The violin may be small, but its power is unmistakable, and its versatility makes it useful in almost every genre.

The violin has been around a long time, and it continues to produce one of the most-loved sounds in music. The beauty of the violin is timeless! That said, it’s not the easiest string instrument to master right away, so be prepared to practice (and parents, be prepared to hear some interesting sounds for the first couple months). But the results are worth it, and our violin students at Sense & Color love their instruments and their teachers!

Violin is great for helping students learn good posture and focus, and for improving arm strength and dexterity. It’s lightweight and small, and a lot more versatile than some might think. The violin’s not just for symphonies! With an amp and pedals, a violin can carry the role of a keyboard or guitar in a band, and when played as a fiddle, it becomes a whole different animal altogether.

It’s actually the same instrument, just used in different musical styles. Violins are generally associated with classical and jazz music, while a fiddle is associated with folk, bluegrass, Celtic, and country music. Think of it this way — violin music is beautiful, powerful, and graceful, while fiddle music is more rhythmically complex, with a strong drive and a beat that makes you want to dance. As a violin player, there’s no reason to label yourself as one or the other, since you’ve got the best of both worlds at your fingertips at all times.

We highly discourage buying a violin from eBay or Amazon, as there’s no guarantee as to the quality, and they’re not professionally set up. Playing on a low-quality violin can be very demotivating, as it won’t sound good, no matter how much you practice.

Local shops that carry violins:

• Violins Etc
• Austin Strings
• Strait Music
• Blackerby Violin Shop
• Westbank String Shop

Reputable online shops:

• Shar Music
• Southwest Strings

Violin’s a more popular choice over the viola, but for students who’d like to learn to play the violin’s larger cousin, our violin instructor Megan Berson is ready to teach it! Viola uses a lower clef in sheet music, and produces a slightly darker, richer sound, somewhere between a violin and a cello.