Why do you love and play the violin?
I would like to know, out of curiosity, why do you all love and play the violin, everyone has different reasons and I'm very interested to hear all the different stories and reasons!
Replies (17)
The violin is closest in resemblance to the human voice. Since the violin is very expressive, it can touch your soul unlike other instruments.
I love the sound, the shape, the history- everything about it really. There is nothing not to love about violins. The instrument also has a lot of appeal for me since it is closely associated with classical forms of music.
It's a rather perfect instrument-only "con" is that most of the repertoire is not meant to be Solo (Bach and the others are not a majority of the repertoire), so the Piano is "easier" to make music with at home alone. I consider the violin (and my violin) as my life partner/wife, requiring a similar labor of love, which is all good .
I'm endlessly fascinated by how many different sounds the violin can make. The range of the violin is so unique with different bow strokes, or plucking, or paying behind the bridge (are there words for these? I do not know them!) tapping the bow against the strings, harmonics - you get the idea. I love the smooth legato, and bright chirping staccato, and all the differing techniques that I haven't learned. I even love the crunch and more violent sounds, and when the violin goes into what I call "angry wood flute mode" (it sounds a bit like a harshly played wood instrument! this is the violin!)
Add in vibrato and you have a dizzying array of acoustic sounds and tones. If you wanted a more modern twist we have pick-ups and electronic modifications to make, and it's all just so lovely.
String instruments in general I think have these abilities to some extent, but for me the most expressive is the violin. It's a lifetime of exploration, and I'm eager to experience it all.
Call me anthropomorphic but my violin and I make an interesting team. We make music together. Most often simple pleasing music and sometimes challenging stuff. It's a blast to look at a new sheet of music and wonder how to approach it, work it out and make it sing.
Neither I nor my wooden friend are great, we're just committed to making music. We have fun together and sometimes bring some of that joy to others.
Main reason I began learning was because I wanted a challenge! I was 'bored' of my piano playing and violin was my next most-intriguing instrument. (I've tried guitar and flute, but they didn't 'clic', if you know what I mean.)
There's something special about the violin; it's soulful and uplifting and everything else in between.
Simply put: because it's fun. I can't really say how. I was probably drawn to the violin by curiosity, but I don't remember. I just love playing. That's all.
I love viola, and later know that a "violino" is a small "viola".
because i'm in love
I wish I knew : at times it feels like trudging uphill wearing gum boots. Yet I can't give up my daily practice....'hope springs eternal in the human breast'.
I like the sound it makes under my ear. I like that I can play some pretty pieces on it. I like that I can play in ensembles with it. Of course anyone could say as well about any other instrument. I play the piano too, and all of the above apply there as well.
Out of all the millions of things I could write here...just two.
1. Music was created by a loving, infinitely-creative God, both for our enjoyment, and for His praise. I am absolutely enjoying music through the violin - and I'm so thankful to be able to use my instrument to worship Him.
2. The violin has such a rich history, and spans so many genres - Classical, Jazz, Bluegrass, Scandinavian, Irish, French, South American....etc.!! - I love exploring all these genres with my instrument, and discovering all the nuances of technique and sound that go into each different style.
The other 9,998 reasons won't fit :)
Also just to list two came to mind:
Violin is a extension of one's voice. I believe I've been using my voice in all sorts of ways to express myself and to get what I want as soon as I was born. I was told that I would sing for hours into the world through a window as a child before I could talk. As I was brought up not to talk back to grownups, as a young girl, I would sing or play the violin to protest something I didn't like. Human voice is limited and sometimes can be too personal. Violin compliments and extends my voice.
Also, as long as I am learning, I'm happy. Learning violin is unique in that the better you are, the harder it gets. The harder it gets, more interesting it gets. Not many disciplines I've studied are like that.
Being a beginner player, the Violin humbles me in every way and asks me to deal with my strengths and weaknesses in simple terms. Nothing else in my life provides this rich experience. That's what I love about the violin.
There is hardly a more versatile and more expressive instrument on the planet, and the possibilities are endless. It is portable and provides limitless challenges.
I also can't resist this: when people ask "why do you love so-and-so?" The answer can't be complete or correct by listing a bunch of reasons. It's a gestalt thing, isn't it? I think it's same when it comes to love violin.
not violin, but viola....
1) the "not-so-secret viola society". We're a tight-knit group no matter where you're from or even if you know each other personally or not.
2) 5 minutes on viola can take away the stress of the day better than the best yoga or meditation practice in the same amount of time.
3) it is the one thing that I can do in front of my peers, though not perfect (or far from), results in a tremendous amount of support. Try that in your 9-5 job!
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December 29, 2016 at 05:49 AM · I have always been extremely responsive to music. My daughter is the same. We cry like babies listening to a moving piece of music. The violin is one of the most moving instruments I've experienced. I was also really drawn to the power of orchestral music through the early Star Wars movies.
Initially, when I was younger, I liked the idea of playing the violin but let myself be influenced by negativity. Now that I'm older I've decided that I am done listening to negativity around the violin and I'm just going to do it. It might be too difficult for some people, but I'm a technical guy, and the violin as I've learned is a technical instrument. A technical instrument for a technical person.
So my goal is to progress to the point where I might be able to play something moving or stimulating to someone else.