Exploring the
ORCHESTRA
Violin
Musical Section:
Strings (Instruments that produce sound by means of vibrating strings. Other instruments in this family include: violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, guitar.) . Other instruments in this family: Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Viola
About the Violin
What it looks like
The violin is a small string instrument with a curved shape and a smooth body usually made of wood. It has four strings: G-D-A and E.
It’s smaller than a guitar but just as powerful. Of all the string instruments, it plays the highest notes.
There are more violins in the orchestra than any other instrument, sometimes as many as thirty!
How to Play
Mini Maestro
You play the violin by moving a bow across the strings. A bow is like a stick with soft hairs on it. When you move the bow across the string, it makes a beautiful, high-pitched sound. (Or if you don't practice very often, it can sound a little like a cranky cat!)
Young Maestro
You play the violin by moving a bow across the strings. A bow is like a stick with soft hairs on it. When you move the bow across the string, it makes a beautiful, high-pitched sound that can create all kinds of emotions: happy, sad, triumphant, thoughtful or even scary! You can also pluck the strings with your fingers, (called pizzicato) which makes a light, playful sound.
Shh! The Violin Is Telling a Story
You’ve heard the story of Aladdin? Well, Aladdin is from the book “1001 Nights” about a famous storyteller, Scheherazade who has to tell a story a night in order to stay alive. When Rimsky-Korsakov wrote his piece Scheherazade, he wanted to use an instrument to represent Scheherazade’s voice and cleverness. He chose the violin.
Hearing the solo violin in the piece, it’s as if Scheherazade is turning the page and beginning the next story to keep the Sultan’s attention and keep herself alive!
