a cup-shaped mouthpiece, a slide mechanism and a nine foot tube. When the slide is closed, the trombone will produce the third B-flat below middle C, which is its fundamental note. The mouthpiece of the trombone is larger than that of a trumpet, and gives the instrument a more mellow sound.

Tubas are the largest brass instrument and have the lowest pitch. The sound is produced when the player vibrates the lips into a cup-shaped mouthpiece. The notes can be changed when the player changes the lip tension and/or changing the fingers on the valves.

The French Horn is a metal tube that is about twelve feet long. The tube is coiled into a circular shape which flares into a bell at the end of the instrument. The horn is played by vibrating lips in the funnel shaped mouthpiece. The pitch can be changed when the player moves the three valves and/or changing the lip tension.

About the Woodwind Family

A woodwind instrument is one that makes a sound by blowing into a tub, which causes the air in the tube to vibrate, thus making the sound you hear. The name “woodwind” came from the fact that most of these instruments were once made from wood and it required air or wind to make the sound.

The woodwind instruments include the clarinet, flute, bassoon, oboe, piccolo, recorder, and the saxophone. All woodwind instruments are in a tube shape and have holes. Originally, they were just holes but today they are used in conjunction with a mechanical system of levers and rings, which influence the pitch. When all the holes are covered up, the sound will be low and when the holes are open, the sound will be high

Woodwind instruments are divided into two groups: reed instruments and those without a reed. A reed instrument includes the clarinet, oboe, saxophone and bassoon. The air enters the instrument through an opening in the vibrating reed. Instruments without a reed include the flute, piccolo, and recorder and the air enters the instrument through the blowhole.

INSTRUMENT DESCRIPTION
• The Oboe is a double-reed instrument with a long, conical bore. The player will blow into the double reed to produce the sound. The fingering system is quite complex.

• The Clarinet sound has two different registers and blows on a single reed. The low register is mellow and quite powerful; the clarion, or high register, is distinctively clear.

• The Bassoon is a double wooden tube with a curved metal crook, or bocal, attached to a large double reed. It is the bass of the woodwinds but has a wide pitch range up to around an octave above middle C.

• The Saxophone is a tube of thin metal and has 18-21 finger holes which are covered with small keys. The instrument uses the reed to produce a rich smooth sound.

• The flute has a blowhole at one side of the top joint which is blown against to produce the tone. No reeds are involved. The Piccolo is the "little brother" of the flute and sounds one octave higher than written.

The Difference between a Violin and Fiddle

The fiddle and violin appear to be the same and to most of us they are. However, if you are a trained violinist, you never want to hear the word fiddle. The biggest difference between the two instruments is the type of music that is played by each. Learning to play both instruments is basically the same and it isn’t until the intermediate stage that the difference begins to show. Fiddlers tend to informally trained and violinist are formally trained. The violin is used to play classical and jazz and the fiddle is used to play folk, country, and bluegrass.

The violin has four strings and is tuned in fifths and each of the strings has four tones. The violin is held between the shoulder and chin and is played with a bow. The first real violin was build by Andrea Amati in the mid 1600’s. Andrea Amati was a lute-builder and had been asked by a wealthy family to build an instrument that could be used for street musicians. He used a mold to create a violin that was vaulted and carried a greater tone. Since the 1600’s, some minor changes were made to the design that resulted in the ability to play higher notes.

The fiddle is the predecessor of the violin and was usually plucked and sometimes bowed. Like the violin, the fiddle has 4 strings but can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. It is also more common for a fiddle to have steel strings rather than gut or synthetic strings. Fiddle playing is usually characterized by the variety of folk music.

The violin sings and the fiddle dances.

Teaching Music as a Career

When studying music at a university, many programs offer you a choice between teaching and performing. While the excitement and beauty of music performance is a draw to most students, it is wise to remember that performance is a slippery sort of world and difficult to climb to the top. Teaching music, on the other hand, allows you the ability to perform AND make a difference in someone else's life.

Think back to when you first became interested in the instrument of your choice. Who helped you to learn it? If you learned alone, think of what provoked your interest in music in the first place. Was it a choir class at school, or a learning activity done in third grade with various instruments? Music education in both secondary schools and universities is being recognized as incredibly important. The drive to fill those positions with qualified individuals- those with an education and a talent and passion- may just give you the career you need.

What's the salary like? Well, depending on where you work, a public school music teacher can earn up to $45,000 per year, and a parochial school music teacher only slightly less. Teaching at a college full-time could boost your earnings to around $70,000 per year. And if you work your way up to a music administrator at a university? You're looking at $100,000 or more.

It may not be the wild life of a rock star or the dignified discipline of an orchestra member. But as many teachers will tell you, it's a very noble profession- and being able to add your passion of music into it is certainly worth the while.

What is a Violin Made of?

The violin is the most modern of stringed musical instruments played with a bow. Although its exact origins are not completely known, it is thought that the violin (and the larger viola and violoncello) evolved during the mid 16th century in Northern Italy. During the 17th century, violin making spread to the other countries of Europe, and to the rest of the world in the 18th and 19th centuries. Although violins are produced in mass numbers in factories in Europe and Asia, very fine violins are handmade by individual craftsmen using the same methods used by classical Italian makers several hundred years ago.

The tools required to make a violin are generally the same as those used for most types of hand carving and woodwork: planes, chisels, gouges, knives, saws, and scrapers. There are a few specialized tools needed, as well, including a thickness caliper, small curved bottom “thumb” planes, purfling groove cutter, peg hole reamer and matching peg shaver, bending iron, various clamps, and patterns. Violin makers often take pride in making their own tools. One of the keys to success as a violin maker is developing the skills associated with making, using, and maintaining sharp-edged tools.

The back, sides, and neck of the violin are typically made of matching quarter-sawn maple (cut along the radius of the log). Many species of maple are appropriate. The criteria for selecting the wood are the straightness of the grain and the density and figure of the wood; things which contribute to the characteristics and visual beauty of the finished instrument.

The top of the violin is made of quarter-sawn spruce. The internal parts—corner and end blocks and the linings—are usually made of spruce or willow, and the purfling can be made of many different woods or fiber (thick paper or cardboard). The fingerboard is made of ebony, the bridge of maple, and the other fittings—tailpiece, pegs, and chin rest—are ebony, rosewood, or boxwood. These items are not normally made from scratch, but purchased in a finished or semi-finished form and customized by the maker.

What's the Difference Between a Violin and a Fiddle?

It’s the question that has plagued many a music lover. Many a violinist and fiddler has been asked this very question over and over again: “What’s the difference between a violin and a fiddle?”

In truth, there is no difference between a violin and a fiddle in terms of the instrument. A violin is a fiddle. A fiddle is a violin. There are no physical differences between the two, except in the rare cases where a musician might alter the instrument for easier fiddling. The real difference lies in how the instrument is played. Kind of like how at a board meeting they might call you Mr. Smith, but at family reunions you’re known as Jim Bob.

Violin music is more formal, more about beauty and evoking powerful emotions. Violin music sounds as if it should be easier to play than fiddle music, but in reality it is ever so much harder. It requires a great deal more dedication to learn how to play violin music.

Fiddle music is when the violin dresses for casual day. Fiddle music tends to have a happy, bouncy quality. It is often used in lively folk dances. Fiddle music is often improvisational, while violin music rarely is.

Bluegrass musicians sometimes do make physical alterations to their violin to make fiddling easier. This typically involves shaving down the bridge to make it less curved, so then it’s easier for them to play chords. But such is the individual choice of the musician. The difference between the fiddle and the violin is and always has been the music.

Viola vs. Violin

Violas and violins are both members of the string family, and look and sound similar to most people. But, there are several clues you can use to tell them apart.

One way to distinguish the violins and violas during an orchestra concert is by the seating arrangement. In most orchestras the first violins sit to the left of the conductor, with the concert master in the chair on the edge of the stage and closest to the conductor. Farther in on the stage sit the second violins. The violoncellos, or cellos, sit to the conductor’s right, and between the cellos and the second violins, you will find the violas. They are often directly in front of the conductor in the center of the stage.

Another way to differentiate violas and violins is by size. The body of a viola is larger than that of a violin. Violins run a standard length of 35.5 centimeters (about 14 inches), while the violas is not standardized but is always larger. Violas generally range from 38-48+ centimeters (15-19 inches or more). Conversely, viola bows are about a centimeter shorter than violin bows.

You can also distinguish violas and violins by the sound produced. Violins are the highest pitched instruments in the string family, and violas are the second highest. Violins are sometimes referred to as the soprano members of the strings, and violas are the altos. The four strings of violas are tuned a fifth below the four strings of violins, meaning that the range of violas is therefore lower than that of violins.

Lastly, you can tell the violas from the violins by their role in the orchestra. Most orchestras have a larger violin section than a viola section. And violins contribute mainly to the melody or solo parts while the violas are usually used for the harmony.

The Further Differences Between Fiddles and Violins

Anyone who’s been to a barn dance knows that the music you hear there is entirely different than the kind you hear at the symphony. Those not overly familiar with instruments might even go so far as to think that the instruments involved are completely different. How on earth could that lively, rousing, feet-tapping music in the barn be played by the same instrument as the moving, powerful, majestic strains in the concert hall?

Because of these significant differences, many myths and theories have circulated about fiddles and violins. But the fact remains that despite the mass confusion, fiddles and violins are the one and same instrument, and both types of sounds can be made to come out of that instrument, depending solely on the player and his technique.

You might hear that the difference between fiddles and violins is the flattened bridge on the fiddle. Because fiddlers tend to move their bows in a much more rapid and varied movement, the flattened bridge allows fiddlers to do this more easily.

So really, a violin is an incredibly versatile instrument. Out of its strings can sound melodies and rhythms of such variety as to cause you to wonder if it is the same instrument. Everything from the player’s attitude to his bowing determines the kind of music you’ll hear from that violin. Fiddlers tend to veer from the classical, traditional “rules” of violin playing, changing their grip and vibrato and the way they hold the bow. Violin players are restricted to the more traditional methods.

Antonio Vivaldi's World

Antonio Vivaldi came into the world a marked babe. Due to his poor health, Vivalid’s midwife immediately baptized the child, and the entire family nearly gave him up for dead. Miraculously, Vivaldi recovered from his poor health, and he lived to become one of the most infamous names associated with classical music that the world has ever seen. Vivaldi learned to play the violin at a young age, and he took to music immediately when his father first taught him how to slide his bow across fine strings.

Vivalid’s father, Giovanni Battista, was not a musician when Vivaldi was born. Rather, Giovanni was a barber with the aspirations of a musician, and upon his son’s triumphant birth, Giovanni decided to pursue his dream of becoming a musician. Of course, Giovanni did not intend to enter the world of music on his own, and he brought Antonio with him across Italy at a very young age. Antonio Vivaldi would grow up amidst a chaotic universe, all the while observing those around him and composing music to the sounds of the Venice streets. Unbeknownst to many, Vivaldi was not only a musician, he was also a priest.

At the young age of twenty-five , Antonio Vivaldi was ordained a priest and was immediately nicknamed "Il Prete Rosso" “The Red Priest” (due to his shock of red hair). Vivaldi’s priesthood stint would only last three years, and in 1706 he decided to withdraw from the priesthood altogether. Still, there are obvious traces of his priesthood training in his music, and certain religious themes are present within most of his texts that can be directly attributed to his years spent as a priest. Perhaps, Vivialdi is best known today for his love of opera that came during the 18th century.

During the 18th century, opera was extremely popular, and Vivaldi was amongst the greatest operatic composers to emerge from Europe during this period. Although Vivaldi’s opera compositions were highly regarded, he is best known today for his “Four Seasons” piece. Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni) consists of four violin concertos, which were composed in 1723. If you are to listen to these concertos, you can easily see that Vivaldi had a way of painting pictures with his music like none other. Vivaldi’s work continues to influence modern composers due to the ways in which he is able to capture listener’s attention, and hold that attention throughout a piece. The world of classical music would not have been the same were Vivaldi’s midwife’s prediction to have come true – thankfully, Vivaldi was a perfectly healthy child that grew into a musical legend.