1st Piano

By Rhiannon Schmitt "That's a fine lookin' fiddle ya got there, kid." I gritted my teeth into a forced smile and quietly thanked the old man at the bus stop. "Fiddle!?" I thought, gritting my teeth into a polite smile. "It's a V-I-O-L-I-N, you old goat!" Teenagers are sensitive and easily embarrassed, but this chickie had a bit too much pride in self-labeled "superiority as a classical musician," which meant I was annoyingly arrogant and a general pain in the butt. Humbled by merciless teasing in jazz college opened my eyes to the music outside my sanctioned little bubble. I learned to fiddle. For the most part "fiddle" is a style of music, such as Celtic, Bluegrass or Old Time. Nevertheless, there are a few differences and stereotypes between fiddle and violin. We've all threatened Fluffy that she'll be taking a trip to the string factory if she doesn't stop scratching the couch. There's th...

By Richard Romando There are a number of violin shops where people can buy a violin. Many shops sell both new and used violins, giving buyers a number of options. Many violin shops also offer violin rentals. New violins can cost between two hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Used violins can cost significantly less, but may be of lesser quality. Beginners and students often choose to rent a violin from a violin shop. There are different types of violin shops. Some sell all kinds of musical instruments and offer violins from several different manufacturers. Other violin shops may make their own violins and many not sell any other brands. Obviously, the larger stores will have a better selection, but they may not have the same type of knowledgeable customer service and sales staff to help shoppers find the right violin to fit their needs. Smaller violin shops that make their own violins can be more expensive, but they often provide the best customer service and help peo...