25 Best Gifts for Violin Players (+3 to Avoid): A Violin Teacher's Gift Guide for REAL Violinists

Looking for good gifts for violin players, gifts for fiddlers, or violin teachers? Enough with the worthless knick knacks! Let’s talk about real gifts for violin players—gifts that violinists will actually love.

After years of giving violin gifts to friends and receiving gifts from students, I know exactly what gifts musicians love! If you aren’t a string player, your string-player friend will think you are if you purchase them something off this list. Whether you are looking for a gift for an orchestra partner, a fiddler, a music teacher, or a child, or maybe something for yourself, here is my ultimate guide to the top 25 gifts for violin players and teachers.

You can also visit the Meadowlark Violin Shop for all of my recommendations for violins, books, and accessories.

*Wait for the end to see my list of what gifts to NOT buy.

Best Gifts for Violin Players

1. Swanky Rosin

Don’t buy your violinists just any rosin. Get them swanky rosin. Expensive rosin. Posh rosin. Trust me. They will love you. Rosin is like candy for violinists. If you are looking for a nice gift that is also wallet-friendly, I recommend Sartory Rosin which comes in a beautiful wooden box.

My personal favorite rosin is Holstein Reserve Rosin. It produces a wonderful, clear, crisp tone and is relatively affordable.

The Jade L’Opera in a violin shaped box is always a big hit. Hurry though! It sells out early every Christmas.

If anyone of my special loved ones are looking for something to buy me for Christmas or birthday, I will gladly take this Cecilia Rosin or I will even settle for this Leatherwood Bespoke rosin….thank you!

2. Fun Rosin

No one is too young for Magic Rosin. Magic rosin comes in a variety of different styles like sparkles, glow in the dark, dragons, unicorns, and much more. If your child is always losing their rosin, giving the gift of Magic Rosin might just fix that!

Rosin makes for a great stocking stuffer too!

3. Practicing Mugs

These are essential tools for practicing, which is why I call them “practicing” mugs. Fuel your practice time with tea and coffee in a fun violin design.

4. Practicing Tumblers

For chilly mornings, a practicing tumbler will keep your beverage nice and warm. I call these "1 Hour Practice Tumblers” because they’ll last you an hour of practicing.

It’s great for when you’re on-the-go!

A practice tumbler and a violin is how I start every morning!

5. Violin Strings

Violinists should change their strings at least once a year, more if they play frequently. A good set of violin strings can be pricey, so any violinist will appreciate a gift of strings. Obligatos and Evah Pirazzis are some of the standards for top-quality violin strings.

If you are looking for gifts for violin teachers and you know what type of strings your teacher plays, I’m sure they would love a set of strings! Strings are a meaningful gift for violin teachers that they will use and appreciate!

(Best and Worst Strings for Beginners: A Violin Teacher’s Honest Review)

6. Violin Stands and Wall Mounts

You are much more likely to practice if your violin is out and easily accessible. Encourage your string player to practice more with a violin stand. This violin stand is wooden and velvet-lined, making it a perfect addition to any music room.

Keeping your violin out and visible makes it so much easier to pick up your violin and play. This wall mount keeps your violin away from pets or children. Your violin can also double as decoration when it’s hanging on your wall. This is one of the handiest violin accessories I have. I can’t believe it took me years to install them. If you want to subtly encourage your child to practice—this is the gift!

7. A Classy Metronome

All violinists practice with a metronome (or they should!) Make practicing with a metronome fun and classy with an old fashioned metronome. It’s also a great, sophisticated touch to your violin studio or music room!

8. Geared Pegs

Geared pegs are one the best upgrades you can do for your violin. These geared pegs look like traditional wooden pegs, but they work like the tuning pegs on guitars, making tuning a breeze. No more stuck or slipping pegs. No more loose strings from changes in weather. Once installed, tuning only takes a few seconds. You will rarely, if ever, need to use your fine tuners, even for your E string. A great gift for beginners or advanced players. I use geared pegs on all of my violins. I will never go back to traditional pegs! If you are handy, you can install these yourself. You’ll need this tool and some advice. Or, take your violin to a luthier and have them install the pegs.

Better yet, purchase a violin from Fiddlershop and ask to have Geared Pegs installed before your violin is shipped! Perfect solution.

9. String Cleaner

No more scrubbing away at that rosin with a handkerchief. Any violinist will be in awe of this nifty little tool to help you clean your strings.

10. Violin Apparel

Everyone loves a little something that is classy and fun that says, “I play violin!” Including me!

I personally love theses shirts because…I designed them.

For years I looked for a t-shirt with a simple violin design and I could never find exactly what I wanted. So I started making my own! I always get a ton of compliments.

You can also get these with any background color, in long sleeves, short sleeves, sweaters…

11. Stand Light

What a gift to actually be able to see your music! When I practice, I like to create the right atmosphere for creativity. That means a hot cup of tea, no overhead lights, and some soft lamps. While that makes it really cozy, it’s not ideal for reading your music.

That’s where a stand light comes in handy. I use mine every night. It’s also great for orchestras or gigs.

12. Music Book Holder

Most string players have to get creative with holding books open. Paper clips, clothespins….This music book holder will keep those pesky pages flat with style! It’s a great stocking stuffer for a violinist or a thoughtful gift.

They also come in a plainer version for you purists.

13. Music Stand Pencil Holder

You might think this is simple, but your violin friend will LOVE this gift. When you need to mark something down, you can never find a pencil. It’s either buried under piles of music, in your case, or in another room. This pencil holder is magnetic so it sticks to any metal stand. A great way to encourage violin students to write down what they’re learning. This is another great stocking stuffer for violinists. I wish all of my students had one of these!

14. Mozart Candies Violin Gift Box

Visit Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg, Austria and you’ll find these delicious candies in every shop window. They are made of almond and pistachio marzipan and hazelnut praline. They come in many boxes and varieties but this violin-shaped gift box is sure to be a hit for any of your violin friends. This would be a great gift for violin teachers—trust me, I know. And a perfect gift for any string player!

15. The Best Cleaning Cloth Ever

Normally microfiber violin cleaning cloths are itty bitty. It seems like in a few weeks of cleaning they’re saturated with rosin and just smudge it around your precious violin.

This cleaning cloth is massive and super soft! It’s by far the best I’ve ever owned. My violin is much cleaner and happier now!

16. Fiddle Books

For the fiddle players out there, or those violinists looking for something new and exciting to play, fiddle books are a great gift idea for violinists. From French fiddlers, to Appalachia, to Celtic jigs, check out my top picks for beginner and intermediate fiddle books.

17. Violin Case Tag

Violin cases can all start looking the same during orchestra rehearsals or jam sessions. Help your violinist always know where their case is with the gift of a personalized violin case tag.

You can customize these case tags with your name. And they also function as luggage tags for when you're traveling.

Another great stocking stuffer for violinists!

18. Musical Tote

Always lugging around music books? Is your case breaking under the strain? Give your violinist a helping hand with those endless scales and etude books, like this adorable violin tote.

19. New Violin Case

Instead of a case tag, how about a brand new violin case? Cases get worn-out quickly, making this a great gift for a violin player. For an ultra-lightweight, protective, modern, heavy-duty case, try BAM violin cases. BAM violin cases are some of the best in the industry. You can also opt for a budget model like the Fiddlerman’s Oblong Violin Case.

20. A Tuner/Metronome You Can Actually Hear

Using a drone (a pitch that keeps sounding) function on a metronome/tuner can be extremely helpful when learning to play in tune. However, most metronome/tuners and tuners on phone apps can be impossible to hear while you are playing violin. A good metronome/tuner combo like this Dr. Beat will last you forever.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly portable tuner metronome, my pick would be a Korg.

21. Music Stand

If your violinist is using a cheap wire stand (or no stand at all), then this lovely wooden stand would make a perfect gift. Brahms, Beethoven, and Bach deserve to be played on something beautifully crafted! (But please don’t place your violin on the music stand like this…)

For something not quite as decorative, a good quality stand like this will literally last a lifetime. Mine is still going strong after several decades of practice!

Bonus: Save your eyes and stop squinting! Gift your violinist a Mighty Bright Stand Light as well. Well-illuminated music is a gift that doesn’t get old.

22. A New Violin

If you are wondering what the best gift for a violin player is, well, it’s the best violin! If your violin player is playing on a cheap, budget violin, giving them a better quality violin will help their playing considerably. Whether your violinist is just starting or ready for an upgrade, check out my top picks for beginner and intermediate level violins.

23. A New Violin Bow

A better bow can make all the difference with playing. It will make difficult bow strokes easier to manage, it will be easier to produce a better tone or create different dynamics and tonal shading. It’s one of those things where you don’t know what you’re missing until you try a better bow. An upgraded bow would make a great gift for a violin student (or for yourself!)

I’ve reviewed several beginner and intermediate bows and you can find my recommendations below.

24. Admission to a Fiddle/Violin Camp

Some of my best musical memories are from musical festivals and camps I’ve attended. I made great friends, wonderful progress, and got motivation to last me the rest of the year. I’ve made a list of camps around the U.S. and the entire world that are great for adults or families. Styles range from fiddle to gypsy jazz and everything in between.

Sign yourself or that special someone up for a violin/fiddle camp and give them memories for a lifetime!

25. Violin Lessons

Give the gift of violin instruction with my online studio membership. No gift compares to knowing how to play your violin well!

I offer monthly, quarterly, or yearly subscriptions and you can also purchase gift certificates!

What Violin Gifts to Avoid

Now that you know what some of the best gifts for violin players are, let’s talk about some gifts to NOT buy.

Cheap, “Starter” Violins

Don’t buy a violin just to see if your special someone will like it. Trust me, no one likes VSOs. Spend a few more dollars and get a real violin instead.

Shoulder Rests

Shoulder rests come in many varieties and styles. This is a very personalized choice that is generally best left up to a violinist themselves. If you are a violinist looking for a better shoulder rest, check out my recommendations here.

Wire Stands

Portable wire stands can be very frustrating. Frustrating is too kind. Wire stands will make you have to wash your mouth out with soap. Skip the wire stand and buy a nice, stable stand.

Happy Practicing!

~Lora

Best Violin Bows 2024: A Violin Teacher’s Guide to Choosing the Right Bow

Choosing the right violin bow is just as important, if not more important than the violin itself, especially for beginners. A good violin bow will make it easier for you to play multiple bow strokes, have smoother string changes, and produce a better tone. You might not realize how a cheaper violin bow is holding you back until you try out a better bow.

Picking out a violin is all about sound, but choosing the right violin bow is all about feel and ease of playing. You really can’t tell how a violin bow will play until you hold it, tighten up that hair, and play! Which is why I am only recommending beginner and intermediate violin bows that I have personally played and tested using my own Better Bow Analysis scoring system.

I’m not going to recommend a bow to you that I haven’t personally played!

In this ultimate guide to choosing the right violin bow, I’ll be discussing the following topics. Skip ahead if you like!

• My top 3 Violin Bow Picks for Beginner, Advancing Beginner, and Intermediate Players

• What is the difference between cheap and expensive violin bows?

• Can beginners play on advanced bows?

• How much should I spend on a violin bow?

• Carbon Fiber Vs. Wood. What’s the best material for a violin bow?

• Best Violin Bows for Beginners (My Recommendations and Reviews)

• Best Violin Bows for Intermediate Players

• Common Questions about Upgrading Your Violin Bow
  

My Top 3 Picks

Best Bow for Beginners

Holstein 2-star Sandalwood

• Easy to control

• Good tone

Best Bow for Advancing Beginners

Fiddlerman Performance Series Carbon Fiber

• Richer Tone

• Advanced bow strokes

Best Bow for Intermediate Players

Holstein 3-star Pernambuco

• Very responsive

• More finesse

Keep reading for more detailed reviews of all of these bows!

What is the difference between cheap and expensive violin bows?

As you go up in price, better violin bows will be made of better materials and will have better quality craftsmanship. While qualities vary, better bows will have quicker response as you pull the bow across the string. The weight will often feel more balanced in the hand, as opposed to being tip-heavy.  Better bows will also be much more responsive to your muscle inputs, which means you don’t have to make large muscle inputs to get a response. Kind of like a well-trained horse!

Can beginner violinists play on advanced bows?

When searching for the best violin bows for beginners, you might often see violins and bows divided into categories of beginner, intermediate, and advanced. As you go up in category, you’ll also go up in price!

But can a beginner violinist use an advanced bow?

When it comes to violins, a beginner can play an advanced (more expensive) violin. It will only make your life easier. However, with violin bows, it can go either way. Sometimes the more expensive bow will be harder to control, because it’s more responsive. If your muscles aren’t trained to make those fine adjustments, the violin bow might seem like a sports car with a mind of its own!

But this isn’t always the case. And this is where it comes down to feel. You just have to try out bows to see which ones are best for you. Don’t be afraid of bows that are very responsive. You will never learn those fine motor inputs if your bow is slow and unresponsive.

As I review beginner violin bows and intermediate violin bows, I’ll tell you which ones are good for beginners, and which ones might require a more advanced skill level.

How much should I spend on a violin bow?

Bows range in price from whatever bow-shaped-object you might find on the internet to $700,000 for a Tourté bow, the Stradivarius of bows!

I would avoid buying any bow cheaper than $50. A good beginner violin bow will cost anywhere from $70-$200. An intermediate bow will take you from $200-$500. I would consider $500-$1000 advanced and $1000+ will take you into a very advanced or professional quality violin bow.

Carbon Fiber Vs. Wood

What material is best for a violin bow? Carbon fiber or wood?

Bows are made out of different materials and the two big options are wood or carbon fiber.

Bows have been made out of wood for centuries and there are different hierarchies of wood with pernambuco being the most desirable. Other woods include brazilwood or sandalwood.

Now you might be wondering is carbon fiber better than wood. If you’re looking at bows under a hundred dollars, yes, I generally think carbon fiber is better. As you get into higher price ranges I don’t think you can say one is better than the other. It’s more of a case by case comparison and will vary depending on your needs.

Carbon fiber is more durable but that shouldn’t necessarily play a factor in your decision unless you’re buying for a child who’s going to be using the bow for sword fights at school. When it comes to sword fights, yes carbon fiber will beat out wood every time. So if you want your child to win that sword fight, go for carbon fiber.

Now if you’re not using your bow for sword-fighting then this isn’t a huge factor. The only reason you might want to side with carbon fiber for the durability factor is if you’re playing outside a lot or using it for camping and you want a good, sturdy back up bow.

Very cheap bows will be made of fiberglass and will feel very clunky and have a slow response on the strings. I would avoid fiberglass and instead go for a carbon fiber if you’re looking for a budget-friendly beginner violin bow.

Now that we’ve discussed the basics, let’s talk about the best violin bows for beginners!

Best Beginner Violin Bows

The Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Bow

This bow comes standard for some of Fiddlershop’s violin outfits and it’s an upgrade option for some of their more budget-friendly violin outfits. I would definitely recommend upgrading to this bow as it is much better than standard violin bows that come with most beginner violin outfits.

This violin bow is great for beginners. It’s stable and will allow you to learn all of the basics well. As you get into the complexities of sustaining weight to produce a good tone, or if you are learning more advanced bow strokes, you may begin to outgrow this bow. While that’s expected for a bow under $100, this bow will still give you ample room to grow as a brand new beginner.

The Fiddlerman Carbon fiber bow also comes in “Noir.” It’s the same bow but with premium black Siberian horse hair for better grip and articulation.

You can also purchase this bow with the frog in snakewood (image below).

Pros

-Great for learning the basics

-Stable

-More responsive than standard beginner violin bows

Cons

-Slightly heavier at the tip

Holstein 2-Star Sandalwood Violin Bow

This bow is a fantastic beginner or early intermediate violin bow. It has a very balanced feel with a lot of power and control.There’s really no cons to this bow for its price range. It does all of the basic bow strokes and some of the more advanced ones well. It’s stable so it feels easy to control. If I were recommending a bow for someone just starting off, this would be my number one pick. It’s going to help you master all of the basics and allow you to get into intermediate and some advanced concepts without any issues.

Pros

-Best violin bow for brand new beginners

-Good for advanced beginners and early intermediate as well

-Great control and feel

Best Violin Bows for Intermediate Players

Holstein 1-Star Pernambuco Violin bow

If you want a little bit more finesse, the Holstein Pernambuco 1-star is a great option. This bow is really light, agile, and lively. It definitely has its own personality, making it a lot of fun to play! It can take more weight than the Holstein Sandalwood bow and it’s a little bit cleaner on bow strokes like staccato. When you really start to think about producing a good, solid tone, this bow will help you do it. Because it is so lively and responsive, it could be harder to control if you don’t already have some right hand skills. But it will be great for someone looking to upgrade to get more nuance and finesse.

Pros

-Very Light

-Lively

-Responsive

-Great for advancing beginners or intermediate players

Cons

-Extreme responsiveness might make it harder to control for brand new beginners.

Fiddlerman Performance Series Carbon Fiber Bow

This bow feels a little bit heavier than the 1 star and because of that it tends to feel more stable. It does beginner and advanced techniques really well and I feel like it keeps good contact with the string. This is a good option if you want a more stable bow as it will help you produce a good, clean, focused tone. If you actually wanted to start off with this bow, you definitely could. It’s beginner-friendly but it also has that intermediate and more advanced capability.

Pros

-Very stable

-Brand new beginner-friendly but also great for advancing players as well

Cons

-Not quite as responsive as the Holstein Pernambuco 1 Star

Holstein 2-star Pernambuco Violin Bow

This intermediate violin bow is definitely is a step up. It feels like the best of both worlds between the Holstein 1 Star Pernambuco and the Performance Carbon Fiber. It has the stability of the Performance Carbon Fiber even though it’s still light and responsive and has a more clear focused sound. It will take quite a bit of weight as well. It does string crossings a little bit better than the carbon fiber and overall it has more finesse. Out of all the bows I’ve talked about so far, this one did spiccato the best so if you’re getting into more advanced bow strokes this is a good bow for it. This bow would be great for you if you’re getting into more intermediate or advanced techniques or if you’re a beginner who wants to start off with a really good bow, this is a great pick.

Pros

-Combines stability of Performance Carbon Fiber with finesse of Pernambuco 1 star

-Suitable for beginners

-Great violin bow for intermediate or advancing players

-Does advanced bow stokes well

Holstein 3-Star Pernambuco Violin Bow

All of these bows were great for their prices but this Holstein 3 Star Pernambuco did outperform all of the other beginner and intermediate violin bows. It was very enjoyable to play and was actually comparable in many ways to my much more expensive German bow. I would be very happy using this bow on a daily basis. It’s actually a little easier to play than all of the other bows and that’s usually what you get when you spend more money. It’s very smooth, responsive, and it has good, crisp articulation when you want it. Any time you need fast bow speed with a rich, full sound, this bow delivers. It gives you good contact with the string and it will also take a lot of weight.

If you want a bow that you’re not going to need to upgrade for a really long time, if ever, this is a great bow. You could definitely play advanced techniques and advanced music with this bow and be very happy.

Pros

-Stable, but agile

-Very responsive but still easy to control

-Produces a wide variety of colors and dynamics very easily

-Creates a beautiful, rich tone

-Makes it easier to do advanced bow strokes

Common Questions About Upgrading Your Violin Bow

Here are some other common questions you might hav when shopping for the right violin bow.

Is a lighter or heavier bow better for violin?

This depends on your preference. A lighter violin bow will usually be very responsive and lively, although it might not produce as full of a tone. Heavier bows might feel more stable and make it easier to produce a full tone, but they may lose some responsiveness.

Regardless of whether a bow is heavy or light, it should feel balanced. Extremely heavy bows might also induce more tension or fatigue when playing for long periods of time.

Is a Round or Octagonal Violin Bow Better?

You may notice that the stick of the bow will sometimes be completely round, and other times it will be octagonally shaped. Which one is better?

You will hear violinists say that a round bow is more responsive. Then you might hear an equally accomplished violinist saying an octagonal bow is more responsive. Which one is it?

Personally, I think the differences you may be feeling between bows will be more of a factor of material and craftsmanship over round or octagonal sticks.

If you could find two bows, one round and one octagonal, made of the exact same material, crafted by the exact same maker, using the exact same bow hair and the same rosin, sure, you might be able to tell some differences between the round stick and the octagonal stick. But when you’re comparing bows across different brands and different materials and different price ranges, don’t get stuck on whether or not the stick is round or octagonal.

Just choose the bow that you like the best!

How many bows should a violinist have? Why do violinists have more than one bow?

Violinists have multiple bows because you always need to have a back up. You will need to get your bow rehaired every year. If you play frequently, you may need to get the bow rehaired two or three times a year. The rehair process might take a couple days or a week depending on your luthier. If you have to ship off your bow to get it rehaired, it could take even longer.

I don’t really want to resort to playing pizzicato for several weeks out of the year, which is why I have multiple bows!

Conclusion

Choosing the best student violin bow, or the best bow for intermediate and advancing players can be challenging. All of these bow options are good choices depending on your skill and preferences.

I hope this helps you make a decision when it comes to upgrading your violin bow!

Happy Practicing!

~Lora

Top 10 Best Apps for Violinists

As a violin teacher, there are several amazing apps for violinists that I always recommend to all of my students. From handy tuner/metronome apps to sheet music catalogues or backing tracks, these apps and websites make it so much easier to learn the violin.

I divide these great apps for the violin into a few different categories. Tuners and metronome apps, sheet music and accompaniment apps, practicing apps, and apps for learning to play violin.

While all of these violin apps are helpful, my personal favorites can be found in Sheet Music and Accompaniment Apps. You’ll find some apps and websites here to take your practicing to a whole new level (and make you have more fun while practicing too!)

Let’s get started with my favorite, must-have apps for violinists!

Tuning and Metronome Apps for Violin

While you definitely may want to purchase a dedicated metronome or tuner, having a tuning or metronome app on your phone is a great idea. There are so many tuning apps these days. Here are my favorites for the violin.

1. insTuner

insTuner has been my go-to tuning app ever since I first got a smart phone. It’s free, doesn’t have annoying ads, and is wonderfully simplistic. Many tuning apps for the violin are distracting with so many bells and whistles. As if tuning weren’t complicated enough!

That’s one reason why I love insTuner. It’s a simple tuner and a tone generator. Nothing fancy. Just what you need and nothing more.

Watch my tutorial on how to tune a violin using the insTuner.

Get insTuner here.

2. Helix Tuner

Here’s another free tuning app for the violin, but Helix Tuner is not your standard tuner, and you probably shouldn’t treat it that way. Helix Tuner displays sounds like a circular oscillograph. The more stable the image, the more in tune you are. When the image rotates clockwise, you are sharp. Counterclockwise equals flat.

Helix Tuner can be wonderfully mesmerizing. I don’t recommend using it all the time, or even as your primary tuner. I recommend Helix Tuner to help students hear sounds as frequencies. As violinists, the more you think of the sounds you are producing as wavelengths or frequencies, the better your sound production will be.

Get Helix Tuner here

3. Tunic Unisono

Like Helix Tuner, Tunic Unisono also produces sounds as images. It’s another fun app for seeing the tones you are producing as frequencies. It’s got a slightly higher price tag than the free Helix Tuner, but it’s definitely worth signing up for the free trial to play around and see if you like it.

Get Tunic Unisono here

I’ll show you how to use Helix Tuner and Tunic Unisono and how to hear sounds as wavelengths here.

4. Smart Metronome &Tuner

Now on to metronome apps for violinists. My favorite is Smart Metronome and Tuner. Again, it’s simple. Not too much on the screen to distract you. I like that it has a digital arm that swings instead of just a flashing light. There’s also a tuner and some other features like a timer and a practice log. I mainly use this app just for the metronome. It clicks and is easy to adjust…that’s all I need!

Get Smart Metronome and Tuner App here

5. Soundcorset

For an app that does it all, try Soundcorset. It’s a tuner, metronome, sheet music catalogue, and practice tracker. You can also record yourself through the app which is great for keeping track of your progress and seeing how far you’ve come1

Get Soundcorset here

Sheet Music And Accompaniment Apps For Violinists

Next up, my favorite violin apps for sheet music and accompaniment.

6. MuseScore

MuseScore has got to be one of the best repositories for sheet music of all kinds, whether it’s classical, fiddle, modern, or whatever. It’s like Youtube for sheet music because the majority of its catalogue has been uploaded by users. That means some music is hit or miss when it comes to quality, but it’s still a great place to get  sheet music.

There are two sides to MuseScore, one is the music catalogue uploaded by users and the other is the free notation software. I use MuseScore to create all of my sheet music. I also always recommend my students download the MuseScore notation software. If you’re a member of my studio, I upload the MuseScore files in addition to the printable sheet music so that you can download the MuseScore file and use MuseScore to play the tracks or change anything you want, like slurs, notes, key signature, etc.

It’s also worth nothing that you don’t have to pay for MuseScore to download the software or to browse the catalogue. Paying for MuseScore simply allows you to download the MuseScore files from other users or download and print the sheet music (plus other features as well).

The MuseScore notation software is only available for computers (not tablets or phones). The user-uploaded sheet music catalogue is available through the app or on your computer.

Download the MuseScore app from your App Store or visit the music catalogue online here.

Download the MuseScore free notation software here.

7. Strum Machine

If you love fiddling, Strum Machine is a must have app for fiddlers! Strum Machine has backing tracks for a long list of fiddle songs. Plus you can create your own chords if the song isn’t in the Strum Machine catalogue. You can speed up and slow down the accompaniment and adjust the playback and instruments. Best of all, it sounds like real instruments! Not some nasally computerized audio.

I use Strum Machine myself pretty much everyday. If you have to play fiddle by yourself, you want Strum Machine to back you up!

Strum Machine also exists as a website, so you can use the app or your computer.

Normally you can sign up for Strum Machine and get a 14 day free trial, but if you use this link you can get a 30 day free trial courtesy of Strum Machine.

8. TomPlay

TomPlay is like Strum Machine, but for classical pieces. There’s a massive collection of piano accompaniment for many of our standard violin pieces (including the Suzuki Books). You can speed up and slow down the play along tracks, loop measures, and choose to include or exclude the solo violin.

TomPlay can be used through the app on your phone or tablet, or on your computer through the website.

Search the App Store for TomPlay or access the website here.

Practicing Apps for Violinists

9. Drone Tone

I always recommend practicing with drones. Playing violin is all about developing your ear and if you’re trying work on intonation using a tuning app with its little flashing green light, you’re headed down the wrong path! Use a drone to help you play in tune. It’s more musically appealing than watching a light on your tuner, and it will help you develop your ear.

For instance, if you’re playing a D scale, have a D drone playing and compare and adjust all of your fingers to the D drone! Many tuners have tone generators, but I love drone generators that produce chords. It’s much more fun and enjoyable to listen to.

Drone Tone exists as an app and also as a website.

Get the Drone Tone App or access it on your computer here.

10. EarMaster

Since violinists don’t have frets, learning to play in tune is all about training your ear to tell your fingers where to go! I’m a big fan of EarMaster and recommend it to all of my studio members. EarMaster is an ear training software with great exercises to help build up your ear training skills. It’s great for beginners or advanced musicians.

EarMaster can be accessed by an app and as a website.

Get EarMaster here.

*Bonus* Best App for Learning to Play the Violin

11. The Meadowlark Violin Online Studio App

If you want to learn to play the violin using an app, I have to recommend….my app! My online studio includes over 800 lessons on how to play the violin (or fiddle) and you can get all that at the tip of your fingers with the app. You’ll also get access to my exclusive community where you can ask me questions anytime. There’s live events, monthly missions to keep you focused, recitals, studio hours, and so much I can’t even name it all.

If you’re interested learn more here!

(And by the way, it’s not just an app. It works great on a computer as well!)

I hope you enjoyed my best apps for violinists. What are your favorite violin apps? Comment and let me know!

The Ultimate Guide to Adult Fiddle and Violin Camps

Attending an adult fiddle camp is one of the best ways to motivate your playing. Adult camps for fiddle or violin usually offer workshops, classes, jam sessions, performances, dances, and ensemble playing over a few days or weekends.

You don’t have to be an expert player to attend these adult camps. Unless otherwise noted, all of these adult music camps are great for people of all ages and skill levels, from beginner to advanced players!

However, while some camps do offer courses for brand new beginners, you probably do want to show up with some basic skills. And by basic skills I mean being able to bow and produce a decent sound and being familiar with left hand notes and basic finger patterns. The more fundamentals you know beforehand, the more you will get out of the camp. But don’t worry, if you’re not ready, I can help!

Whether you love fiddle, Celtic, gypsy jazz, classical, Scandinavian, Cajun, or any other style of playing, there’s a camp for you!

In this directory, you’ll find a list of adult fiddle camps and adult classical violin camps, their locations, the style of playing they focus on, and the general time period in which they occur.

Locations vary wildly, but most adult music camps occur in idyllic locations, like the redwood forests of California, beautiful Nova Scotia, or even fiddling sailing trips around the coast of Scotland.

Start packing your bags, get your violin ready, and enjoy browsing my ultimate guide to adult fiddle and violin camps!

Or skip ahead!

Adult Fiddle and Violin Camps in Canada

Adult Fiddle Camps in the United Kingdom

Adult Fiddle and Violin Camps in Europe

Virtual Adult Fiddle Camps

Adult Fiddle Camps by Famous Fiddlers

Adult Fiddle and Violin Camps By State

Alabama

Alabama Folk School

About: Various workshops and retreats focusing on old-time music and crafts.

Date Range: Varies

Style: Old Time

Location: Nauvoo, Alabama

https://campmcdowell.org/dates-rates

California

California Bluegrass Association Summer Music Camps

About: Jams, classes, concerts, and dances.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Bluegrass

Location: Grass Valley, California

https://californiabluegrass.org/summer_music_camp/smc-home/

Julian Family Fiddle Camp

About: Acoustic music camp for people of all ages and musical abilities. Located at a rural retreat near a historic mining town.

Date Range: May

Style: Appalachian and Bluegrass

Location: Julian, California

https://californiabluegrass.org/cbaevent/julian-family-fiddle-camp/

Lark Camp

About: Learn traditional styles from all over the world.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Traditional

Location: Mendocino Woodlands, California

https://www.larkcamp.org

SoCal Chamber Music Workshops

About: One week workshop for adult amateur chamber musicians. Great for intermediate or advanced players.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Classical chamber music

Location: Claremont, California

https://www.socalchambermusic.com

Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School

About: Alasdair Fraser’s Scottish fiddle camp in the redwood forests of Northern California.

Date Range: August

Style: Scottish fiddling

Location: Boulder Creek, California

http://www.valleyofthemoon.org

Colorado

Colorado Roots Music Camp

About: Multiple camps with small class sizes featuring a wide variety of styles.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Varies but include bluegrass, folk, blues, swing, Irish, and more.

Location: Divide, Colorado

https://www.rmmc.org/roots/

Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp

About: Daily fiddle classes, contra and square dances, jam sessions, concerts, and opportunities to hike and swim.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Varies but includes Old Time fiddle, Cape Breton, Klezmer and many other styles

Location: Golden Bell Camp, Colorado

https://www.rmfiddle.com

Florida

Florida Fiddlers Convention

About: Workshops, jams, concerts, string band contest, and a homemade pie contest!

Date Range: October

Style: Fiddle

Location: Keystone Heights, Florida

https://flafiddlers.wordpress.com

Kansas

Sunflower Ragtime Orchestra

About: Rehearse and perform popular orchestral music of the early 1900s with other adult amateur musicians.

Date Range: Summer (2 Sessions)

Style: Ragtime, Orchestra

Location: Olathe, Kansas

https://www.musicsmiths.net/sro

Medieval Music Sumer Camp

About: Explore the music of the 12th and 13th centuries on period instruments.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Medieval

Location: Metropolitan Conservatory, Overland Park, Kansas

https://www.metropolitanconservatorykc.com/medievalmusiccamp

Heartland Chamber Adult Workshop

About: A four-day workshop where you are coached on chamber music by members of the Kansas City Symphony.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Classical chamber music

Location: Prairie Village, Kansas

https://www.heartlandchambermusic.org/adultworkshop

Kentucky

Cowan Creek Mountain Music Festival

About: Classes, jam sessions, and dancing for adults and kids in the beautiful Appalachian mountains of eastern Kentucky.

Date Range: Last week in June

Style: Kentucky mountain music

Location: Whitesburg, Kentucky

http://cowancreekmusic.org

Louisiana

Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week

About: Immersive, multi-day lessons, workshops, and dances including instruction on Louisiana music, crafts, and cooking.

Date Range: March

Style: Cajun and Creole

Location: Eunice, Louisiana

https://lafolkroots.org

Maine

Maine Fiddle Camp

About: Workshops, dances, jam sessions for all ages and levels. Several sessions offered.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Traditional

Location: Camp NEOFA, Montville, Maine

https://www.mainefiddlecamp.org

Massachusetts

Country Dance and Song Society

About: Connecting people through the traditions of English Country Dance, contra, and square dance and the music that is an integral part of those traditions.

Date Range: Varies, but mostly Summer

Style: Varies

Location: Virtual and Various Locations in Massachusetts, Maine, and Michigan

https://cdss.org

Minnesota

Bluff Country Gathering

About: Fiddle workshops (and other instruments), concerts, and dances.

Date Range: May

Style: Traditional American Music

Location: Spring Grove, MN

http://www.boveeheil.com/bluff-country-gathering.htm

Adult Chamber Music Retreat

About: A six-day retreat for classical music enthusiasts. For intermediate players or community orchestra members.

Date Range: June

Style: Classical chamber music

Location: Grand Rapids, Minnesota

https://www.thirdcoastchambercollective.com/projects/chamber-camp

Montana

Montana Fiddle Camp

About: Multiple camps on the old-time music tradition in the Little Belt mountains of Montana.

Date Range: May/June

Style: Varies by camp, but includes fiddle and Western swing and more

Location: Monarch, Montana

https://www.montanafiddlecamp.org

New Hampshire

Fiddleheads Jam Camp

About: Jam Camp offers guided jams with focus on jamming essentials and techniques - hearing chords, backup, playing in different styles, soloing and having fun!

Date Range: September

Style: From blues to bluegrass, jigs to jazz, cajun to country and more!

Location: Coontoocook, New Hampshire

https://www.fiddleheadscamp.com

New York

The Ashokan Center Music and Dance Camps

About: Jay Unger and Molly Mason’s famous fiddle camp. Various styles of camps held in the serene setting of the Catskill Mountains.

Date Range: Varies

Style: Camps vary but include such styles as bluegrass, Western Swing, Scottish, and Zydeco just to name a few.

Location:

https://ashokancenter.org/camps/

Catskills Irish Arts Week

About: Classes, workshops, dances, and concerts featuring a variety of Irish instruments.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Irish Fiddling

Location: East Durham, New York

https://www.catskillsirishartsweek.com

Scor! String Experiences for Adults

About: Various camps with a focus on ensemble-playing.

Date Range: Varies

Style: Varies: classical and fiddle.

Location: Canandaigua, New York (Finger Lakes Region), and various other places around the U.S.

https://www.scorstrings.com/pages/in-person-events

North Carolina

Blue Ridge Music Week

About: Daily classes for fiddle (and other old time instruments), jam sessions, and concerts.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Old Time Fiddle

Location: Mars Hill, NC

https://www.brotmw.org

John C. Campbell Folk School

About: Year-round weeklong and weekend classes for adults in craft, art, music, dance, and more. Small-sized campus on a scenic 270-acre campus.

Date Range: Varies

Style: Varies

Location: Brasstown, North Carolina

https://www.folkschool.org

Jink and Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling

About: Multiple sessions on Scottish fiddling in the mountains of North Carolina.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Scottish fiddling

Location: Banner Elk, North Carolina

http://www.fiddletree-music.com

The Swannanoa Gathering

About: Various week-long programs in various forms of folk music and dance.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Varies by camp

Location: Swannanoa Valley, near Asheville, North Carolina

https://swangathering.com

North Dakota

International Music Camp/ Adult Community Camps

About: A four-day camp for string orchestra.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Classical Orchestra

Location: International Peace Garden, North Dakota/Manitoba

https://internationalmusiccamp.com/programs-and-sessions/music/adult-community-camps/

Ohio

Ohio Scottish Arts School

About: Classes in Scottish Arts of fiddle, harp, highland dance, pipes, and drums

Date Range: Summer

Style: Scottish Fiddle

Location: Berea, Ohio

https://ohioscottishartsschool.com

Oklahoma

Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival

About: Individual and group sessions for all ages and levels.

Date Range: Labor Day Weekend

Style: Fiddle

Location: Grove, Oklahoma

https://www.grandlakefestivals.com/fiddle_camp.htm

Pennsylvania

Folk College

About: A weekend of folk music workshops and concerts.

Date Range: May

Style: Folk

Location: Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

https://folkcollege.com

Tennessee

Nashville Acoustic Camps

About: Small size fiddle camps by Megan Lynch Chowning.

Date Range: Varies

Style: Old Time Fiddle

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

https://www.nashvilleacousticcamps.com

Texas

Acoustic Music Camp

About: Learn banjo, mandolin, guitar, & bass with the The Tennessee Bluegrass Band. Learn to pick, jam, and have fun.

Date Range: April (in Conjunction with the Bluegrass Heritage Festival)

Style: Bluegrass

Location: Dallas, TX

https://acousticmusiccamp.com

Live Oak Fiddle Camp

About: Advanced fiddle and guitar instruction on a working cattle ranch.

Date Range: May

Style: Various Fiddle styles

Location: Hallettesville, Texas

https://liveoakfiddlecamp.com

Camp Bluegrass

About: A six-day camp with a focus on individual skills and slow jams.

Date Range: July

Style: Bluegrass

Location: Levelland, Texas

https://campmcdowell.org/dates-rates

Vermont

Northeast Heritage Music Camp

About: A welcoming camp community in the hills of Vermont for a week of traditional music immersion open to all instruments.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Music traditions of New England and eastern Canada along with related traditions from around the world.

Location: Starksboro, Vermont

http://www.northeastheritagemusiccamp.com

Washington

Cascadia Irish Music Week

About: A yearly gathering of learners and teachers of Irish traditional music and culture.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Irish

Location: Olympia, WA

https://www.cascadiairish.org/home

Fiddle Tunes

About: It’s a week-long, total-immersion workshop with a hallmark of presenting an expansive array of fiddle styles from specific geographic regions of the world.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Varied styles with a focus on fiddle

Location: Port Townsend, Washington

https://centrum.org/program/fiddle-tunes/

West Virgina

Allegheny Echoes

About: Celebration of Appalachian culture and heritage through old time music classes and outdoor activities in the heart of the mountains.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Bluegrass

Location: Marlinton, WV

http://www.alleghenyechoes.com/location

Wisconsin

Hardanger Fiddle Music and Dance Summer Workshops

About:  Intensive Hardanger fiddle and Norwegian dance classes, concerts, culture sessions, and evening parties.

Date Range: July

Style: Hardanger fiddle

Location: Dodgeville, Wisconsin

https://www.hfaa.org

Haugaard’s West Denmark Fiddle School

About: Classes, singing, and dancing.

Date Range: June

Style: Scandinavian and Anglo/Celtic music

Location: West Denmark, Wisconsin

https://www.wdfiddleschool.org

Adult Fiddle and Violin Camps in Canada

Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Time Music Camp

About: An all-ages music camp prior to the annual Northern Lights Music Festival.

Date Range: August

Style: Bluegrass and Old Time

Location: Ness Creek, Saskatchewan

https://northernlightsbluegrass.com/music-camp/

SOAR: String Orchestra for Adults Retreat

About: An orchestra camp for adult beginners and intermediate players.

Date Range: August

Style: Classical string orchestra

Location: New Denver, British Columbia

https://www.valhallafinearts.org/site/adult-string-orchestra/

The Gaelic College

About: Year-round programming in the culture, music, language, crafts, customs, and traditions of the immigrants from the Highlands of Scotland. Offers students of all ages and skill levels instruction in Gaelic culture and music.

Date Range: Varies

Style: Cape Breton

Location: St. Ann’s Nova Scotia

https://gaeliccollege.edu

International Music Camp/ Adult Community Camps

About: A four-day camp for string orchestra.

Date Range: Summer

Style: Classical Orchestra

Location: International Peace Garden, North Dakota/Manitoba

https://internationalmusiccamp.com/programs-and-sessions/music/adult-community-camps/

Adult Fiddle and Violin Camps in the United Kingdom

Sessions and Sail

About: Scottish sailing trips aboard a tall ship that feature traditional music workshops, sessions, and ceilidhs along the way.

Date Range: Varies

Style: Varies by sailing trip but includes Scottish fiddling, song writing, and bluegrass sailing trips.

Location: Most voyages start from Oban, Scotland

https://sessionsandsail.com/home

Fèis Glenn Albainn

About: A long weekend on the shores of Loch Ness to develop skills in song, dance, and traditional music.

Date Range: February

Style: Scottish

Location: Fort Augustus, Scotland

http://www.feisgleannalbainn.co.uk

Fèis Rois Adult Féis

About: A three day retreat catering to all abilities, from beginner to advanced. No previous knowledge of traditional music required. Violins are even provided for beginning classes!

Date Range: May

Style: Scottish

Location: Ullapool, Scotland

https://feisrois.org/residential-feisan/adult-feis/

Blazin in Beauly

About: A workshop run by Blazin Fiddle with various class options from “Gently Paced” to “Super Advanced”

Date Range: October

Style: Scottish

Location: Beauly, Scotland

https://blazininbeauly.com

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

About: Various camps and short courses held at the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture

Date Range: Varies

Style: Scottish

Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland

https://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/short-courses/?lang=en

Adult Fiddle and Violin Camps in Europe

Scandia Camp Mendocino

About: Dance, music, and more!

Date Range: Summer

Style: Scandinavian

Location: Norway and Sweden

http://www.scandiacampmendocino.org

Sore Fingers Summer School

About: Europe’s leading organization for Bluegrass and Old Time Music Camps.

Date Range: October and Easter

Style: Bluegrass

Location: Kingham, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

https://www.sorefingers.co.uk

Grappelli Django Summer Camp

About: A long weekend of workshops and jam sessions hosted by some of the world’s most famous Gypsy jazz musicians.

Date Range: August/September

Style: Gypsy jazz

Location: The Netherlands

https://www.grappellidjangocamp.com

Virtual Adult Fiddle and Violin Camps

Fiddle Hell

About: Online workshops, concerts, and jams.

Date Range: April

Style: Bluegrass, Blues, Cajun, Cape Breton, East European, Electric, Irish, Jazz, Jazz Manouche, Klezmer, Latin, Mexican, New Acoustic, New England, Old-Time Southern, Québécois, Scandinavian, Scottish, and Swing styles. 

Location: Online

https://www.fiddlehell.org

Adult Camps By Famous Fiddlers

These camps and workshops are led by well-known performing fiddlers and violinists. Locations and dates vary as many musicians hold workshops around the world. Check the musician’s webpage for more information.

Alasdair Fraser Camps and Workshops

Date Range: Varies

Style: Scottish Fiddle

Location: Varies

https://alasdairfraser.com/camps-workshops/

O’Connor Method String Camp

About: Mark O’Connor’s music instruction camp based on the O’Connor Method.

Date Range: Summer

Style: American traditional music

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

https://oconnormethodstringcamp.com

10 Best Violins for Beginners [2024] A Violin Teacher’s Ultimate Guide

You’ve decided you’re ready to learn to play the violin! Then you start researching beginner violins. If you are scouring the internet, asking yourself, “what’s the best beginner violin to buy,” you aren’t alone. It’s an overwhelming decision. Unfortunately, the market is saturated with cheap, poorly made VSOs (violin-shaped-objects). Many of my students show up to their first lesson with these inferior “violins.” They are difficult or impossible to tune, produce an awful tone, and come with low-quality bows, chin rests, and other accessories. 

Students with low quality violins generally take one of two paths. 1. They get frustrated and quit. 2 They get frustrated and buy a better violin. Learning to play the violin or teaching yourself to play violin is hard enough. You shouldn’t have to struggle with a VSO as well.

Trying to make an informed choice on such an important purchase can be difficult. Reading beginner violin reviews can be misleading and confusing. Everyone has an opinion, so who can you trust?

To save you time, money and frustration, I’ve created an ultimate guide to helping you choose the best beginner violin. I’ve had experience with every violin I’m about to tell you about. I’ve either played the violins myself, have students who own the violins, or have heard about them from other violin teachers. In this guide, I’ll answer these questions. Click to skip ahead to each section.

• What makes a good beginner violin?

• What makes a violin “advanced?”

• How much money should I spend on a violin?

• What are the best violin brands under $500?

• What are the best violins by price range?

• What are the 10 best beginner and intermediate violins?

• What violin brands to avoid?

• What violin would I buy?

You may also having questions about buying vs. renlfting your first violin. If you are buying a violin for a child or young adult, you’ll also want to measure in order to get the right size.

These other resources may be helpful if you are just starting to learn violin:

• Learn to Play the Violin in 20 Steps

• Can You Teach Yourself to Play Violin? Yes! Here’s 3 Reasons Why

• Am I Too Old to Learn the Violin? A Violin Teacher’s Honest Opinion

If you’re looking for a better bow, check out my recommendations in my article: Best Violin Bow: A Violin Teacher’s Guide to Choosing the Right Bow.

Let’s get started!

What Makes a Good Beginner Violin?

Good materials

Real violins are made of quality materials. Many cheap violins come with plastic parts, wood that hasn’t been dried properly, or wood painted to look like real ebony (the fingerboard). Substandard parts means the violin will never function the way it is supposed to.

Proper Set-Up

Any violin you purchase should be correctly “set-up” by a luthier before being sent to you. Many cheap, factory violins lack this important step. A luthier will make sure the bridge is the correct curvature (otherwise you’ll hit other strings no matter how you bow). They will also ensure the strings are the proper tension, so you don’t have to be a weight-lifter just to put a finger down. A luthier will also ensure the pegs are correctly installed and other parts are functioning before shipping the violin to you.

Easy to tune

Why is tuning so important? You must tune every time you play so that your muscle memory develops correctly. Having a violin that won’t stay in tune wastes practice time and lesson time. 

VSOs (violin shaped objects) can be notoriously impossible to tune. A quality beginner violin will have pegs that correctly fit their holes and be relatively easy to tune. I’ve seen some VSOs come with plastic pegs, meaning the pegs will slip no matter what.

Even violins with well-fitted traditional wooden pegs are subject to changes in humidity that can make tuning difficult or downright impossible sometimes. The answer to the age old problem of tuning is geared pegs, also known as perfection pegs or planetary pegs. Geared pegs look like traditional wooden pegs, but they work like the tuning pegs on guitars, making tuning a breeze. No more stuck or slipping pegs. No more loose strings from changes in weather. Tuning only takes a few seconds. You will rarely, if ever, need to use your fine tuners, even for your E string. I use geared pegs on all of my violins. I will never go back to traditional pegs! Not all violins come with the option for perfection pegs, but I’ve been able to find a few that do offer this wonderful upgrade.

What should be included?

Most beginner violins should come as an outfit, which includes a violin, case, bow, and maybe some rosin. Not all beginner violins do, but that’s okay. You can choose which accessories you want. Be very wary of outfits that include lots of accessories, like tuners, extra strings, shoulder rests, and method books. These other items are often cheap add-ons that you will probably end up throwing away anyway. 

What makes a violin "advanced?"

Don’t let violin nomenclature confuse you. When looking at any any violin website, violins are divided into beginner, intermediate, advanced, and professional level categories. That doesn’t mean that you have to be an advanced player to handle an advanced level violin. It’s actually quite the opposite. Advanced violins make it EASIER to sound good. Give a beginner an advanced model violin and they will instantly have a better tone. On the other hand, certain beginner violins will only sound good in the hands of a professional.

How much money should I spend on a violin?

After watching the violin market for the past 20 years, I’ve been able to tell the price line between VSO and real violins. Generally speaking, don’t buy any violin outfit for under $200. Anything cheaper than this is not worth buying. 

If you are unsure if you will stick with the violin and just want to “try it out,” don’t fall for these cheap VSOs. I guarantee you, you won’t like it. Some of these “violins” are essentially worthless after you purchase them. No one else will want them either. But if you buy a real violin, and later decide you don’t want it, you can always resell it! Some of the violins around $150-$200 might be playable, but they will come with cheap strings, poor sound quality, and a list of items you might need to tweak to get it easy to play. Skip the hassle, spend $50-$100 more dollars and get a violin you won’t have to keep messing with.

Violins around $200-$350 are considered beginner violins. The violins on the lower end of that range will get the job done, but they are “student” violins. For those who just want to try violin, or for young children who are growing and changing sizes quickly, these violins are fine. A violin in the $300 range is suitable for beginners with a more discerning ear.

$350-$450 is the price point for more advanced beginner violins. These violins should last you a year to three years if you are making consistent progress. They won’t “give out” after three years, but by that time your skill level could benefit from a better violin.

$450-$550 A good price range for older children or adults who will be able to easily distinguish the better quality.

$550-$1000 If you don’t want to worry about having to buy another violin as your skill progresses, look for violins in this range. This price range bridges the gap between beginner and intermediate violins. 

$1000 + This will get you into the range of intermediate and advanced violins. Violins at this price point and above offer quality woods and workmanship. If you’re serious about the violin, instruments in this price range will offer the best quality of sound and allow you to progress and won’t hold you back.

What are the best violin brands under $500?

• Tower Strings

• Fiddlerman

• Gliga Violins

• Knilling

• Franz Hoffman

• Carlo Lamberti

Tower Strings

The Tower Strings line of beginner violins is sold by Fiddlershop. These entry level violins are the best beginner violins in the industry, in my opinion. Since they are sold by Fiddlershop, every violin is tested by a luthier before being shipped. That means your violin is ready to play out of the box—with a little tuning of course!

Fiddlerman

Fiddlerman violins are sold by Fiddlershop, a company that is relatively new to the violin scene. Due to great customer service and exceptional products, Fiddlershop is quickly making a name for itself as a go-to store for all things violin. The Fiddlerman violins offer great quality for a good price. And yes, Fiddlerman violins can be played by fiddlers and classical violinists just the same! All violins sold by Fiddlershop are tested and played by a luthier before being shipped, so you know your violin will sound good. My favorite part about Fiddlerman? They will custom install perfection pegs on any violin you purchase. Plan to add about $100 dollars for this upgrade which I would deem essential. I use perfection pegs on all of my violins and I will never go back to traditional wooden pegs. Being able to easily tune your violin could make the difference between loving this instrument, and hating it. Trust me. 

Gliga Violins

Gliga violins are handmade in Romania. They offer a wide range of violins for all levels and budgets. One thing that sets Gliga apart is their ability to let you customize your violin. You can choose the varnish color, tailpiece, bow, and strings—allowing for a violin that is uniquely yours. 

This makes Gliga special because you can purchase a quality violin with the standard set-up and get a great violin for a budget price. Then, make upgrades according to your budget. 

Knilling

Knilling is a well-known name brand for beginners. My first violin was a Knilling and I still use it for traveling around. Knilling is also one of the few brands that offers violins with perfection pegs (geared pegs that make tuning SO easy). 

Franz Hoffman

Franz Hoffman violins are made in China but are set-up and sold by Shar Music, one of the well-known violin dealers. Franz Hoffman offers a long line of beginner violins and their Amadeus model is one of the cheapest, good quality beginner violins you can buy.

Carlo Lamberti

Another maker sold by Shar Music, Carlo Lamberti offers some upgrades in sound quality for an advanced beginner level violin. These violins may cost a little more, but you will have a violin that will last you through your beginning stages.

What are the best violins by price range?

• $180-$250—Tower Strings Entertainer, Gilga Genial, Franz Hoffman 

• $250-$350—Tower Strings Rockstar, Tower Strings Legend, Fiddlerman OB1, Gliga Gems 2,

• $350-$450— Fiddlerman Apprentice, Gliga Gems 1,

• $450-$550—Fiddlerman Concert, Gliga Genova, Carlo Lamberti

• $550+—Fiddlerman Artist, Gliga Gama,

Top 10 Beginner and Intermediate Violins

If you want a basic overview, here are my top ten picks for the best beginner to intermediate violins. Click to skip ahead.

1. Tower Strings Entertainer Violin

2. Tower Strings Rockstar Violin

3. Fiddlerman OB1 Violin

4. Gliga Gems 2 Violin

5. Tower Strings Legend Violin

6. Fiddlerman Apprentice Violin

7. Fiddlerman Concert Violin

8. Franz Hoffman Amadeus Violin

9. Knilling Perfection Violin

10. Carlo Lamberti Sonata Violin

Best Beginner Violin Reviews

Tower Strings Violins

Tower Strings offer three entry-level violins: The Entertainer, the Rockstar, and the Legend. These violins surpassed all of my expectations for a beginner level violin. They don’t look or feel like beginner level violins. The have a beautiful finish and little touches like mother of pearl inlays on the pegs and tailpiece give the violin a high-quality appearance. Their wonderful tone and ease of playability make these violins my top pick for beginner violins. At a starting price of $269, they also happen to be one of the most affordable violin outfits.

The outfits come with brazilwood bows and standard entry-level strings but I would highly recommend upgrading to the Fiddlerman carbon fiber bow and the Fiddlerman synthetic core strings. The strings were the best beginner strings I have ever played—even tone and bright, complex sound. The bow made playing very easy and forgiving (not always the case with beginner violins). The combination of strings and the carbon fiber bow made for such an enjoyable playing experience that I would highly recommend them. When you click “add to cart” you will have the option to upgrade.

The violins come as an outfit with a case, bow, rosin, tuner, shoulder rest, cleaning cloth, mute, and beginner’s guide. Literally everything you need to get started playing immediately. The violins I received were almost perfectly in tune when they arrived. A little tuning and you are ready to learn violin.

As with all Fiddlershop violins, your violin is inspected and played by a luthier before being shipped so your violin is ready to go when you get it. This is big, and it’s not something you are going to get when ordering a violin form a mega online store.

Which one should I get? With this brand of violins, you can rest assured that the more money you spend, the better violin you will receive. The Entertainer was wonderful and would suit any beginner just violin. I noticed an increase in tone quality with the increase in price of the other violins, as well as more beautiful wood on the back. If you want a little bit better sound, spring for the Rockstar or Legend.

If you want to make tuning really easy on yourself, Fiddlershop now sells the Entertainer EasyTune. The EasyTune comes with geared pegs already installed which makes tuning so much easier. (I have geared pegs installed on my violin and I’ll never go back to traditional pegs.) Fiddlershop is one of the only online retailers that will install geared pegs on any of their violins before they’re shipped to you (you just have to ask for it). But with the EasyTune, you can purchase the violin with geared pegs already installed. Win win!

Want to really save money? Fiddlershop often has discounted B stock violins for sale. They are perfectly playable with minor cosmetic defects. Check out the discounts here!

Pros

• Most affordable beginner-level violin

• Easy to tune (especially if you get the EasyTune)

• Professional-looking finish

• Easy to play

• Sweet, yet powerful tone

• Comes with everything you need to play

• Great customer service

Cons

• There really aren’t any but…Fiddlerman strings and carbon fiber bow are upgrades (well worth it)

Fiddlerman Violins

Fiddlerman violins may be relatively new in the violin world, but they are quickly earning a name as a solid, dependable, good quality beginner violin. Fiddlerman offers two entry level beginner violins, the OB1 and the Apprentice if you are on a tight budget. If you can afford a little more, I would recommend the Concert model which has a powerful sound and a beautiful, strong tone.

What sets these violins apart is that they come with superior strings and bows. The Fiddlerman synthetic core violin strings are the best beginner strings I’ve ever tried (better than Dominants). And the Fiddlerman carbon fiber bow is also the best student level violin bow I’ve ever tried. The combination of Fiddlerman strings with the carbon fiber bow made playing extremely easy and forgivable. Normally this quality of strings and bow would be an upgrade for other outfits, but it is standard with Fiddlerman violins.

All Fiddlerman violins come with a 10 point inspection so you know your violin is set-up in the best way possible. Every violin that is tested and played by a luthier before being shipped. The violin also comes as an outfit with a case, carbon fiber bow, rosin, a mute, cleaning cloth, and a quality violin shoulder rest, and a digital tuner. Normally I say to watch out for outfits that include so many goodies, but these goodies are actually worth having! You literally need nothing else to start playing.

One thing I love about Fiddlerman is that they can install perfection pegs on any violin you buy. Plan to add about $100 plus the cost of the pegs to the price for this upgrade which I deem essential.

Want to really save money? Fiddlershop often has discounted B stock violins for sale. They are perfectly playable with minor cosmetic defects. Check out the discounts here!

If you are willing to spend a little more, I recently had a student buy a Symphony violin and it sounds phenomenal!

Pros

• Fiddlerman Synthetic Core violin strings (my favorite beginner level string)

• Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Bow (the best beginner bow I’ve ever tried)

• Powerful sound

• Attractive finish

• Comes with everything you need to start playing

• Option to install perfection pegs

• Great customer service

Cons

• These violins sell out quickly so they may not always have your size!

Gliga Violins

UPDATE: Recently, I have seen a significant drop in Gliga’s customer service. They do not always respond to questions or phone calls and can be slow to ship violins. They still offer a good product at a good price, but their lack of communication may be something worth considering when deciding between violin dealers.

Gliga Violins are handmade in Romania and offer the largest selection of sizes, styles, and quality. Their cheapest violin outfit is a Genial 2 which starts at $208 for an entire outfit—that’s a great bargain for a good beginner violin. However, there are several upgrades I would definitely recommend and that will drive the price up at which point you may be better off with a Tower Strings or Fiddlerman violin. There are many levels of quality in the Genial line. The Gems line are the beginner level violins that I would recommend. I recently purchased a Gems 2 and found it to be a decent student violin for the price (around $320 for the violin outfit and shipping.

Since Gliga offers so many choices during checkout, you can choose to go with everything standard for a cheap outfit, or you an upgrade certain aspects. Definitely go with better strings. The standard strings left a lot to be desired. I recommend Evah PIrazzis or Dominants. If you can, upgrade to the Carbon Fiber Bow. I also recommend the Wittner tailpiece which can make changing the strings easier.

Gliga also offers the better quality violins for a little more. If you can, go for the intermediate level Gems 1 or Genova. Their advanced models are the Gama violins. I played a Gama a few years ago and fell in love with it. Although cheaper than my personal violin, it sounded comparable in many ways.

Pros

• Easy to order

• Lots of options on size, appearance, and quality

• Good craftsmanship, beautiful appearance

• Correctly set-up and ready to play

• Great tone

• Standard options allow for a great violin on a budget price tag

• Wooden chin rest (rare in student violins at this price range)

 Cons

• Pegs can be difficult to turn at first

• Standard strings, bow, and tailpiece leave a little to be desired

• Romanian strings don’t have the best sound (choose the upgraded Evah PIrazzis or Dominants). Advanced models come with better strings.

• Standard tailpiece with fine tuners made changing strings difficult (go for the Wittner tailpiece to solve this problem.)

• Customer service is slow to respond to questions, if they respond at all.

Franz Hoffman Amadeus Violin

The Franz Hoffman Amadeus violin is one of the cheapest budget violins. Many of my students have started off with this violin. It’s fairly easy to tune with a decent sound. Craftsmanship is pretty standard. This isn’t a violin you will ohh and ahh over, but it checks all the boxes for an easy-to-play beginner violin. It’s a factory violin, so the focus is on affordability. These violins are set-up and ready to play which puts them above other factory-made violins from mega online stores. Students who progress quickly might need a better violin to match their skills as they progress.

Shar Music, one of the most well-trusted online violin dealers, also offers more options in the Franz Hoffman line as well as various other beginner and intermediate violins.

For around the same price, I would personally rather have the Tower Strings Entertainer violin. Much better quality for just a little more.

Pros

• Affordable

• Set-up and ready to play

• Comes

• Good for young children

Cons

• Standard student quality

• Orange, beginner-looking finish

• Not ideal for quickly advancing students

Knilling Perfection Violin

This brand is a long-time standard in the violin industry for good quality beginner violins. My choice for a Knilling Violin would be the Knilling Perfection model. What’s different about this violin? It comes with geared perfection pegs! 

Having a violin that is easy to tune saves so much time in lessons, which is one reason I love this violin. My students who have this violin can’t say enough about the pegs.

If you want a violin that is super easy to tune straight out of the box, like the Tower Strings Entertainer EasyTune, this is another violin option for you.

Pros

• Easy to tune

• Comes with Perfection Pegs installed

• Great looking finish for the price

• Good sound for beginners

• Great for young children

Cons

• Not the best quality violin for the price

Carlo Lamberti Sonata Violin

This violin offers a good blend between the beginner and intermediate levels with a price point to match. These violins are made in China and then shipped to the U.S. where they receive the correct set-up from a qualified luthier. Some of my students have this violin model and they enjoy a superior, focused tone. This violin comes with a comfortable chin rest, a tailpiece with fine tuners built-in (for ease of changing strings), and Thomastik Vision strings, a good intermediate level set of strings.

Shar Music offers various upgrades in the Carlo Lamberti Line such as the Classic, Symphony, and Master Series.

Pros

• Strong Tone

• Tailpiece with built-in fine tuners

• Good strings

• Good for advancing beginners

Cons

• Doesn’t come as an outfit

What violin brands to avoid?

Many times, a new student will come to a lesson with a violin that won’t stay in tune. The sound is scratchy, the bow is difficult to control, and the strings are difficult to press down. Sometimes the bridge doesn’t have the correct curvature and the student will continuously hit other strings. I can usually guess what brand of violin this is. There are two repeat offenders: Mendini and Cecilo. Many students purchase these violins because they look like decent violins, but they are far from it. While these two companies do make more advanced beginner level violins, they also sell cheap VSOs. While I’ve never tried their more advanced models, I don’t think I want to. When there are so many other great beginner violins out there, why support a company that produces what I would call a gimmick?

Violin Brands To Avoid

• Mendini

• Cecilo

• Eastar

• Lagrima

• JMFinger

• Aliyese

• Amazon Basics

• Sky

• Vangoa

• Amdini

Since there are probably more BAD “violins” out there than good ones, this list could go on and on. 

What violin would I buy?

If I were buying a violin for my own child, I would purchase the Tower Strings Rockstar or Legend Violin with perfection pegs or the Fiddlerman Concert Violin with perfection pegs. Even if I were there to tune it, I would want my own child being very comfortable tuning their own violin, and the perfection pegs make that possible. If I were buying a violin for a very young child, requiring a violin under a 3/4 size, I might go with the Tower Strings Entertainer or Fiddlerman OB1 or Apprentice with perfection pegs.

If I were an adult beginner purchasing a violin for myself? The Fiddlerman Artist Violin with perfection pegs or the Gliga Gama would be my first pick (they are also the most expensive). There is something to be said about having a violin that looks and feels as nice as it sounds. Having something of quality makes you WANT to open the case, look at your beautiful violin, and play it.

If I couldn’t afford that, I’d get a Fiddlerman Concert with perfection pegs or a Gliga Genova.

Shop Wisely

One thing I’ve noticed while searching for “the best beginner violins” is a plethora of websites listing what they claim are the best beginner violins. I’ve found that many of these websites recommend violins that I know from experience are atrocious. As you read their pros and cons on a particular violin, you may be able to tell that the writer has no experience with this violin at all, they are simply regurgitating reviews. While many of these websites are legitimate, many exist to make money off of affiliate links. Affiliate links allow website owners to make a small commission on products, at no cost to the person using the link. I too use affiliate links as a way to help support the cost of the website, but I don’t promote products for the sake of earning a commission. The whole reason I created my website was to educate students and stop them from wasting money on VSOs. 

Don’t be fooled! Purchase a quality violin and you won’t regret it!

Check out my Step by Step Guide to Starting Violin Lessons and double check that you have everything you need to make learning the violin fun with my checklist on What to Buy for Violin Lessons.

Happy Practicing!

5 Items You Need to Play Violin

Are you ready to start playing violin and wondering, “What all do I need to start playing violin?” Here is my list of must-have accessories for playing violin.

For starters, you'll want a violin! Check out my post on buying a violin to help you pick out the right size or decide between renting and buying. There are many options for beginner violins. After hearing and tuning many beginner violins, I’ve narrowed down the choices and selected the most affordable violins that still have great sound and are easy to tune. Discover my top picks for beginner violins here.

1. Shoulder Rest.

This is essential to helping you hold the violin correct. I recommend the Everest shoulder rest for people with smaller necks or the Wolf Forte Secondo with normal to longer necks. Make sure your shoulder rest size matches the size of your violin. Check out my page on shoulder rests for more detailed information.

2. Music Stand

Using a music stand promotes good posture. If you're practicing with your music in your lap, in your case, or pinned to the wall, chances are you're doing some weird things with your posture that can lead to real tension issues. Portable stands are fine and nice to have, but a stand with a solid back makes it easier to write on your music. Plus, it’s more stable and solid than those flimsy, cheap wire stand. I recommend this stand which doubles as a foldable travel stand, but it’s got a solid sturdy back.

Hamilton Traveler Portable Music Stand

5. Rosin

If you purchased your violin as an outfit, rosin was probably included. However, student-grade rosin often has a grittier sound and produces more powder. For a few dollars more you can upgrade to a better sound. A cake of rosin can last a decade if properly taken care of, so it’s worth spending a few extra dollars. Dark rosin is more sticky and is better for dry climates. Light or amber rosin is better for violin but both colors work.

This Holstein Reserve Rosin is my absolute favorite. It’s a little pricey but so worth it.

4. Metronome/Tuner

You can use free apps for help tuning your violin. As you progress, you’ll realize a tuner and a metronome offer many tools to a violinist to make even faster progress. I suggest buying an actual metronome tuner combo. These metronome/tuners are usually louder than the apps and the metronomes also offers different pitches, called “drones” which can really help you play in tune!

Boss and Korg are good brands, like this Korg Metronome Tuner.

5. Method Books

Check out my page on best beginner books for adults and children alike!

6. Finger Decals (Optional)

You don’t have to put “stickers” or decals on your fingerboard to help you know where to put your fingers. You want to learn to rely on your ear and muscle memory more than anything. But if you want a little visual aid to help you know where to put your fingers, I recommend First Frets. Remember to buy the size that matches your violin size.

Happy Practicing!

Best Beginner Violin Books: A Violin Teacher's Ultimate Guide

As a violin teacher, I’m always on the lookout for the best violin books for beginners. In my studio, I have a filing cabinet packed full of violin method books. It might be a little bit of addiction, but I can’t help but always wonder if there’s a better way to teach something, a better violin method book for young children, a better book geared towards adult beginners. As a result, I’ve accumulated many beginner violin books. Whether you are looking for some note reading help, some easy jazz or fiddle songs for beginners, or just a “how-to” guide, here’s my list of the 10 best violin books for beginner players!

(Also check out my top picks for scale books, hymn books, and fiddle books!)

Best Beginner Violin Books for Kids

Learning the Violin, Book One

For a young child starting out, trying to bow, place left hand fingers correctly, and read music all at the same time can be very overwhelming. It’s also frustrating to just pluck open strings for weeks before ever learning a song. I love this book because it solves all those issues while making it fun for young beginners. There’s some helpful pages teaching children about the violin and how to take care of it, followed by some pages on the bow exercises. Before getting saturated with the bow, the book moves on to the left hand (playing pizzicato without the bow), and students have a few songs featuring each finger before moving on to real songs that actually sound good! Students learn how to play the violin without having to also learn to read music at the same time. Once students have a handle on the basics, the book introduces note reading. 

This book is also great for adults if you don’t want to be inundated with note reading while trying to learn violin basics.

Scaley Monsters

This is a great, fun, simple scale book for kids. Each scale and arpeggio is presented with a finger chart and a fun dinosaur rhythm to change things up. There’s also a song associated with each scale.

I Can Read Music

This is my favorite book for learning the violin notes, developing visual coordination with your left hand, and working on muscle memory. While the title might make this sound like it’s geared toward children, this is a great book for anyone looking for more practice note reading. Whether you are brand new to music, or maybe it’s just been a while, this book will quickly orient you with the notes on the violin. There are two pages per lesson, one on note reading and one on rhythm. I love that the book is split up this way since many other method books combine note reading and rhythms, making it difficult to focus on anything. The rhythm pages are great for working on your bow technique too! There’s also a Volume 2 for more advanced rhythms and notes.

Best Beginner Violin Books for Adults and Children

First Position Scale Studies

This scale book presents a varied approach to scales. Each scale features several pages with varying rhythms to keep things interesting!

Open String Bow Workouts for Violin

For violin students wanting a good bow warm-up, this is a perfect book. While nothing but open strings may sound boring, this book is anything but! Focus on big string crossings, varying bow speeds, planning out bow usage, and so much more.

Best Beginner Violin Method Books

A method book is a “how-to” book that often includes pictures showing students how to hold the bow and violin, where to put certain fingers, how to read music, etc. If you teaching yourself violin, I would recommend one of these method books.

Essential Elements for Violin

This is my go-to book for starting students out on the violin. I’ve gone through a lot of method books and I find that this book offers plenty for technique while still having fun, recognizable songs.

All for Strings

This method book is my pick for adult beginners. This is a great “no nonsense” beginner violin book. The first few pages teach many notes and songs without staff music, allowing students to develop the basics before worrying about note reading. The book contains many tunes you’ll recognize and enjoy playing. I also love the second All for Strings book and their companion theory books.

Best Beginner Violin Solo Books

I like students to always be working on solos in addition to method books and scale books. These are my favorite beginner violin books featuring longer songs.

Suzuki Violin School, Volume 1 and Volume 2

No other book that I know of has beginner level songs that are as pretty as Suzuki. You don’t have to learn via the Suzuki method to get a lot out of these books. Volume 1 starts out with some easy folk songs but soon gets into more of the traditional classical music. For those students wanting to focus on classical violin music, this is the beginning book for you. Definitely supplement with a note reading book as Suzuki starts off with notes all over the A string and E string. I like to take students through Volume 2. After the second book, I find students progress better by playing through entire concerti rather than continuing with Volume 3.

Mark O’Connor Violin Method Books

Mark O’Connor is perhaps the world’s most famous fiddler. His method books offer a wide variety of musical styles like traditional American fiddle, jazz , ragtime, and much more. The first book is easy for beginners and each book offers even more great songs and technique builders. This book is a must in my studio. All of my students love it!

Learn to Play Irish Fiddle

For those of you wanting a different approach to learning the violin, this is the book for you. Unlike many other fiddle books, this one starts right from the beginning with open strings and basic rhythms. There’s also some great information on how to play for self-learners. My favorite part about this book is that the songs actually sound awesome even though they start out only using one finger. Each new tune adds a new finger so you can start fiddling as soon as you learn how to put a left hand finger down! I would recommend supplementing this book with a note reading book since it focuses more on playing rather than note-reading and left hand muscle memory.

These are my favorite beginner violin books, but of course, I’m always excited to find more. Let me know what books you love! Happy Practicing!

Best (and Worst) Violin Strings for Beginners: A Violin Teacher's Honest Review

I’m going to cut the fluff and get right to the heart of the matter. If you are looking for the best violin strings for beginners, then don’t buy something cheap. Don’t buy violin strings that come in packs of 16, don’t buy violin string sets that are cheaper than a family meal at a fast food restaurant.

Good quality violin strings make an immense difference in tone and ease of playability, as I will show you. The best violin strings can make playing much easier. Even if you have a great violin, having a cheap set of strings can make playing difficult especially for a beginner. If you are playing on a cheap set of strings, you know that ugly, scratchy sound you’re getting? Yep, that might not be your fault. The strings may be the culprit.

If you want an honest review of the best and worst violin string sets for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players, then read on!

What Violin Strings to NOT Buy

Be wary of any violin string set under $20. If you are going to take the time to change the strings on your violin, you want something that will at least sound good when you are finished. So avoid these brands!

• Red Label—Far from the best violin strings! The king of cheap strings.

• Cecilio—get 16 strings for the low price of $15.00…Don’t fall for it!

• Vizcaya Universal—an even better scam. 16 strings for $12! How does that even pay for the paper to wrap them in?

How to Buy Violin Strings for Beginners

Ball End versus Loop End Violin String

You can buy violin strings separately, but it is better to buy them as a set which will include each of the four strings. Make sure the string set matches the size of your violin. Next look at the tailpiece of your violin where the strings are attached to the fine tuners. Are the ends a metal loop? Or are they balls hooked into the holes on the tailpiece? When purchasing the set of violin strings, choose ball-end or loop-end to match what you have.

Tension on violin strings vary from light, to medium, to heavy. But the vast majority of beginner and intermediate violin string sets come as medium tension.

Best Violin String Sets for Beginners

I’ve played all of the violin string sets I’m going to tell you about. I put them on the same violin, let them stretch out for about a two week period, and then made recordings of the same excerpts of songs so you can hear the differences. Okay, here’s my picks for the best violin string sets for beginners!

Ascente Violin Strings Review

My #3 Choice for Beginner Violin Strings

These are the cheapest violin strings for beginners I would purchase. I’m recommending them with a caveat!

When I first put these on my violin, I wasn’t expecting much. However, I was extremely surprised at the resonance of these strings. I’m telling you, they RING! They are bright and lively with a clear, focused tone. While the Ascente violin strings sounded great, I found I had to be on top of my game to make them sound cleanly. If you listen to the sound samples, notice how many times it took me to play an open G string with a clean start. It’s not that hard, but these strings made it more difficult. I put these strings on an EXPENSIVE violin and still had issues, so keep that in mind if you are putting them on a cheaper violin.

 Buy the Ascente violin strings if you are…

• Buying for a very young child that sounds scratchy anyways…

• On a budget

• Want a decent set of backup strings

 Don’t buy the Ascentes if you are…

• Buying for an older child or adult

• If you can afford to pay a little more

 Pros

• Clear, bright, resonant sound

Cons

• Difficult to make clean starts

• Not as responsive as other strings

Helicore Violin Strings Review

My #2 Choice for Beginner Violin Strings

Helicores are a good string set for beginner or intermediate players. I put these on my violin after the Ascentes and I found them to be quite a contrast. The Helicores had a warmer sound, not quite as loud and bright as the Ascentes. They were also easier to play on, a little bit more responsive, and didn’t produce as many extraneous noises. The strings were fairly even sounding, although the G string leaves something to be desired. It lacks a richness of tone and doesn’t quite project the way I feel it should. While the tone on all strings was warm and even, I did find myself missing the complexity and brightness of the Ascentes. Helicores are a good middle of the road kind of string. Responsiveness isn’t bad…but there are more responsive strings out there. Tone isn’t bad, but it’s not phenomenal. Keep in mind, I’m comparing these to my usual strings (keep reading to find out my favorites). 

Even though Helicores fell short of what I would call a perfect sounding violin string, they will suit beginners and intermediate players just fine.

Buy Helicore Violin Strings if you are

• Buying for a child or for adult or teenage beginners

• If you want a decent set of strings without a big price tag

Don’t buy Helicore Violin Strings if you

• Want a richer sound

• Are a little more advanced

• Have a more discerning ear

• If you don’t mind spending a little more for a really nice set of strings

 Pros

• Warm Tone

• Stable, easy to tune

• Easy to play on

Cons

• Dull sound compared to more expensive violin strings

• Not as responsive as they could be 

Dominant Violin Strings Review

My #1 Choice For Beginner Violin Strings

Dominants have a name for themselves as the standard in beginner violin strings. I was interested to see if these violin strings held up to their name—and they do! It did take a few days for Dominants to settle out. For the first few days, they sounded like a tin can. But after that, these strings mellowed into a warm sound with a clear, projecting tone.

Dominant violin strings are responsive, even sounding, and pretty resonant for a beginner-level string. They produced a good, solid tone for those students starting to really focus on producing a clear, rich sound. When doing advanced bow strokes, like colle at the frog, these strings made it more difficult than a more expensive set of strings (like Evah Pirazzis). Quick notes in the middle, like in Swallowtail Jig, produced a little background noise that I don’t notice in nicer strings. I felt that the A lacked a little brightness and resonance compared to the other strings. And the G string, alas, still doesn’t quite meet my standards for something that is truly remarkable. Those are my only reservations. For a beginner or intermediate violin student, these strings fit the bill perfectly!

I would recommend Dominant Violin Strings for ALL beginners, not matter your age! As long as you can afford it, skip Helicores or Ascentes and buy these strings!

*I purchased these violin strings as a set with a Pirastro Gold Label E and found the combination quite enjoyable.

Buy Dominant violin strings if you are

• Any beginner or intermediate level violin student

• Own a violin under $500

Don’t buy Dominant Violin Strings if you are

• Starting to experiment with more advanced bow strokes

• Looking for an even richer, more projecting tone

• Have any violin over $500—if you are paying that much for a violin, spend $30 more dollars and get a great set of strings to match your violin’s potential.

Pros

• Easy to play

• Warm sound with projection and resonance

• Responsive strings

Cons

• Takes a few days to settle in

• Not great for advanced bow strokes

So...what’s my absolute favorite set of violin strings?

Evah Pirazzi. Hands down. I’ve tried even more expensive violin string sets and I always come back to these gems. In fact, I never realized just how easy they made violin playing until I started trying beginner violin strings! Evah Pirazzis, and other violin strings of similar quality, are so much more forgiving than cheaper strings. Not only do they make advanced bow strokes easier to execute, you don’t have to work as hard for a good tone. The sound is beautiful, sweet, yet clear and projecting.

The only downside? They are a little more pricey (but only around $30 more than Dominants). And they tend to lose their brilliance after a couple months. However, I have been known to keep a set on for over a year and still found them enjoyable.

You might not think of a $75-$80 set of strings to be beginner level. BUT if you have the money and are serious about the violin, why not? No one says a beginner can only purchase beginner quality equipment. Nor do you have to play at a certain level before you are “worthy” of more expensive strings. If everyone started on Evah PIrazzi violin strings, you would know very quickly what a good tone sounds like and how enjoyable it is to just play open strings!

Buy Evah Pirazzi Violin Strings if

• You want the best sound you can get

• You want violin playing to be as easy as it can be

• You are playing on a violin over $500

Don’t Buy Evah Pirazzi Violin Strings if

• You are buying for a very young child or a child that just doesn’t give a hoot

• If you are playing on a cheap violin. Even Evahs won’t help you if your violin is a VSO.

Pros

• Beautiful, clear, sweet sound with brilliance and projection and resonance. Need I go on?

• Easy to play

• Forgiving of imperfect technique (cheap strings aren’t!)

Cons

• A little more expensive (around $70-$90 depending on where you buy them)

• Start to lose their brilliance after a couple months

Strings can make such a difference in your playing. They can make the difference between looking forward to practicing, and avoiding practicing all together. So pick out violin strings that are worthy of the time you spend practicing. You want regret it!

Best Hymn Books for Violinists: A Violin Teacher's Guide

I’ve been playing violin solos for church services since just about the first day I started learning violin. Okay, I might be exaggerating there, but I have played violin hymns for church more times than I can count. Wherever I’ve moved across the country, churches have welcomed me in. I’ve met some wonderful people, made music with some great musicians, and worshipped God in the best way I know how—playing violin! I’ve been on the constant lookout for hymn arrangements for violin and piano. Whether you are just starting or you’re ready for some advanced violin hymn arrangements, I’ve got something here for you.

Don’t forget to check out my free arrangements of some easy hymns and fiddle songs as well as my top picks for beginner violin books, scale books, and fiddle books!

For even more easy hymns along with intermediate third position parts, join my online studio to download my hymn book, Favorite Hymns for Violin. It has over 50 of my favorite hymns transposed into easy to read key signatures for violin. You’ll get Favorite Hymns for Violin in addition to several other downloadable violin books and over 200+ songs and sheet music for violin.

Violin Hymns for the Beginner

Level: Beginner—Advanced Beginner

This hymn book offers 24 classic hymns that are easily accessible to beginner violinists. This is one of the few beginner level violin hymn books that I’ve been able to find. Some of the choices include Amazing Grace, Come Ye Sinners, and This is My Father’s World. For the advancing beginner, there are also slurs, accidentals, and fermatas to add more of a challenge.

Favorite Hymns Instrumental Solos for Strings

Level: Advanced Beginner—Intermediate Player

This collection features several timeless hymn arrangements for violin and piano. This book offers more advanced rhythms and key changes for those advancing players wanting more of a solo-like arrangement of hymns. I love that it comes with a CD so you can play along with an accompaniment, even if you don’t know a pianist!

100 Gospel Songs and Hymns for Violin and Guitar

Level: Advanced Beginner—Intermediate Player

For those violinist regularly performing in church, it’s nice to have a large selection of hymns in case you are asked to play a special on Sunday—on short notice! I’ve been there and having a large collection of classic hymn arrangements has helped me out. This book offers 100 songs so you have lots of options to choose from. Most selections have a key change so one hymn selection doesn’t sound the exact same for each verse.

Come Thou Fount: Eight American Hymns and Spirituals for Violin and Piano

Level: Advanced Beginner—Intermediate Player

It’s rare that you love every single song in a book, but I absolutely love every song in this fantastic book. In addition to some of the most treasured hymns like Be Thou My Vision, and There is a Fountain, there are also some exciting arrangements of Holy Mana, and Shall We Gather at the River. There also a Spiritual with some fun syncopations!

These arrangements offer a lot of unique elements you don’t hear in many other violin hymn arrangements. There’s double stops, pizzicato sections, along with some interesting counter melodies. Many passages go up into the higher positions, but beginners can always play the first verse of each arrangement which often stay down in first position.

Old English Hymns for Violin Solo by Linda M. Ellis Cummings

Level: Intermediate Player

This was one of the first violin hymn books my mother purchased for me when I first started playing violin, and it’s continued to be a favorite throughout the years. This edition features some of the most beautiful traditional hymns including Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken, and This is My Father’s World.

Many of the hymns have passages that go up into third position and sometimes higher for a few measures, making this book a good challenge for intermediate players who want hymn arrangements that showcase the violin’s beauty.

The book comes with a solo booklet and a piano accompaniment.

And my favorite…Hymn Tunes for Unaccompanied Violin by Marilyn Carlson

Level: Advanced Beginner-Advanced Player

You don’t always have a pianist to accompany you when playing violin in church, and playing arrangements that have piano accompaniment without a piano, well, you can obviously tell something is missing.

For years, I’d been on the prowl searching for good unaccompanied violin hymn arrangements and I finally found the jewel I was looking for. Out of all my favorite violin hymn arrangements, this one is my absolute favorite. I often pull it out to play through the songs just for my own enjoyment.

There’s a beautiful version of Come Thou Fount, a breathtaking arrangement of Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy, a version of Jesus Paid it All chocked full of delicious double stops, and probably the most interesting, most delightful arrangement of Amazing Grace I’ve ever found.

There are quadruple stops, grace notes, lovely runs, and lots of what I call “noodling.” You know, when you go back and forth between two strings really quickly. There are double stops galore, but don’t worry if you aren’t great at intentionally playing two strings at once. These double stops are generally pretty easy (playing one open string while you place fingers on another string). If you are beginning, you can leave out the double stops and just play the top note. It’s great for advanced players who want something different when it comes to hymn arrangements for violin, but beginner violinists will also be able to find many playable passages.

Enjoy these great hymn arrangements for violin and when you’re ready to add some fiddling to your repertoire, I have the perfect recommendations!

Gliga GEMS 2 Violin Review

A few years ago, one of my new students brought a Gliga violin to their lesson. I had never played a Gliga before, but as soon as I took the violin to tune it, I fell in love. The sound projection was strong and clear, the tone was bright, the quality and craftsmanship seemed top-notch. I found the violin comparable in many aspects to my much more expensive personal violin. I’m always on the lookout for good quality student violins (since there are definitely a lot of poor quality VSOs out there), so I decided to learn more about this violin brand. I purchased a Gliga Gems 2, a mid-range student violin. Overall, I’m extremely pleased. But before we get into the violin review, let’s talk a little bit about Gliga.

Gliga violins are made in Romania and shipped to U.S. customers from their shop in Nevada. One of my favorite things about this company are the options! It’s not just beginner, intermediate, and advanced violins. There are many different options for any budget. They also have every size of violin, even the harder to find sizes. I have small hands for an adult and I’ve been on the lookout for a 7/8 size violin for a while. Gliga is the only violin maker I know of that has many options in this size. You can also choose from a variety of varnishes and styles, which is a far cry from your typical, mass-produced, student violin. And if you’re in to hand-painted violins, there’s some interesting options. (I’m not a huge fan of the peacock violins, but to each his own!)

My violin is a Gems 2. I paid a total of $317 for a violin, case, bow, and shipping. When picking your violin, you can choose to upgrade your case, bow, and strings but I went with the standard option on everything.

Customer service

Gliga was easy to work with. Their website looks a bit dated, but ordering the violin was easy. My violin arrived in a timely manner and it was well-packaged. Gliga also offers a 10-day trial period with a 10-day money back guarantee.

*2024 Update: In the last four years I have seen a significant drop in Gliga’s customer service. They still ship violins in a timely manner, but they do not always respond to questions or phone calls. They still offer a good product at a good price, but their lack of communication may be something worth considering when deciding between violin dealers.

Case

The case was fine. Nothing to write home about (few student cases are), but it was clean, sturdy, and lightweight.

Violin Appearance

The violin has a very beautiful finish, especially compared to other violins at similar prices. Most student violins look and feel like student violins, but the Gliga is visually appealing with a warm-red stain and an attractive back. 

Tuning

The pegs on my violin fit very, very well. There’s definitely no slipping going on here. They are tight! To fix this, unwind the pegs a little and pull them out slightly. Not a lot, you just don’t want them pushed all the way to the end of the hole. I would definitely recommend purchasing your violin with fine tuners since the pegs on their own can make it difficult to get the string perfectly in tune. Student violins come with four fine tuners but as you go up in quality, it’s standard practice to only have one fine tuner on the E string. However, if you are just starting out and you are interested in the higher level violins, definitely spend the extra and get fine tuners on all four strings. Choosing the Wittner Space Age Tailpiece would be a worthy upgrade. If you’re wondering, it looks like a normal tailpiece, but the fine tuners are built into the tailpiece. It will also make changing strings much easier. I went with the standard tailpiece and trying to install new strings into the fine tuners was difficult.

You can also get perfection pegs installed. Perfection pegs are geared pegs that work like guitar pegs but look like traditional violin pegs. I have them on my professional violins and I’m planning to put perfection pegs on the Gliga. Right now, there is no option on Gliga’s website to upgrade to perfection pegs, but it wouldn’t hurt to call and ask them to install the pegs before shipping it to you. It would definitely be worth the extra money. If Gliga included the option for perfection pegs, this violin would be the absolute perfect beginner violin. 

Chin rest

I have to mention the chin rest because this one is REAL wood. Most beginner chin rests are cheap plastic that feel uncomfortable. The Gliga chin rest is a good height and contour.

Bow

I opted for the standard Student Brazilwood Octagonal Violin Bow. Most wooden student bows are generally poor quality (it’s better to go carbon fiber at that price point) but I was pleasantly surprised by this bow. It looks and feels much nicer than typical student bows. When looking straight down the bow, it is ever so slightly warped, but I’m not able to tell an adverse effect while playing. It’s fairly lightweight and pretty responsive for a student bow. I’m able to use quite a bit of weight without getting a scratchy sound. It is a little more unforgiving at the frog and with string crossings.  I think a beginner violinist would do fine with this bow, but I would be interested in trying the upgraded Rosewood or Carbon Fiber bow. Although I haven’t tried either of the upgraded options, if you can afford it, I would suggest going for the Carbon Fiber option. 

Strings

I went with the standard Romanian steel strings and these left a lot to be desired. The E string is fine, and the A string is okay. But the D string is very metallic sounding (even after playing a few weeks) and the G string is muffled. The differences in sound qualities make the strings sound uneven. It’s especially bothersome when trying to play double stops. Definitely pay the extra for some better strings during the checkout options as this is a relatively cheap upgrade that can make your violin sound a hundred times better. After a couple weeks, I removed the Romanian strings and I put on Evah Pirazzi strings. It made this violin a completely different instrument. I enjoyed playing this violin with the better strings. I use Evah Pirazzis on all my violins. They are expensive, but so worth it. At the very least, upgrade to the Dominant violin strings (the standard in beginner-intermediate violin strings).

Tone

Cheap strings make the tone hard to judge. This is another reason to spring for the better quality strings. Once I put Evah Pirazzi strings on, this violin’s tone completely changed. The sound quality is even across the strings. It has a warm quality in the lower ranges and projects in the higher ranges without being shrill. The quality of tone for the price range is outstanding and outplays any other beginner-level violin I’ve played.

Set-up

This violin is ready to go out of the box. It needed tuning, of course, but the strings are the correct tension and the bridge is the appropriate height with the right amount of curvature. You would be surprised at how many beginner violins lack this basic set-up!

Rosin

This outfit does come with rosin. It looks fine but to me, but I just used my own rosin. It’s worth spending a little more for some good rosin. A cake of superior rosin can last you for years (as long as you don’t drop it).

Summary

All in all, this is a great violin for a beginner player. The price point is superb for the quality of the violin. I’ve seen lots of violins that are a little cheaper but vastly inferior. The Gems 2 could take a student all the way through the beginning levels into the early intermediate stage.

Pros

• Easy to order

• Lots of options on size, appearance, and quality

• Good craftsmanship, beautiful appearance

• Correctly set-up and ready to play

• Standard Options allow for a great violin with a budget price tag.

Cons

• Pegs can be difficult to turn at first

• Romanian strings don’t have the best sound

• Standard tailpiece with fine tuners made changing strings difficult

My recommendations

• Make sure you have four fine tuners. Choose the upgraded Wittner tailpiece.

• Definitely upgrade to better strings. I recommend the Evah PIrazzis or Dominants.

• Go for the carbon fiber bow, or at least the rosewood bow. 

Find Gliga online here! Gliga also offers a coupon code with the following discounts. Use the discount code VL1003 in the “Comments” section during checkout. Don’t put the code in the coupon section, make sure you enter it in the COMMENTS and your discount will be manually subtracted after your order processes.

$5 off any Genial 2-Nitro, Genial 1-Oil, Gloria 2, Gems 2, Gloria 1.

$10 off or Gems 1, Genova 3.

$15 off for Genova 2, Gama, Ceruti Concert.

$25 off for Gliga, Genova 1, Gliga 1, Ceruti Maestro, Gliolin.

Happy Practicing!

13 Best Intermediate Violin Books: A Violin Teacher's Guide

As soon as you learn the basics of note reading, bow control, and left-hand muscle memory, a whole new world of violin books opens up to you. Whatever your style, whatever skill you’re wanting to learn, the realm for intermediate violin books is endless. Here are my top picks for the best intermediate violin books, from fiddle tunes to double stops!

Also check out my guide to the Best Beginner Violin Books, scale books, hymn books, and fiddle books!

Best Violin Technique Books for the Intermediate Player

These books focus on technique, including etudes, double stops, and higher positions.

1. I Used to Play the Violin

If you studied violin in school and haven’t picked it up in a few years, this a great book for you. There’s beginning and advanced scales, etudes, refreshers on major vs. minor, and great exercises for bow technique and more advanced bow strokes. There’s also a nice collection of songs that adults will find very appealing. 

2. Open String Bow Workouts

Many advancing violin students tend to focus on the left hand and forget the bow. But mastering the bow is crucial to violin technique. Start early with this easy-to-use bow workout featuring all open strings. Each page introduces you to a new technique to master with your bow. 

3. Superstudies for Violin

These short songs or etudes are easy to read for the advanced beginner, but they offer some advanced rhythms and bowings to get students ready for “real” etudes. My favorite part? All the harmonics! Who says you have to wait several years before playing something as fun as harmonics on the violin.

4. First Etude Album

A great collection of etudes that sound pretty! Each etude is half a page, very manageable for the advancing violinist. Each two pages focuses on one key signature so students can get a good understanding of finger patterns before moving on.

5. Finger Exercises for the Violin

If you really want to give your left hand a workout, this is a wonderful book. Build dexterity and finger flexibility with these great exercises. It’s a good pre-cursor to more advanced technique books. 

6. Third Position for the Violin

For students eager to get a taste of playing in a different position, this is a great introductory book with a good mix of exercises and songs. 

7. Introducing the Positions

If you want a more in-depth study on playing in higher positions, this book will deliver. There’s lots of exercises, mini-etudes, shifting studies, and note familiarization. The exercises focus on one key signature at a time so you can get familiar with the finger patterns. The first book covers third and fifth positions and the second volume covers second position, fourth position, and the higher positions.

8. Developing Double Stops

Playing two strings at once is not only extremely fun, it’s crucial for developing your left hand chops. Learning to keep your fingers down whether you are playing double stops or not, will help your playing and dexterity immensely. This book offers an easy introduction on how to play intervals on the violin. The first few pages are easy enough for an advanced beginner. This book will last you for years and take you through advanced triple and quadruple stops as well as double stops in higher positions.

Best Solo Pieces for the Intermediate Violinist

9. Suzuki Volume 2

Suzuki’s second volume offers several beautiful songs for developing tone, advanced bow strokes, and some third position.

10. Solo Pieces for the Intermediate Violinist

This book is a great alternative to Suzuki Volume 2. It includes a varied selection of classical pieces from Mozart to Handel to Vivaldi and more. Some songs are slow and beautiful, others are fast and exciting (like my favorite Espana Waltz). Once students complete this book, they are definitely ready for full-length concerti.

11. Mel bay’s Complete Irish Fiddler

For advancing fiddlers, this book will last you a while! It’s got lots of songs and information on Irish fiddling. The first song is The Irish Washerwoman to give you an idea of the starting level. It slowly introduces the various ornaments in fiddling by adding one more advanced element for almost every song. You’ll learn various bowing patterns, grace notes, mordents, short rolls, and more.

12. O. Rieding Concerto in B minor, Op. 35

This piece is the perfect introduction to playing concerti. There’s the typical three movements (fast, slow, fast), varied key signatures, sixteenth notes, and catchy melodies, all in first position.

13. Seitz Second Pupil’s Concerto in G, Op. 13

This concerto is a must for all advancing violinists. In fact, it was the first piece I ever performed in a recital. (My recital program is still tucked away inside the piano accompaniment). It’s all in first position but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. There’s fun cadenzas, double stops (real double stops!), grace notes, a luscious second movement, fast-paced sections, and grand finales.

I hope you enjoy my top picks for intermediate violin books. Also check out my guide to the Best Beginner Violin Books, scale books, hymn books, and fiddle books! Happy Practicing!

Best Violin Scale Books

I suppose if you are reading this, you don’t need me to tell you how wonderful scales are. Scales are like vitamins: just a little every day can do wonders for the health of your violin technique. I’ve ranked all the scale books starting from beginner and working up to advanced levels. Each violin scale book in this list builds on the other, adding more complicated rhythms, higher octaves, double stops and more. Read on to see my top violin scale books.

Also check out my top picks for beginner violin books, hymn books, and fiddle books!

Scaley Monsters

Level: Young Beginner

This book is geared towards young violinists but it’s honestly great for any age beginner. For every scale, it gives the musical notation for the basic scale and arpeggio as well as a different rhythm you can try with each scale. It includes a fingering chart so you know where to put your fingers.

A bonus—every scale also has a song you can play with it. The songs can actually be pretty tricky, but they are pretty songs and provide a great challenge for those who advance quickly.

Scales in First Position for Violin

Level: Beginner

This is a classic scale book that goes through scales up to 3 sharps and 3 flats. I love that it also includes relative minor scales as well (a rarity for beginner scale books). There are two pages worth of slurring exercises and bow division exercises for each scale. The minor scales have some slightly more complicated rhythms (6/8, triplets, and dotted eighth notes) than the major scales. The exercises are the same for every major scale and the trickier exercises are the same for every minor scale. So you will definitely know the bowing patterns and rhythms. Each scale also has arpeggios with it.

First Position Scales Studies for Violin

Level: Advanced Beginner

If you have a little bit of music reading experience, this is a great book with something different on every page to keep scales interesting. The book starts off with a one octave G major scale and by the end cycles through all of the main, major key signatures for the violin. There are a couple pages for each key signature and each page focuses on a unique rhythm or skill to incorporate while playing the scale. My only complaint is that there are no arpeggios. Otherwise I love this book.

Essential Scales and Studies for Violin

Level: Advanced Beginner—Intermediate

This book encompasses two and three octave major scales as well as three octave minor scales and chromatic scales. Each key signature has it’s own page and starts out with long bows on each note followed by shorter and shorter durations. The page always ends with arpeggios and scales in broken thirds. The key signatures progress in a natural order making the first couple pages manageable for advanced beginners. Scales using third position is quickly introduced followed by higher positions. The three octave scales offer even more bowing and rhythmic variations and the minor sections include natural, melodic, and harmonic minor scales. This book has it all for the advancing violinists!

Hrimaly Scale Studies

Level: Intermediate—Advanced

Hrimaly starts off with various scales in different bowing patterns and slurs. Scales quickly get more challenging with a different scale and arpeggio for each line, allowing students to get used to changing key signatures and finger patterns rapidly. There are scales starting in every position up to 7th position and scales that transverse the positions for a wide variety of shifting practice. By the end of this book, students are definitely ready for the grandfather of all scale books: Flesch.

Carl Flesch Scale System

Level: Advanced—Professional

The Flesch scale system is perhaps the king of all scale books, used by advanced violin students and professional. My copy is well-used and worn. The scales go through the same pattern of exercises for each key signature. One string exercises on the first page followed by the actual three-octave scale. Then comes a long line of arpeggios. There’s also scales in octaves, thirds, and sixths as well chromatic scales and scales in broken thirds. Yep, you’ll have fun with this one for a long time!

Best Fiddle Books for Beginner to Intermediate Violinists

Do you want to learn to fiddle? If you are just beginning, do you wonder if it is hard to learn to fiddle? You don’t have to wait until you have been playing for months or years to start learning the fiddle. Whether you are just starting out or have been playing for some time, here are my top fiddle books for beginner and intermediate violinists.

Check out my favorite hymn books, scale books, free fiddle sheet music, and free fiddling warm-ups!

Learn to Play Irish Fiddle by Philip John Berthoud

Level: Very New Beginner—Intermediate Player

This fiddle book is great whether you are just starting or have been playing a while. In fact, you could use it as your first method book to teach you how to get started. The first section starts off with the basics of violin: tuning, where to put your fingers, bowing, and some simple fingering exercises. After some prep work, Section 2 kicks off with your first tune. A simple song using only open strings and first finger on D and A strings. There are several one-finger polkas and jigs which progress to two-finger songs and then finally three-finger songs.

What I love most about this book is that the easy one-finger songs you learn actually sound cool! With most method books, your first few songs sound like a simple children’s tune. But these jigs sound like jigs! You could stay on each song for several days or weeks, getting it faster and faster, learning to relax and get the classic fiddle sound.

As the book progress, it adds more advanced elements like slurs, ornaments, and grace notes with each song. By the middle of the book, the songs start reaching an advanced beginner or intermediate level. Learn to Play Irish Fiddle could be your go-to fiddle book to last a while!

Fiddlers Philharmonic By Andrew H. Dabczynski and Bob Philip

Level: Beginner—Intermediate Player

This is another fiddle book you could start using pretty soon after you learn the basics. It is a collection of songs, not a method book, so you will need another book (or a teacher) to show you the fingerings and notes.

The songs always have a solo version of the tune and then a trio so you could play it with friends. Sometimes the trio version is more difficult for more of a challenge. There’s a wide variety of styles, from American fiddling to Irish Jigs. You can also buy the series for every stringed instrument so your cello and viola friends can play with you.

Ashokan Farewell

Level: Advanced Beginner—Intermediate Player

This has to be my favorite fiddle tune of all times. I play it often, experimenting with various ornaments and double stops. This sheet music arrangement has lots of written-in ornaments like slides and grace notes, which can make this version tricky. However, if you leave out the grace notes and just play the tune, this could be easily accessible for a beginner. Developing a pure, sweet tone over long notes and adding vibrato make this song enjoyable for any level!

Devil Went Down to Georgia

Level: Advanced Beginner—Intermediate Player

What list of fiddle books would be complete without this iconic fiddle song. I guarantee you, if you are in the Southern part of the United States and you tell someone you play the violin, they will ask you, “Can you play Devil Went Down to Georgia?” Now, you can say yes! The beginning fiddle licks are manageable for advanced beginners. Some double stops and slides make this tune exciting for intermediate players.

The French Fiddler by Edward Huws Jones

Level: Advanced Beginner—Intermediate Player

If you want something a little different, this French fiddling book is a great option. Every song has two versions, an easy version of the song and a more challenging version.

While the notes aren’t difficult, it starts off with some rhythms that might be tricky for very early beginners. There are some 16th notes, 8th notes, quarter notes, and 8th rests along with some time signature changes. But once you get the rhythms down, the songs are easy and fun to play.

Mel Bay’s Complete Irish Fiddle Player By Pete Cooper

Level: Advanced Beginner—Advanced Player

If you have already been playing violin for a while, this book would be my suggestion for you. It’s a big book with lots of songs and information on Irish fiddling. The first song is The Irish Washerwoman to give you an idea of the starting level. Cooper slowly introduces the various ornaments in fiddling by adding one more advanced element for almost every song. You’ll learn various bowing patterns, grace notes, mordents, short rolls, and more.

Scottish Airs and Dances For Two Violins By Anne Witt

Level: Intermediate

If you want some fun and challenging duets to play with a friends, this is a great book for you. The songs aren’t ordered by difficulty, so you might have to flip through to find the easier ones. The rhythms can be tricky, but if you’re working through Learn to Play Irish Fiddle or the Complete Irish Fiddle Player, it shouldn’t be a problem.

The only thing that is more fun than playing fiddle, is playing fiddle with someone else!

Happy Fiddling!

3 Best Shoulder Rests: A Violin Teacher's Guide

If you are just starting to play the violin, you might be overwhelmed by the many options for shoulder rests. Since every person’s body type is different, finding the perfect shoulder rest might involve some trial and error. What works for one person may not work for someone else, but I’ve found that there are some shoulder rests that work with most body types. Here are the best shoulder rests I recommend for beginner violinists.

(Make sure you purchase the size of shoulder rest that matches your violin).

1. Everest Shoulder Rest

This is the shoulder rest that I use and it seems to suit most students as well. The curve of the cushion hugs your shoulder very nicely making for a comfortable fit. My only complaint is that the feet do not screw out very much so if you have a long neck, this shoulder rest may not give you the support you need. Since the feet are firmly attached to the shoulder rest, it doesn’t allow you to tilt the rest. It’s not a big deal, but the rigidity makes it a little less customizable. Other than those few setbacks, I love this shoulder rest.

You can also buy a collapsible version so the feet fold down to better fit in your violin case. As far as shoulder rests go, it’s pretty cheap so it’s worth a try.

Pros:

-Inexpensive

-Doesn’t fall off your violin

-Comfortable cushion

-Comes in lots of fun colors

-Better for medium to small necks

Cons:

-Feet don’t screw out very far.

-Not good for long necks

2. Kun Shoulder Rest

For a long time, Kun has been the standard for shoulder rests. They offer lots of options, from their original plastic design to the prettier hardwood version. Kuns have more “moving parts” than most shoulder rests making it very customizable. I find the curve of the shoulder rest is a little more shallow than the Everest, making it slip off my shoulder occasionally. Some people have problems with the feet occasionally slipping off the violin. Replacement feet can be purchased separately if your feet eventually loose their grip. 

Pros: 

-Adjustable and customizable

-Comfortable cushion

-Comes in a hardwood version

Cons:

-Feet can sometimes slip off the violin

3. Wolf Forte Secundo Shoulder Rest

For those of you with longer necks, this is a good option with feet that twist out farther for a better fit. The screws or height adjusters are also very thick so the shoulder rest won’t wobble if you do adjust the feet for a taller height. It’s extremely customizable. You can even bend the metal backing plate to fit your shoulder. The only negative is that the feet may loose their grip and fall off your violin. 

Pros:

-Great for longer necks

-Offers the most options for customization

-Crescent shape is good for narrower shoulders

Cons:

-Feet can sometimes slip off the violin

Finding the perfect shoulder rest can sometimes be a challenge, but all three of these shoulder rests are great places to start. Happy Practicing!