Category: Equipment

Posted in Accessories, Equipment

Selection Tools for Violin Strings, Part 2

Posted on by J Melin

In Part 1, we identified the strings that walked in the door on our student’s instrument. Now in Part 2, we’ll explore the possibilities that a change of strings can bring!

When Cheap Violins Meet Expensive Strings

Something I love to do for students is determine the optimum type of strings for their instrument. Lessons are often started on an inexpensive instrument with bargain-basement solid-steel strings (I’m looking at you, Red Label). The sound is typically tinny, narrow and eardrum-piercing. While a sub-$500 “student instrument” certainly isn’t made to high-quality specs with the finest woods, fittings and varnish, it is amazing the difference that can be made in the sound by putting a really great set of strings on. Continue reading “Selection Tools for Violin Strings, Part 2” →

Posted in Accessories, Equipment

Selection Tools for Violin Strings, Part 1

Posted on by J Melin

When a student brings in a violin “from Grandpa’s attic” or loaned by a friend, we always check the condition of the strings first, right? Now that I’ve learned a bit more about string qualities (see Part 2 of this discussion), I also look at the winding colors right away and try to I.D. what kind of strings are already on it. If that thing hasn’t been played in 5-50 years, it’s going to need new strings anyway… time to decide if it’s got the best possible strings for its tonal potential. Here’s where I go first to find out what kind of string we’re starting with.

String Identification Charts

Lashof Violins   —  A comprehensive chart of pro-grade strings, but a little hard to use. When you scroll down to find your string brand, you lose the column headings to tell you which string has which color of windings. But this page is still usually my first stop. If I can’t find the strings here, I move on to: Continue reading “Selection Tools for Violin Strings, Part 1” →

Posted in Accessories, Chinrests and Shoulder Rests

Shoulder Rest and Chinrest Reviews

Posted on by J Melin

t-rex plays violinI’ve been experimenting with different types of shoulder rests for several years now, trying to find the perfect design and placement to give me a secure hold so I can play with accuracy and comfort. However, since I’m built slightly like a T-Rex (big head, thick neck, short arms), the popular combination of a Guarneri chinrest with a Kun shoulder rest has not worked for me. I cycled through virtually every type of shoulder rest on the market to find one that would work. (If you’re interested in my reviews of them, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

belvelin shoulder restI thought I had settled on the small, firm Belvelin foam shoulder rest. Since it’s not a fixed-in-place bar with feet, it gave me the ability to move the violin to the left (to play high on the G string) or to the right (to reach the tip of the bow). It was also very comfortable for average periods of playing time, it didn’t fall off like the Kun, or threaten to ding the varnish on the back of my violin like the Bonmusica. But I found that I was in a lot of pain after a two-hour performance. Why?? Because I was only addressing half of my setup problem.

I found this very helpful research project on adapting chinrests and shoulder rests to different violinists’ shapes and sizes. Aha! I definitely needed to work on the topside of my violin and see if my chinrest should be changed out. Continue reading “Shoulder Rest and Chinrest Reviews” →

Posted in Bows, Instruments, Videos

Violin and Bow Audition Videos

Posted on by J Melin

instrument recommendation videosIn 2014 I made two videos of myself trying out several intermediate-level violins and bows from Shar Music. I’ve sent many students to this online retailer over the years to get outfitted. I put the videos on my studio YouTube channel and told students to watch them when I was asked for instrument recommendations. I didn’t give them a second thought until I was uploading recital videos many months later and found that my “audition” videos had racked up thousands of views!

Those videos are what gave me the idea to build out a more comprehensive website to provide Violin Teaching Resources. Since Shar has added many other instruments and bows at these price points in the intervening years, I hope to do some follow-up videos someday. In the meantime, I hope you find that these are still informative and useful.