Violin Lessons

Violin Lessons Just for You

This is what we do for over 35 years.

Music Makers Calgary is the perfect place for young kids, teenagers, adults and seniors to take Violin lessons. High qualified teachers ready to give you the best learning experience possible, respecting your own pace and ability.

All individual lessons are prepared to fit your needs, being that for deep theoretical understanding or just to learn how to play a specific music that you love.

Get in touch to learn more and schedule your first Violin lesson.

Benefits of Playing The Violin

Beyond the pleasure of it, playing the Violin is a lot more than just having a good time. Some studies across Canada and other countries suggest that playing the Violin can help with:

• Increased arm strength
• Improved finger dexterity
• Better coordination and motor skills
• Improved posture
• Sharpened memory
• Lower stress levels
• Stronger verbal ability and visual pattern completion
• Boosted academic skills
• Higher standards for yourself

Greatest Players

• Niccolo Paganini
• Pablo de Sarasate
• Antonio Vivaldi
• Arcangelo Corelli
• Jascha Heifetz
• Ole Bull
• Giuseppe Tartini
• Mischa Elman
• Fritz Kreisler
• David Oistrakh
• David Garret (Video)

Construction

A violin generally consists of a spruce top, also known as the top plate, maple ribs and back, two endblocks, a neck, a bridge, a soundpost, four strings, and various fittings, optionally including a chinrest, which may attach directly over, or to the left of, the tailpiece.

Strings

First made of stretched, dried and twisted sheep gut, currently it is still made of gut, specially if the musician want an historical tone, but also solid steel, stranded steel, a variety of synthetic materials and some times plated with silver.

Pitch range

The highest note is E7 and the lowest G3. Depending of the finger board length, higher and lower notes could played, although not commonly used in orchestral violin parts.

Acoustics

The arched shape, the thickness of the wood, and its physical qualities govern the sound of a violin affect the acoustic of the violin.

Sizes

Apart from the standard, full (4/4) size, violins are also made in so-called fractional sizes of 7/8, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16, 1/32 and even 1/64.

Bow

Made of a wooden stick with a ribbon of horsehair strung between the tip and frog, at the opposite end. Some cheaper bows can be made of synthetic fibre.

History

Brought from the middle east by Arab and Mediterranean traders, the first form of the violin arrive in Italy in 16th-century. After further modifications using borrowed ideas from other contemporary stringed instruments  between the 18th and 19th centuries, it served as the bases for the viola and the final form of the violin.

The most prized violin makers were the Stradivari, Guarneri and Amati families from the 16th to the 18th century in Brescia and Cremona and by Jacob Stainer in Austria. The quality of their sound is unmatched, according to the enthusiasts.

The violin became popular almost immediately, specially street musicians and the nobility.