When was the first time you saw someone playing the violin?
Was it through a friend of yours who happens to go to a music school or during a concert performance?
Whether it's the way they stand, the way they adjust their bowing postures and their distinctive fingers on the strings when they are "IN THE ZONE", you can tell that mastering violin is no easy feat.
If you take a closer look, you'll notice that learning a musical instrument is essentially a big numbers game.
Firstly, there's the number of years spent learning the necessary techniques. Secondly, the number of pieces that you have to practice and eventually perform. Thirdly, the number of learners who become professional violinists in due time.
In this article, we will be looking at the individuals behind some of the famous classical violin tunes, contemporary classical violinists, and the journey of becoming a professional violinist.
Three Classical Violin Pieces & Composers That Are Regularly Performed Worldwide
One of the main reasons we are motivated to learn a musical instrument is because we want to play our favourite songs anytime and anywhere.
Perhaps, you were drawn to the rich and deep tone of the violin whenever these melodies were played. As you continue to read the list below, you would probably find the titles and melodies familiar from your previous violin lessons.
Salut d'Amour by Edward Elgar
This beautiful melody was composed by Edward Elgar, an English composer for his then-fiancée, Caroline Alice Roberts in 1888.
A versatile piece that can be played on the piano and violin, it is also featured in many contemporary media and songs.
Some examples include the songs Celebration (庆祝) by Rainie Yang, Love Song by the Korean child group, Seven Princess as well as in the movie Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi
Vivaldi is no stranger when it comes to violin concertos.
Just like the name of this piece implies. The Four Seasons is a four-movement violin concerto which depicts the dynamic expressions of spring, summer, autumn and winter respectively.
Among the four movements, the most familiar and most played piece is certainly Spring.
Many contemporary professional and famous violinists such as Vanessa Mae and David Garett have reinterpreted and recorded their version of this piece.
Photo by Joshua Woroniecki on Unsplash
Czardas by Vittorio Monti
A varied and lively piece which combines elements of Hungarian dance, Czardas is composed by Monti, another established Italian composer in 1904.
You'll usually hear this in large-scale orchestra performances and the ever-changing tempo of this piece will get you clapping and gasping in awe at the same time.
You can stream all these melodies on Spotify or watch some direct violin-playing performances on Youtube.
Asian Contemporary Classical Violinists That Are Making Waves Now
You might have noticed that most classical violin players in the past are dominated by the West, which led many people to associate classical music with something that only Westerners would enjoy or excel at.
Well, this article is here to prove them wrong.
Here are three Asian contemporary classical violinists that are not only professional violinists by profession but also have performed in many places globally.
Yu-Chien Tseng
The first on our list is Yu-Chien Tseng from Taiwan. Born in 1994, he emerged as the second-prize winner (highest award as no first prize was awarded) of the prestigious International Tchaikovsky competition in 2015.
Yu-Chien has performed in many countries and released an exclusive album titled Reverie under Deutsche Grammophon, an established classical music label in 2017.
Source: Bangkok Post
In-Mo Yang
In-Mo hails from South Korea and has been actively participating in many international competitions including the International Paganini Competition and International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in 2015 and 2022 respectively.
He has also released two albums under Deutsche Grammophon which encompasses the 24 Caprices of Paganini and a repertoire of varied pieces in an album titled The Genetics of Spring.
Chloe Chua
Fondly recognised as a child prodigy, Chloe Chua is a household name not only among Singaporeans but also among classical music listeners globally.
She won the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists at the age of 11 and has since performed across Asia, Europe, America and even the Middle East.
The Route To Pursue A Career As A Professional Violinist
Now that you have a comprehensive view of violin learning from the Western and Eastern sides, you might start to ponder what it takes to become a professional violinist.
Fret not, we got you covered.
Master the basic theoretical and practical violin training
You certainly have to start with basic violin learning lessons.
It's best to learn from an experienced violin tutor who can equip you with a strong foundation in theoretical and practical violin techniques.
If you are looking for a reliable platform where you can hire a violin private tutor, we highly recommend you to start looking for one via Superprof.
At Superprof, you can have an effective tutor searching process according to your maximum budget, preferred teaching qualification, teaching methodology, teaching scope, learning mode (online/ physical) and other criteria from the website itself.
In other words, you get to choose who you want directly even without meeting them in person.
Superprof allows you to have a hassle-free and flexible learning experience regardless of your location.
Expand your performing experience
After mastering the necessary violin playing skills, it is also essential to put them into actual practice.
The scale of the performance does not matter as long as you get to perform. You could start with a mini recital, joining an orchestra or even performing during your friend's wedding.
It's a great way to build your confidence and cultivate your stage presence.
Choose a music-related undergraduate degree
There's no limit when it comes to mastering a craft, especially in the context of a classical musical instrument.
Once you have decided to pursue a career as a professional violinist either as a performer or educator, you can further your studies in a related field locally or abroad.
For instance, you can enrol in the Bachelor of Classical Music programme at UCSI where the course duration is three years.
How Can You Become A Chamber Violinist In Malaysia?
It's not impossible to have a promising career as a chamber violinist in Malaysia. The key is to constantly have a lookout for any postings and auditions for violinists.
You can follow these four steps to have a kickstart.
Step 1: Identify the institution that you plan to audition to
Depending on your age group, qualification, preferred location and violin skills, here are some classical music institutions in the country that you can consider applying to:
- Selangor Symphony Orchestra
- Selangor Philharmonic Orchestra
- KLPac Orchestra
- Penang Philharmonic Orchestra
- National Symphony Orchestra Malaysia
- Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
- Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra
Step 2: Check the availability of positions through their official portals
After the first step, you can decide which to apply for once you have checked on the available positions (now) and the available positions soon (later).
Make sure you bookmark the website or follow the social media pages of the institutions for the latest information on the recruitment period.
Don't miss out on the deadlines of the audition period!
Step 3: Follow through with their online audition application procedures
While every institution has a different application process, they usually require applicants to submit a recording during the first round of application before they call you for an actual physical audition.
Take your time to read through the frequently asked questions and recording guidelines before you finalise your application online.
If you need any further assistance, don't hesitate to contact the institution for clarification.
Step 4: Ace your physical audition
Last but not least, give your best shot during the actual physical location. Be there early and make sure you and your violin are in the best condition.
Take a deep breath and remind yourself that your continuous diligence to practice in the past will not betray you.
Source: MPO (The Star Online)
Essential Characteristics To Become A Good Violin Player
Apart from enjoying the benefits of learning the violin, it's also important for us to have a clear goal when it comes to mastering a musical instrument.
It's easy to view violin playing as something solely technical, but actually, you'll need several soft skills to have a fulfilling learning experience.
#1: Attention to details
As you are learning, you'll have to pay attention to how your playing actually sounds, whether it's how you play each note, how you play a few bars and also the force that you need to exert with your bow and fingers.
Remember to also listen to the feedback of your violin tutor to improve consistently.
#2:Appreciation of music
You can't persevere if you don't really enjoy what you're doing.
Having said that, take some time to dive deep into the history of the piece that you are playing before learning.
Go for a chamber concert to listen to various interpretations of the beautiful violin concertos to feel inspired and refreshed in between your practice sessions.
#3: Lots of patience
To practice, you need ample patience. Don't expect overnight breakthroughs when you are not willing to start small. Give yourself grace when things seem to be "slow" but don't use that as an excuse to dwell too long in that phase.
As you move on and press on, you'll reach your goals in due time.
The journey to becoming a professional violinist is never an easy one, but it's not an impossible feat. We hope this article will inspire you to become an amazing one.
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