Johnson String Instrument Blog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning to play an instrument can be a transformative experience for children, fostering discipline, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for music. However, there can come a time when students consider quitting. This can leave parents and music teachers scratching their heads, especially if students were previously making good progress.

We want to explore some common reasons why kids quit music, offer advice about providing encouragement and setting expectations, and discuss how to help them get … Read more

You’ve probably heard the assertion that print media is dead, and while suggesting the industry’s early demise is a bit harsh, it’s true that digital media is winning out. As a result, libraries, news outlets, and publishers are hurrying to digitize their archives and include virtual counterparts in their current offerings.

Unsurprisingly, the sheet music industry has also been impacted, with digital sheet music quickly becoming a favorite among people just learning to read music … Read more

When it comes to evoking emotions through music, the violin is in a class of its own. Renowned for its ability to mimic the human voice, its varied tonal range can be used to express a wide range of feelings from joy to sorrow, and everything in between.

However, the deeper, darker tone and lower pitch of a violin can resemble sounds that humans use to express sadness in speech. This distinctive sound creates a … Read more

Until the past decade, fiberglass bows and traditional wood bows were the only options available to string musicians. Fiberglass bows are good for beginning students, but they can be heavy for a young child. Wood is a more traditional choice, and a bit lighter. But there are things to consider.

Pernambuco wood, or Brazilwood, in particular, was favored in bow making. After first being discovered by Portuguese explorers in 1500, Pernambuco became highly coveted and … Read more

Are you struggling to decide on a New Year’s resolution? Perhaps you have already attempted the usual — getting in shape, reading more, spending more time with loved ones – with limited success, and want to try something new. If this sounds like you, learning an instrument for the new year might be just what you’re looking for.

Whether you have always wanted to learn an instrument or are simply curious about picking up a … Read more

For many cello, viola, and violin players, classical music has been their introduction to the orchestra. Music programs in schools often rely on the classics, no matter what type of music students are interested in.

If you’re a string musician that grew up learning to play classical music, you may feel there’s little opportunity to start playing your favorite songs in different genres. However, there’s no reason why you can’t incorporate your cello, violin, or … Read more

If you’re a violinist, particularly at the beginner or intermediate level, you’ve probably come across playing instructions in your sheet music that you don’t recognize. From vibrato to tremolo, there are a variety of techniques that musicians use to produce specific violin sounds. Today we’re going to be examining the pizzicato technique and how to achieve it.

Pizzicato, meaning “pinched” in Italian, is a technique that involves plucking violin strings with one’s fingers instead of … Read more

If you have just begun your journey playing the violin, you probably have picked up tips and tricks for violin maintenance, such as how to clean your instrument or use rosin. However, you might not have changed your violin strings. It may seem like a daunting task for beginners, but violin strings are bound to wear out and break, and old strings need to be replaced. You don’t need to change them on your own … Read more

Stringed instruments are some of the most ubiquitous instruments across all genres of music. Whether you like classical or classic rock, fans of music can easily tell you one of their favorite songs — and the reason why. Stringed instruments are often celebrated for their ability to resemble the human voice. So it’s no surprise why strings form the basis of our modern orchestra and have become so popular in school music programs over the … Read more

If you’re new to playing the violin and not sure how long your interest will hold, it may seem irresponsible to invest in a high quality violin. However, learning to play on a cheap instrument isn’t going to do you any favors when it comes to improving your skills. Perhaps owning your own violin isn’t practical at the moment, but renting a violin is a great option for people who want to dip their toe … Read more

There is a plethora of instrument accessories that musicians recommend when you tell them you are beginning to learn a musical instrument. But how can you tell which accessories are actually critical and which are more a matter of preference? Plenty of instrument accessories aren’t strictly necessary, but they can enhance your playing style or practice routine. However, there’s one accessory that practically every musician keeps close at hand: the metronome.

Metronomes are relatively mundane … Read more