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Our violin community of more than 100,000 unique readers a month explores the worlds of classical music and fiddle music for violinists of all levels - including symphony orchestra professionals and violin teachers, those who make and sell musical instruments, and students who want to learn the violin.

Violinist.com's exclusive interviews with top violin performers, teachers, pedagogues and luthiers, including Joshua Bell, Hilary Hahn, and Anne-Sophie Mutter
Editor Laurie Niles' coverage of the biennial Starling-DeLay Symposium on Violin Studies at The Juilliard School in New York

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Recent Top Blogs

Happy July 4!

By Laurie Niles
July 3, 2009 19:03

That is, happy Independence Day to V.com friends in the United States, and a simple happy July 4 for everyone the world 'round!

I looked around YouTube for something that showed some American spirit, and naturally I chose a piece by a Belgian composer...;) Thank you to V.com member Krzysztof Ruciñski, who was 18 when he recorded this with pianist Chase Coleman, during the Recital launching Foundation to Assist Young Musicians in Las Vegas in December 2007. Enjoy, "Souvenir d' Amerique," Op. 17 by Henri Vieuxtemps, or, Variations on "Yankee Doodle."

V.com weekend vote: Strad or del Gesù?

By The Weekend Vote
July 3, 2009 16:00

Earlier this week, Philippe Quint confessed to being a Strad man, and that got me thinking: Strad or Guarneri del Gesù?

The "Stradivarius" label is the famous one, it graces so many knock-offs, and Stradivari is the one violin maker that is known by both musicians and people in the general public -- musical Muggles -- like my Mom. (Hi Mom!) But the del Gesù has captured the imaginations of so many artists; this just can't be denied.

Guarneri del Gesùs have the general reputation of being more sonorous than Strads but less finely crafted. They also are rarer, simply because del Gesù was less prolific than was Stradivari, who kept making fiddles (some 1,000 of them) up until he died at the age of 93. (del Gesù lived only half as long -- to the age of 46). The Stradivari Society estimates there are approximately 135 del Gesùs left in existence, compared to 650 Stradivari instruments...

Carving a scroll - step by step - part XII

By LUIS CLAUDIO MANFIO
July 2, 2009 16:26

I continue refinishing with my shaped scrapers. Now we have this:

Recent Discussion Threads

Web Site Story

From Laurie Niles
The musical...yes, that's what makes it violin-related..

9 replies - Last 2009-7-3 19:24

Bowing forearm pain

From Ken Karnofsky
I've just returned to playing violin after many years. Four months into it, I've started experiencing pain in my bowing forearm and wrist. Any suggestions for improving my position or technique to avoid this problem?

6 replies - Last 2009-7-3 19:17