Becoming Great

Is it better to be an amazing violinist with a mediocre violin, or a mediocre violinist with an amazing violin? I believe I have benefitted from learning on a mediocre violin. Playing a mediocre instrument is harder than playing a very well crafted instrument. I have worked harder than someone learning on an ideally crafted violin to perfect my sound and make certain techniques sound good. Having a mediocre violin has forced me to practice more, learn more techniques, and therefore had helpd me become a better violinist. The real reason for different levels of violins may possibly be to ensure that a beginner will start out with a violin that may need some extra hard work and practice to make it sound great, which gives beginners the opportunity to become amazing.

If you’re anything like me at my first violin shop, you are probably wondering how violins can be different. The main differences are based on the way the violin is constructed and the materials used. Different makers use different methods. The first and most important decision is choosing the wood. The best type of wood for the back, sides, neck and scroll is Maple. The best type for the top of the violin is Spruce. The type of wood used for the fingerboards, pegs, and tailpiece is Ebony because it is more durable and these parts of the violin get handled the most. The most desirable characteristics of these woods include them being light weight, strong, well shaped, and aged. This criteria produces the best sound quality once the violin is made. Another challenge that I had with learning my violin was the strings. Originally strings were made of gut (lamb intestine), but they would break often and would not stay tuned for very long. Now there are options for gut strings wrapped in metal, aluminum or steel. There are also metal-cored and metal wound strings which create greater mass so that the strings will vibrate at a lower pitch. The cheaper the strings, the cheaper they are wound and the less likely they will have a good sound quality. Cheaper strings also need to be tuned more often, which makes it harder to play because you constantly need to check them. The other aspect of the violin that makes mine harder to play than an expensive violin is the bow. The best type of wood for the bow is Pernambuco Brazil wood connected with horse hair. Cheaper types of bows use less suitable wood and nylon or synthetic hair. This causes the bow to be harder to control and less bouncy at the balance point, which is desirable for good technique. Rosin is a sticky compound that you rub onto the horse hair which causes it to catch as you glide the hair over the strings. Rosin is essential for creating a good sound with your violin.

Thanks to all of these difficulties and challenges, my skills as a violinist have improved beyond what I could have imagined. Extra time practicing to improve my tone, make my strings sing, and learning good bow control had made me confident that if I had to play on a different instrument other than my own, better or worse, I would succeed. A mediocre violin has given me confidence in my talent that I can teach and am well prepared to help a beginning violin student, with a beginning violin, sound great and learn everything they need to know. I believe that having a mediocre violin is a great opportunity to become an amazing violinist that those awarded an amazing violin right off the bat, won’t be as likely to obtain.