Buying a Violin What to Consider

Buying a Violin What to Consider What Should You Ask Yourself Before you Buy a Violin? ChaptersWhat Are the Different Types of Violin?Violin Tuning: Where to BeginWhat is the Cost of Violins?Caring for Your ViolinStradivarius ViolinsWhether you’re completely new to music lessons or you’re simply looking to fully commit to your musical education by purchasing a violin of your very own, the process of looking for a suitable violin can quickly become complicated.When it comes to choosing a violin to suit you as a player, music teachers can be incredibly helpful in providing advice around violin makers, suppliers in your local area and the prices you can expect to pay for a range of violins.However, heading in the right direction can be difficult if you haven’t yet met with your violin instructor but you’re looking to buy an instrument before your first lesson.Getting to grips with the world of violins can help you feel a bit more confident on your visits to music shops.Having a good idea about the things to consider when looking for your ideal violin will give you a far better chance of a successful purchase.Whether you want to know more about the various types of violin, the history of string instruments, violin sizes, playing the violin, how to tune and look after your violin or the pricing for different types of violin, this article will guide you through the wonderful world of the smallest member of the string family!Given that most violin lessons for beginners are taught to youngsters, naturally their first instruments are of a smaller size than those played by adults.Hiring or buying a violin of the correct size is absolutely essential for any violinist as playing a violin of the wrong size can lead to discomfort and even hinder progress â€" so don’t be tempted to buy a larger violin for a young musician to grow into!Whether you're renting or buying, the student should be able to comfortably hold the scroll of a violin in the palm of their left hand for the instrument to be a good fit.So, what other types of violin are out there?The electric violin is a popular choice for those who perform regularly in front of large crowds, as their make-up enables their sound to be amplified and played through electronic sound systems.Electric violins are the same size and have the same number of strings are acoustic violins, so switching between the two is not difficult for violinists.Another alternative to the acoustic violin is the electro-acoustic type (also known as semi-electric or acoustic-electric).Electro-acoustic violins are all about flexibility, as they provide the player with the sound of an acoustic violin whilst giving them the option to transmit this sound through an amplifier.Most violinists are happy to keep playing their acoustic instruments, while more advanced players and those who are working towards a career on-stage tend to opt for more advanced violins.Violin Tuning: Where to BeginFor those who are encountering stringed instruments for the very first time, tuning up can be daunting.How to tune a violi n properly?  How do I know when each string is in-tune? What happens if I snap a string?Violins have four strings which are tuned in perfect fifths.This means that the pitch of each string is from lowest to highest is the fifth note of the scale of the one before it. So, the strings are tuned to the notes G, D, A and E (where G is the lowest note and E is the highest).So, what is the correct way to tune a violin?The way you tune a violin will depend on how out-of-tune it is in the first place.For example, if your violin has just had new strings put on it and you’re tuning them for the first time, use the tuning pegs (located beyond the fingerboard).Turning the tuning pegs tightens and loosens the strings. It’s important to remember to be gentle with your violin’s strings â€" even if they are horrendously out-of-tune!Turn each peg slowly as you pluck the string to listen to the pitch. Once it has reached the right pitch, move onto the next string.The other way to tune-up is to use the fine-tuners which are located on the violin tailpiece.Learning to tune a violin properly is important to ensure quality sound. Source: PixabayIt is recommended that you use the fine tuners (rather than the tuning pegs) as much as possible to prevent string breakages.Your violin teacher will be able to show you how to properly tune your violin, however, there are also plenty of online tutorials to help you too. TomViolin Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StacyViolin Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtieViolin Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BenedictViolin Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaisiiaViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AmyViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuísViolin Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoViolin Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat is the Cost of Violins?When the time comes for you to begin your search for a violin of your own, you’ll notice that the asking prices of violins can vary a lot depending on the make and model of the violin, as well as the level of player each violin is intended for.So, if you’re a beginner looking to purchase your very first violin, how much money should you be prepared to part with?There are many ways to find out which are the best student violins for beginners, such as approaching violin specialists at your local music shop or looking for advice online.As a general rule, you should expect to pay £50- £100 for your very first good violin outfit, however, if you’re looking for a musical instrument which will suit you in the long run, it can be worth investing up to £300 in a good-quality violin which is suitable for both beginner and intermediate players.For instance, most violin shops sell brands of student violin such as Windsor and Antoni, which are reputable yet affordable and inexpensive options with a heightened level of playability to suit any beginner violinist.As you progress in your musical career, you may want to invest in a high-specification instrument which will help you to produce a richer tone and to showcase your technical skills.Stentor and Forenza are among some of the violin makers which develop violins for intermediate players.But remember, don’t just make decisions based on brand names.Remember that within every brand are various models of violin which are developed with the needs of specific types of student in mind, so make sure that you do your research on specific models before you make a final decision!Caring for Your ViolinLearning how to play the violin involves much more than learning how to play the right notes in the right places.As a musician, it’s your responsibility to take care of the instrument that you play to ensure that it is in the best possible condition when you play it.Proper maintenance of yo ur violin will ensure that it produces a high-quality sound as well as reducing the risk of damage.For violinists, good maintenance means taking steps to care for your instrument on both a regular and long-term basis.So, how do you take care of a violin?Most of your violin maintenance takes place after you’ve finished playing your violin.Once you’ve finished practicing your pieces or rehearsing with your orchestra, you should wipe down your violin with a dry cloth. Doing this will remove any dust or residue which may build up and affect the violin’s overall tone if not removed.Keeping your violin in a case will protect it from damage ¦ source: Pixabay - LaPorteAnother essential care tip concerns the violin bow. Violin bows are made of horsehair and, like the violin itself, they are quite delicate and therefore require a level of care.Just as you tighten the bow hair before playing your violin, you should also loosen it before putting the violin and bow away in a violin case.V iolin cases also play a mian role in looking after your violin, as they provide a tailor-made cushion for the instrument. Violins should always be stored in a hard case when not being used - and remember to remove your violin shoulder rest and practice mute before you put your violin away!Cleaning the dust off your violin, keeping it in a case and loosening the horsehair on the bow are just two things you can do to care for your instrument on a daily basis â€" but what about in the longer term?Changing a violin’s strings is must for any violinist. It is recommended that players change their strings once every 12 months (less-experienced violinists should visit an expert at a violin shop who can lend a hand before they learn to do it themselves).With time, violin strings can become worn as the rosin builds up on them. This can eventually affect the violin’s sound and put the strings at risk of breaking, so re-stringing is an essential part of keeping string instruments sounding b right.Stradivarius ViolinsOne of the famous names that constantly crops up in discussions about violins is ‘Stradivarius’.But what makes Stradivarius violins so special? And can you still buy them today?Stradivarius string instruments get their name from their makers, the family of Antonio Stradivari, an Italian family who crafted violins, violas, and cellos during the 1600s and 1700s.Though only around 600 of the original Stradivarius violins still exist, many manufacturers have attempted to copy the classic Stradivarius design in tribute to the famous makers.Most original handmade Stradivarius instruments are owned privately or by museums, and if you’re looking to buy a  strad  of your own, you’ll need to have at least £2 million in your back pocket!Nevertheless, the Stradivari legacy is an important part of the rich and interesting history of stringed instruments which lives on in the violin crafting of today.You can look around for violin lessons london if you wish to l earn more and are based in the capital.

12 Classic French Movies All Students Need to See

12 Classic French Movies All Students Need to See Suzy S. Nothing beats relaxing with a great film while you practice your French! French tutor  Carol Beth  shares her favorite French movies for students Watching movies is a great way to maintain and expand your knowledge of French, and there are quite a few enjoyable French movies out there. The following list covers many of the most well-known films that students should check out. The list begins with the most “tame” movies and progresses to those that include romantic themes (or scenes) and sometimes violence. For later films, parents and teachers of younger French students may wish to preview, warn, supervise, obtain guardian permission, or wait until the children or students are mentally and emotionally ready. Ratings are included where possible. 1) Astérix et Obélix contre César (1999) This film is based on the popular French comic strip starring the two title characters. Astérix is a fierce and clever little Gaulois who with his big, strong sidekick Obélix and the rest of their village stands up to the Romans who have taken over the rest of Gaul (Frances old name), and would love to finish off their task by taking over Astérix and Obelixs village. But, Asterix and Obelix are too clever for that, right? This film was followed by Astérix Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre in 2002, Astérix aux Jeux Olympiques in 2008, and Astérix et Obélix: Au service de sa Majesté in 2012. Unlike the comic strip, these four films are all live-action films with real actors. There have also been quite a few cartoon-based movies from the 1967 cartoon Astérix le Gaulois all the way up to the 2014 3-D cartoon Asterix: Le Domaine des dieux. Not all seem to have been rated. As a reference point, Astérix Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre was rated PG. 2) La Gloire de Mon Pere (My Fathers Glory) (1990) La Gloire de Mon Pere follows the experiences of a young boy during a vacation outside the city of Provence, in the south of France. The landscape and ways of life depicted in the film are typical of French families at the time of the film; southern French landscape still appears similarly today. La Gloire de Mon Pere also has a sequel, Le Chateau de Ma Mere (My Mothers Castle) (1990), in which the boys family returns to the city for work and school, but continues to visit the same country house on the weekends. Not rated. 3) Les Choristes (2004) For music and education lovers, Les Choristes is a little like a French Mr. Hollands Opus. The main character, a teacher, takes a job at a private boys school which is ruled with an iron fist by an overly-strict and closed-minded principal. The new teacher develops a more positive relationship with the students with his understanding character and love for music. The impact on all their lives is great, especially for one little boy, who grows up to become the films narrator. Rated PG-13. 4) Jean de Florette (1986) Jean de Florette is based on a novel by Marcel Pagnol, and tells the tragic tale of Jean de Florette a hunchback with a love for life, determination, and work ethic who returns to the land he has inherited in Provence with his wife and daughter. Their neighbors, an uncle and his grown nephew, pretend to be friends, but really have an eye on their land. Jean de Florette is followed by a sequel, Manon des Sources (1986), which follows the story of Jeans daughter, Manon. Manon des Sources follows up on and resolves much of what happened in Jean de Florette. Rated PG and PG-13, respectively. 5) Cyrano de Bergerac (1990) Cyrano de Bergerac is based on an 1897 French play by Edmond Rostand set in 18th-century Paris. Cyrano is a proud and eloquent soldier with a gift for poetry, but he is not very good-looking and is particularly sensitive about his rather large nose. He falls in love with his cousin, but she has her eye on a handsome but tongue-tied, ineloquent young soldier in Cyranos regiment named Christian. Out of his desire to express himself, without disrespecting the cousin he loves, Cyrano initiates a devious plot with Christian. This is a great film for those who love tragic romance that is also somewhat intellectual. Rated PG. 6) La Vie en Rose (2007) La Vie en Rose recounts the story of Edith Piaf (played by Marion Cotillard). Piaf was a famous 20th-century singer around the time of World War II who, despite difficult and humble beginnings and personal problems throughout her life, captured the French imagination. Rated PG-13. 7) Les Compères (1983) Les Compères begins with a worried mother who calls two old lovers to help her find, help and bring back home her troubled, runaway son. She independently tells both lovers neither of which is her husband nor the actual father her son has always known that they are his father. The boy is thoroughly confused when they find him almost simultaneously with the same claim, but comes to appreciate their humorously opposite personalities. Rated PG. 8) Timbuktu (2014) Timbuktu follows the story of Kidane, a cattle herder, who lives outside of Timbuktu at a time when religious fundamentalism has become more common. Though his life is at first peaceful, local ruling jihadists soon disrupt his and his familys lives. Includes Tuareg, Bambara, French, Arabic, and a little English. Rated PG-13. 9) Le Fabuleux Destin DAmélie Poulain (2001) Le Fabuleux Destin DAmélie Poulain was a hit in the US when it first came out, following the life of Amélie as she seeks true love. Amélie is a cute and sweet but mischievous character who puts her crush through quite a search through Paris to find her. Rated R. 10)La Femme Nikita (1990) Nikita is offered a chance to avoid punishment (life in prison) for past crimes in return for her role as an assassin. After some convincing, she does so â€" quite successfully cultivating her feminine charm, discretion, and deadly aim. As she builds her new life, she also finds herself a boyfriend she loves and who loves her. But then a mission goes awry. I do not recommend this film for especially young viewers or for those who are sensitive to romantic or violent scenes. Rated R. 11) The Trois Couleurs Trilogy The Trois Couleurs trilogy, consisting of Bleu (Blue), Blanc (White), and Rouge (Red) (named for the colors of the French flag), follows the stories of three groups of individuals whose stories are connected by the intersection of their lives. The films stories are said to represent liberty, equality, and fraternity â€" the ideals of the French Revolution. Bleu explores the life of the main character, Julie, as she seeks emotional liberty after the death of her husband and daughter in a car crash. Blanc follows Karol, a recent divorcee, as he seeks equality through revenge. And finally, Rouge explores the relationships between the characters and, at the end, connects the main characters from all three films. All three films are rated R. 12) La Haine (1995) La Haine examines the tense relationship between a group of poor Parisian immigrant youth and the police, caused in part by their actions and in part by prejudice towards them. The entire film is in black and white. Rated R. Are you a Netflix subscriber? Find the best French movies on Netflix now with our monthly guide to the cream of the streaming crop! Do you see a film that might fit your tastes? Many of them are available in the foreign films section of local video rental stores or on Amazon. Or, if theres a French movie you love that didnt make the list, tell us about it in the comments below! Carol Beth L. teaches  French lessons in San Francisco, CA. She also studied Japanese in high school and college.   She has her Masters in French language education from the Sorbonne University in Paris and has been teaching since 2009. Learn more about Carol Beth here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Sara Robertson