MAY 18, 2020
free choice topic
Ideally, I would have loved to do a portrait series for my final project. However, with social distancing, I decided instead to use my project as a form of self-reflection. I have played the violin for more than 10 years now, and it meant a lot to me as I grew up. However, after I started college, I didn’t have the time to practice like I used to. During quarantine, I picked up my instrument again and quickly realized how much I missed it. The violin is a passion of mine that I wanted to showcase through my photographs, which altogether create a (simplified) tutorial on how to play. As a motif, I incorporated my hand in each of the pictures, because the experience of playing the violin is inherently tactile.
I also included links to my favorite interpretations of two pieces that I love:
Kyung-Wha Chung plays Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26 – Movement I (0:14 – 8:49)
Itzhak Perlman plays Vieuxtemps Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 31 – Movement I (soloist enters 4:20 – end)
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THE VIOLIN: A HOW-TO GUIDE
Choose your sheet music: two of my favorite concerti to play are Bruch’s famous Violin Concerto No. 1 and Vieuxtemps’ Violin Concerto No. 4
Grab a pencil: you’ll need it to mark up your music and make notes as you play
Open your case: pretty straightforward here… remove your violin, bow, rosin, shoulder rest, and metronome
Rosin your bow: this preparatory step allows the bow hairs to grip the violin string
Put on the shoulder rest: with this on, you can gently press the violin against your neck and support it with your collarbone/shoulder
Use the pegs to tune: start off by tuning your strings (adjust your A to 440 Hz first)
Set your tempo: one of the essentials in music is keeping a steady beat – for this, the metronome is your best friend
Place your bow against the strings: pull to create sound, and keep the pressure/contact consistent
Express yourself: don’t be afraid to make mistakes – play with passion and enjoy the experience