violin

[V Queen]

so picked up violin as a hobby but it sounds SO HORRIBLE I can't even get over it! not the tuning just the overall sound, it sounds nothing like violins I hear playing in orchestras and whatnot. I'm wondering is there a certain technique I have to get? or maybe make adjustments to my violin? or perhaps it just comes with time? more wax on the bow?! eh?! help me out here.

[marialice]

I'm afraid it will have to come with time. When I started the violin I was 18 and had already been playing the piano for 13 years. My sound was horrible too, fortunately my teacher said it was normal . It takes practice and time to get a nice beautiful tone.

Do you have a teacher? I can give you some tips, but this really is one of those things that go much better with a teacher. In the meantime, pay special attention to your posture (make sure your violin is resting on the right place, watch your left elbow, etc). Watch for the position and angle of your bow (I suggest you try out some different positions and angles, it will give you some insight on what it means for your tone). Use gravity instead of force - if the strings weren't there, your bow should fall through (I hope you understand what I mean). Use the length of your bow, don't stay at the frog or at the tip.

You play the piano as well, right? Practice all your violin pieces on the piano as well, it really helps forming that "mental image". What helps too, is to record your own accompaniment (or better: play with someone else).

[V Queen]

thank you so much! I'll be sure to do all this. I'll try to be patient in getting a good sound, it's very frustrating. another thing I have trouble getting to the strings in the middle, the ones on the outside sound fine and beautiful when they want to but it's so hard for me to get to the ones on the inside. any advice for that?