How to Improve Violin Bowing & Intonation Skills

Series Summary

Featured largely in classical music, the violin, or fiddle, is a four-string instrument tuned in perfect fifths. It is related to the double bass, cello, and viola in construction and sound, though it produces the highest in pitch of that family. The violin traces its roots back to the early 1500s in Italy. There was a time when violin makers, called “luthiers,” introduced a number of quality instruments to the market. Some noted manufacturers from that period, like Stradivarius, are still recognized today as representing the highest level of violin craftsmanship. Modern pop music has incorporated the use of violin, drawing it out of its classical shell. Artists like the Dave Matthews Band, bluegrass group Nickel Creek, and atmospheric rockers Sigur Ros have all made major uses of the violin in their compositions, helping the instrument evolve its sound to adapt to all music. In these free violin lesson videos, you will learn how to practice your bowing and intonation by stacking notes while playing scales. You will also learn how to play intervals and bow at different speeds. Our expert will also demonstrate bowing techniques for the higher and lower strings.

Video Transcript

"So in this series we're going to, again, build on previous series where we've talked about bowing and a little about intonation. So, I'm going to go over a few other exercises that you can do as well as talk more about intervals and a couple of other exercises that you can do for intonation, using your scales. Now that you've kind of been doing other exercises for a while, you've been doing a lot of basic technique, now you're moving on to, hopefully, more of the intermediate level. It's even more important to make sure that you're practicing regularly, practicing the exercises regularly. And, also, if you're kind of moving on to the intermediate stage, typically, your teacher will probably start giving you some, some type of violin etudes that you can also use those etudes as additional exercises and intonation in bowing. Usually, in your etudes you can not only practice good intonation but you can also practice more bowing patterns."