What is a violin hickey?

You have a violin hickey. Also known as fiddler's neck, violin hickeys are red marks that appear on violinists' necks for a variety of reasons. One of the more common reasons these spots appear is length of practice time, making them a badge of honor for both amateur and professional players.

Why do you get violin hickeys?

The theories of why the hickey occurs vary just as much as suggested remedies. For most, the violin hickey is a mark of pride, a battle scar, a badge of honor won only through hours of practice and performance—a telltale mark that the bearer is a true string player.

Do violinists have neck problems?

Violinists have twice as much risk of developing pain in the neck, right shoulder and left forearm, when compared with pianists. Violists and violinists have a higher incidence of pain in the neck, shoulder, elbow and forearm than pianists.

Why do violinists shake their fingers?

It is a wavering effect of tone obtained by rapidly shaking the string that the finger is stopping, notes the Schirmer Pocket Manual of Musical Terms. The technique is used on notes of longer duration—notes of shorter duration usually are played without vibrato.

Why is violin vibrato so hard?

Perhaps the reason that it is seen as one of the harder skills to master is because it is focused on the left arm and hand – the arm that is already “backwards” for violinists. The position can feel very foreign and tense anyway without adding the “shake” of vibrato.

VIOLIN HICKEY

What is playing a violin called?

A person who plays the violin is called a violinist. A person who makes or repairs violins is called a luthier. The violin is important in European and Arabian music. No other instrument has played such an important part in Europe.

Is playing the violin good for your brain?

Violin lessons boost memory and mental capacities.

Many studies show that playing the violin (alongside other musical instruments) even for just a year positively affects your brain's capacity for memory. It can also improve your reading skills, language processing, speech and attention span.

Which is harder violin or piano?

On the technical side, producing a good sound and in tune is definitely more difficult on the violin. The piano is easier to play the first tune on it. But when it comes to music, both are difficult instrument because learning music is a life long journey.

Why do violinists use a cloth?

June 11, 2005 at 04:44 PM · Some players use it for extra traction when playing in dress clothing made out of smooth/slick fabrics. Someone who uses a handkerchief with a dress shirt or tux often does not use one at home or in the studios when playing in sweats or a t-shirt.

Are violin hickeys common?

Also known as fiddler's neck, violin hickeys are red marks that appear on violinists' necks for a variety of reasons. One of the more common reasons these spots appear is length of practice time, making them a badge of honor for both amateur and professional players.

Do violinists get calluses?

An important part of learning to play the violin is building violin calluses on your fingers. The reality is that the strings are rough on your skin, and if you don't go about this process correctly, it can become painful.

What is Fiddler's neck?

Fiddler's neck is a common dermatologic condition associated with instrument use in violin and viola players. It typically manifests as a submandibular and/or supraclavicular lesion. It is a benign condition, but it may be mistaken for lymphedema or a salivary gland malignancy.

Does violin HURT jaw?

Professional violin playing has been associated with a predisposition to develop temporomandibular disorder (TMD). There are a number of risk factors, including physical trauma from the playing posture and the presence of parafunctional habits.

Do all violins have chin rests?

Some musicians can take any violin, use whatever chin rest is on it, and be perfectly happy. Most violinists and violists, though, need to find the right fit based on their personal anatomy and playing style. Head, neck, and shoulder anatomies vary widely, so when it comes to chin rests, one size does not fit all.

How do you pick a chin rest for a violin?

What is the hardest instrument to learn?

Can you self teach violin?

It's possible, but not a good idea. And it's probably impossible to get to a high degree of skill without some amount of in-person coaching. That doesn't necessarily mean private lessons, but it probably does unless you have social ties to people who know how to play.

What is the easiest instrument to learn?

How many calories does violin playing burn?

A new study finds that playing instruments can actually be beneficial to your health in more than one way. Caloriecount.com has discovered that 1 hour of violin playing burns approximately 175 calories – the equivalent of 1/2 a Snickers Bar or 2 glasses of wine!

Why violin is the hardest instrument?

Though it only has four strings, the violin is considered one of the most difficult stringed instruments to master. There are several reasons for this. For starters, unlike the guitar, there are no frets on the violin. Finger position is learned through trial and error as well as the guidance of a skilled teacher.

Do violins get better with age?

It depends on two things: the quality of the violin, and the quality of the playing that is occurring on the violin. I've spoken before about teaching a violin: a good violin will "open up" over time, but you'll improve its voice most by playing it frequently, playing it in tune, making the wood vibrate, etc.

What do you call a violin stroke?

On a bowed string instrument, a bow stroke is the movement of the bow back and forth perpendicularly across the string, from the frog to the tip and from the tip to the frog, producing sound.

Are there left handed violinists?

The simple answer is yes. There are many left handed violin players. Generally, most left handed violin players choose to learn how to play the violin right handed, meaning with a right handed violin set up.

What does a circle above a note mean?

Notation for fingering (left hand)

A note with a small circle above it indicates where the string were to be fingered if the “normal” note were being played. It is in this way that the fingering is notated that corresponds to the actual harmonic sounded.