How to Play the Violin

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01: Hello, Violin!

Lay the foundation for playing your first notes as you explore the anatomy of the violin and learn how to care for and tune your new instrument. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to perform your first exercise, “Monkey Dance,” created by your expert Jules Whelpton.

20 min

02: Violin Rhythm and the Bow

You know that notes and pitches are essential in music, but let’s not forget rhythm. Follow along as Jules teaches you how to read note values, and then pick up a couple more exercises to practice your newfound skill. Jules also emphasizes the importance of practicing slowly and not jumping ahead.

11 min

03: Violin Notes and Phrases

Using your finger tapes, you will play a game by following along as our instructor shows you how to perform some simple tunes building on the notes you just learned. With practice, you will soon be able to make it sound as if your instrument is singing these melodies.

15 min

04: Developing an Ear for Violin

This lesson is all about training your ear and memory to play by rote. You will learn how to match the pitches that you hear and play back simple melodies. You’ll also be introduced to the concept of scale playing and how important they are to your foundational violin technique.

15 min

05: The Rhythmic Rest in Violin Play

It is perhaps more critical with the violin than with any other instrument to master playing a rhythmic rest properly, because this technique hinges on your skill and control. This lesson covers the necessary bow patterns needed to play half and quarter note rests, first slowly and then quickly.

14 min

06: Violin Bowing with Style

Explore and develop some artistry bowing techniques such as legato and staccato bowings; legato is smooth, and staccato is short and detached. These techniques are fundamentals of early bowing. Once mastered, they will lead you to learn other techniques that are based on these foundational ones.

16 min

07: Dynamics and the Use of Violin Volume

How do volume changes in music bring art to musical pieces? Adjusting the volume to either very loud or soft can evoke emotion and show the listener the difference between a beginning violinist and an advanced player. Learn to hear and play four primary dynamics in this lesson.

18 min

08: Reading Violin Music

You have practiced playing by ear in previous lessons, but now you will begin to sight-read your violin music by understanding the musical alphabet and seeing how it is written on a page. You will be learning the lines and notations needed to decipher music as written notes.

8 min

09: Violin Scales: Your Magical Toolbox

Take a deeper dive into the Western styles of music by studying the notes and their accidentals—flats and sharps. You will then combine them in steps to form keys and scales, play some fundamental major scales, and memorize their patterns with your fingers.

18 min

10: Playing Violin as Fiddle

What is the difference between a violin and a fiddle? Journey into medieval European history to answer this question, then begin to learn the art of fiddling by using the call and response method used in earlier lectures to play your very first fiddle piece, the “Swallowtail Jig.”

10 min

11: Orchestra: Playing Violin with Others

Now that you're comfortable with basic violin music theory and have practiced solo, it's time to consider taking the next step: playing with others. Discover the inner workings of an orchestra and see how being in one will enhance your musical experience and reinforce the reasons why you're learning the violin.

11 min

12: Violin Playing in Key

Here you will further practice intonation by using scales, beginning by reviewing all the ones you know so far, and expanding to some others that grow your technique by adding some “low twos” as well as accidentals. You will also work on resonant tuning to develop your violinist’s ear.

15 min

13: Violin Playing in Time

At the halfway point through this course, you will be ready to take some of your finger tapes off and move on to learning how to improvise your own melodies within a given chord progression. You will prepare for this by learning how to play arpeggios in many different rhythms.

11 min

14: Adding More Violin Rhythms

The violin is a very versatile instrument that spans multiple genres and styles. To elevate your playing, you will be picking up more complicated rhythms by exploring the art of syncopation, as well as using compound meters, which are helpful in genres such as rock, jazz, or Americana.

12 min

15: Americana Fun for Violin

Americana folk music is a fantastic way to practice your improvisation skills because it is informal and can be practiced in small groups. In this lesson, you will use a track to experiment with knowing when to blend in or stand out in this type of ensemble.

11 min

16: Violin Chords and Harmonies

Did you know that violins can also play chords like a ukulele or even a guitar? Here you will practice the easiest way to begin learning to do so by setting up your bow to cover two strings at once, using resonant ringing to keep your pitch in tune.

16 min

17: Double Stops on Violin

If you've ever been to a wedding where Pachelbel's “Canon” was performed and wished you could play it, you're in luck! We'll be using this piece to conquer the concept of playing double stops, a technique that is an extension of chord playing and spans from folk to classical music.

16 min

18: Playing Violin with Confidence

At some point in your journey of becoming a violinist, you will hopefully perform in front of an audience, whether it be your family and friends or the public. Here, we will discuss all the ways you can ensure that you will always have confidence and perform your best.

7 min

19: Playing in Violin’s 3rd Position

So far, everything you have learned to play has been with your left hand held in the first position. Now, it is time to explore other notes that are higher than the ones you have marked, which brings you to learn how to play in third position.

15 min

20: Playing in Violin’s 2nd Position

After third position, you will now learn second position, which will help you with more advanced fingers and notes that are guaranteed to appear as you progress with the violin. You'll then be introduced to a piece that will train you to shift effortlessly between first, third, and second positions.

14 min

21: Playing in Violin’s 4th Position

Fourth position in violin is an advanced step that you will be taking now that you are becoming competent with first, third, and second positions. This position is a very comfortable one, best practiced with scales, and is very important when it comes to learning how to play vibrato.

15 min

22: Vibrato Basics for Violin

Mastering vibrato can take years; however, it is never too early to start trying this technique that uses wrist motion to cause a slight fluctuation in pitch to create richness and depth in your tone. You will begin by practicing with a slow tempo, then move up to faster tempos.

20 min

23: Violin Ornaments, Trills, and Tremolo

You will now learn three significant bowing and tone techniques to complement everything else that has already been covered: ornaments, trills, and tremolo. Each one will be explained in detail, and you will practice good technique by using only your wrist and fingers with our expert's original composition, “Tremors.”

16 min

24: How to Be a Violinist

In this final lesson, you will go over a roadmap that will review concepts you have already explored, such as playing in tune, rhythm, dynamics, form, and bowing techniques and articulations. Keeping this roadmap handy will help you essentially learn any piece you would like to on your own.

13 min

Overview Course No. 40220

If you have ever dreamed of playing a soulful tune on a violin or a lively jig on the fiddle, this course is for you. In How to Play the Violin, professional musician and instructor from the Youth Arts Academy, Jules Whelpton, will hold your hand step by step. You will learn everything you need to know, from never having held a violin before to performing on any stage.

This comprehensive 24-lesson series will not only cover the basics, but also set you on the path to having the versatility to play both popular and classical music on the violin comfortably. From the very first lesson, you will be picking up your bow and playing real music by ear as well as by learning how to sight-read. By the end of the course, you will be capable of playing different types of pieces from classical melodies to Americana and folk music.

This course will take you on a musical journey, starting from beginner essentials such as choosing an appropriate instrument for your size and age and understanding violin anatomy to learning rhythm, the musical alphabet, and basic bowing techniques. Then, begin to master more advanced techniques such as resonant tuning, improvisation, advanced bowing techniques like vibrato, and playing chords. You will also become well-versed in playing all the fundamental major and minor scales, which is the foundation of Western styles of music with a set order and rules.

How to Play the Violin will give you a thorough roadmap to ensure that you grasp every basic concept you need in order to learn to play any violin piece you would like. With time, patience, and dedication, you can achieve mastery of your instrument.

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About

Jules Whelpton

The ability to communicate and play with different musicians and cultures is something that I think people must experience at some point in their lifetime.

ALMA MATER

Humboldt State University

INSTITUTION

Youth Arts Academy, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito

Jules Whelpton is a professional musician and music instructor at the Youth Arts Academy, a nonprofit program from the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito. She has also taught at organizations including TakeLessons, and she created and codirected an after-school program for Peninsula Union. She received her BA in Music Studies from Humboldt State University.

Jules specializes in popular and classical music and plays regularly across the country. In 2017, the San Diego Music Awards nominated her band for Best Rock Album. She has been featured in articles from Guitar Girl Magazine, The San Diego Union-Tribune, Making Music Magazine, and more. She has also received endorsements from Pig Hog Cables, Reunion Blues Gig Bags, and Reverend Guitars.

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