While some may be unaware of this violin cousin, the viola can be a great choice for those having a hard time deciding between playing the violin or cello, or who are drawn to the lower range of the cello, but would prefer to play a smaller, more ...

Ever wondered what strings might help your instrument sound warmer? Brighter? Louder? Softer? Should you try gut strings? Is there a difference between synthetic and composite strings? What about all metal strings, and do different types of metals ...

In this episode, I'm answering your violin questions, including about strings, rosin, the instrument I play, how to get dust out of your instrument, the story about the oldest violin I've ever played, and more. Enjoy! Listen wherever you get your podcasts, ...

Friction pegs, like the ones we usually find on a violin, viola, or cello, can be downright scary to deal with. Of course, we do need to get our pegs reconditioned from time to time and some pegs are not cut well for the pegbox holes, creating more ...

After practicing viola for a few hours the other day, my right index finger was getting sore so I wrapped it up in a small cloth. This happens occasionally, always when I'm literally digging into soloistic material and using a particular viola bow ...

Before going to bed last night I checked my email and spam folders. Since migrating my website and email to a new hosting company last month, more robust email filtration has thankfully had more spam, but also some important emails, like a few from ...

It’s that time of year again and I've already received some messages from prospective students and/or parents looking for guidance on purchasing a new violin, viola, or cello for a beginner on their holiday shopping list, as well as from some of my ...

Viral YouTube covers of pop music performed on the violin, viola, and/or cello, and artists such as Vanessa-Mae, Mark Wood, Lindsey Stirling, and Taylor Davis, have popularized the electric violin and the violin in general over the past two decades, ...

When it comes time to buy an instrument, especially when stepping up to a higher quality violin or viola, students often ask if I can recommend any particular brands. Unfortunately, that’s a tough question to answer and one that seems to assume that ...

I received an email from a Violin Geek Podcast fan recently about improving the set up and hardware on a relatively inexpensive student instrument and thought others might have similar ...

Whether renting or purchasing, no matter what your budget or playing ability is, and even before considering tone and looks, it's important to get an instrument that is playable - one that can be tuned and isn't a literal pain to try and play. In this ...