What are lacrosse fiddlesticks. How can mini sticks improve your lacrosse skills. Why are fiddlesticks popular for practice and entertainment. Where can you use lacrosse mini sticks. When should youth players start using fiddlesticks.
Understanding Lacrosse Fiddlesticks: The Miniature Practice Tool
Lacrosse fiddlesticks, also known as mini sticks, are scaled-down versions of regular lacrosse sticks designed for practice, fun, and skill development. Typically measuring around 30 inches in length, these compact sticks feature a small head with a soft mesh pocket and a durable plastic handle. Fiddlesticks allow players to work on their stick skills in confined spaces or during downtime at tournaments and games.
The term “fiddlestick” likely comes from the stick’s compact size and lightweight nature, making it easy to “fiddle” with and manipulate. These mini sticks have gained popularity among players of all ages as a versatile training tool and source of entertainment.
Benefits of Practicing with Lacrosse Mini Sticks
Using lacrosse fiddlesticks offers several advantages for players looking to improve their game:
- Portability: Their small size makes them easy to carry and use anywhere
- Skill development: Allows players to work on stick handling, passing, and catching in tight spaces
- Hand-eye coordination: Improves reaction time and precision with a smaller target
- Fun factor: Provides an enjoyable way to practice fundamentals
- Team bonding: Encourages casual play and interaction among teammates
Is practicing with a mini stick as effective as using a full-size lacrosse stick? While fiddlesticks cannot completely replace traditional practice, they offer unique benefits. The smaller size forces players to be more precise with their movements, potentially translating to improved control with a regular stick.
Popular Uses for Lacrosse Fiddlesticks
Lacrosse mini sticks have found their way into various aspects of the sport:
- Pre-game warmups
- Hotel hallway practices during away tournaments
- Backyard games with friends and siblings
- Indoor practice during inclement weather
- Travel entertainment for long bus or car rides
Many players keep a fiddlestick in their gear bag for impromptu practice sessions or friendly competitions with teammates. The versatility of these mini sticks makes them a valuable addition to any lacrosse player’s toolkit.
Choosing the Right Lacrosse Fiddlestick
When selecting a lacrosse mini stick, consider the following factors:
- Material: Look for durable plastic that can withstand frequent use
- Pocket depth: A softer, deeper pocket may be easier for beginners
- Head shape: Traditional or modern designs are available
- Brand reputation: Stick with established lacrosse equipment manufacturers
- Price: Balance quality with your budget
Are more expensive fiddlesticks worth the investment? While premium options may offer better durability and performance, many affordable mini sticks provide excellent value for casual use and practice. Consider your intended use and skill level when making a purchase decision.
Incorporating Fiddlesticks into Lacrosse Training Routines
To maximize the benefits of lacrosse mini sticks, try incorporating these drills and activities into your practice routine:
- Wall ball: Practice throwing and catching against a wall to improve accuracy
- Partner passing: Work on quick stick skills with a teammate
- Cradling challenges: Navigate obstacle courses while maintaining ball control
- Target practice: Set up small targets to enhance shooting precision
- One-on-one games: Engage in friendly competition to develop defensive skills
How often should players practice with fiddlesticks? While there’s no set rule, incorporating mini stick drills for 15-30 minutes a few times a week can significantly improve overall stick skills and coordination.
Fiddlesticks for Youth Lacrosse Development
Lacrosse mini sticks play a crucial role in introducing young players to the sport. Their lightweight design and smaller size make them ideal for children who may struggle with full-sized equipment. Fiddlesticks allow kids to develop fundamental skills and a love for the game in a low-pressure environment.
At what age should children start using lacrosse fiddlesticks? Many youth programs introduce mini sticks to players as young as 5 or 6 years old. These compact tools help build confidence and basic skills before transitioning to regulation equipment.
Key Benefits for Young Players:
- Easier to handle and control
- Builds confidence in stick skills
- Encourages frequent practice and play
- Reduces frustration compared to full-sized sticks
- Allows for safe indoor play
The Social Aspect of Lacrosse Fiddlesticks
Beyond their training benefits, lacrosse mini sticks have become a popular social activity within the lacrosse community. Players often engage in casual games and trick shot competitions during downtime at tournaments or team gatherings. This informal play strengthens team bonds and keeps players engaged with the sport outside of structured practice sessions.
How have fiddlesticks impacted lacrosse culture? The widespread adoption of mini sticks has created a unique subculture within the sport, complete with its own set of unofficial rules and traditions. Many players view fiddlestick skills as a badge of honor, showcasing their creativity and stick control.
Popular Fiddlestick Games and Challenges:
- Around the World: Players attempt to score from various positions
- HORSE: Mimicking basketball, players copy each other’s trick shots
- Mini Lacrosse: Scaled-down version of the full game
- Fastest Hands: Timed stick skill competitions
- Trick Shot Battles: Players showcase their most creative moves
Maintaining and Caring for Your Lacrosse Fiddlestick
While lacrosse mini sticks are designed for durability, proper care can extend their lifespan and maintain performance. Follow these tips to keep your fiddlestick in top condition:
- Clean the head and pocket regularly with mild soap and water
- Allow the stick to dry completely before storing
- Avoid leaving the stick in extreme temperatures
- Periodically check for loose screws or damage
- Replace the pocket if it becomes overstretched or torn
How long should a well-maintained fiddlestick last? With proper care, a quality lacrosse mini stick can last for several years of regular use. However, frequent play or rough handling may necessitate earlier replacement.
The Future of Lacrosse Fiddlesticks in the Sport
As lacrosse continues to grow in popularity, the role of fiddlesticks in player development and casual play is likely to expand. Manufacturers are constantly innovating, creating mini sticks with improved materials and designs to enhance performance and durability.
Will fiddlesticks become an official part of lacrosse training programs? Many coaches already incorporate mini stick drills into their practice routines, and it’s possible that formalized fiddlestick training could become more prevalent in the future. The compact nature of these tools makes them particularly valuable for urban lacrosse programs with limited field space.
Potential Developments in Fiddlestick Technology:
- Integration of smart sensors for performance tracking
- Customizable head shapes for specific skill development
- Eco-friendly materials for sustainable production
- Adjustable lengths to accommodate different age groups
- Specialized mini sticks for goalies and face-off players
As lacrosse fiddlesticks continue to evolve, they will likely play an increasingly important role in player development, team bonding, and the overall growth of the sport. Whether used for serious training or casual fun, these miniature marvels have secured their place in the lacrosse community.
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STX Small Men’s Lacrosse Stick & Foam Ball, 2-Pack
Last updated date: July 8, 2022
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Show Contents
Contents
- Our Take
- Features
- Specifications
- From The Manufacturer
- Expert Reviews
- Overall Ranking
- Our Men’s Lacrosse Stick Buying Guide
- Our Men’s Lacrosse Stick Tip and Advice
We looked at the top Men’s Lacrosse Sticks and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we’ve determined the best Men’s Lacrosse Stick you should buy.
Update as July 26, 2022:
Check out The Best Men’s Lacrosse Stick for a detailed review of all the top men’s lacrosse sticks.
Overall Take
In our analysis of 40 expert reviews, the STX Small Men’s Lacrosse Stick & Foam Ball, 2-Pack placed 8th when we looked at the top 9 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.
From The Manufacturer
Enjoy all the action and fun of lacrosse with 30″ miniature sticks Each stick has a soft mesh pocket and durable plastic handle – ideal for young players Great for indoor and outdoor play! Each stick packaged with soft orange ball
Expert Reviews
Expert Summarized Score
9 expert reviews
User Summarized Score
220 user reviews
What experts liked
Although easy to carry, the FiddleSTX is anything by flimsy. In fact, the durability of the plastic allows for a little head-to-head action with similar lightweight sticks.
– Fidgets Guide
| Full review
Perfect for younger kids that just need to understand the basics of how to hold and move the stick.
– Sport Consumer
| Full review
Every rod comes with a soft mesh pocket along with durable plastic handle – perfect for young players
– GONDEEE
| Full review
This lacrosse stick has rugged heads and shafts which gives it a lightweight feel.
– Lacrosse Runner
| Full review
Each mini lax stick has a soft mesh pocket and durable plastic handle – ideal for young players
– Lacrosse Scoop
| Full review
Rugged plastic shafts and heads for added strength
– THAT Lacrosse Life
| Full review
Each stick from this set has a soft mesh pocket and durable plastic handle.
– LegionLoc
| Full review
This stick is the ideal stick for young kids as it is easy to handle.
– Rich & Posh
| Full review
This product is a solid entry for younger players to get an idea of how a more advanced stick would play in their hands without having to invest the considerable cash into a more advanced stick and other assorted equipment.
– iSport Web
| Full review
What experts didn’t like
Plastic heads are not as durable as the rest of the tool
– Fidgets Guide
| Full review
Quality is much lower than expected, though they still do the job.
– Sport Consumer
| Full review
Designed only for kids
– Lacrosse Runner
| Full review
Not ideal for adults or seasoned users
– THAT Lacrosse Life
| Full review
Not designed to be used in competitive play
– iSport Web
| Full review
1. Brine Intermediate Reinforced Men’s Lacrosse Stick
Overall Score: 9.7
2. StringKing Complete 2 Alloy Men’s Lacrosse Stick
Overall Score: 9.6
3. STX Stallion 200 Complete Entry Level Men’s Lacrosse Stick
Overall Score: 9.3
4. CAKLOR Professional Mesh Men’s Lacrosse Stick
Overall Score: 9.2
5. WARRIOR Evo WARP Sport Men’s Lacrosse Stick
Overall Score: 9.1
6. ECD Lacrosse Rebel CF5 Athletic Men’s Lacrosse Stick
Overall Score: 8. 8
7. Epoch Lacrosse iD Vision Complete Men’s Lacrosse Stick
Overall Score: 8.7
8. STX Small Men’s Lacrosse Stick & Foam Ball, 2-Pack
Overall Score: 7.6
9. Under Armour Scoop Technology Men’s Lacrosse Stick
Overall Score: 6.1
Having a quality set of men’s lacrosse equipment is essential if you want to play your best. You want the equipment to be comfortable but also work with you as you move around the field. When shopping for the best lacrosse stick, you’ll want to examine each feature and make sure it matches your skill level and position of play.
Beginners need to start with an entry-level lacrosse stick, like the STX Stallion 200 Complete Men’s Lacrosse Stick. These sticks are designed to assist in the development of fundamental skills. Make sure the stick is listed as meeting all of the NCAA and NFHS rules so that you’re ready to move on to a more advanced stick as your skills progress.
Review the stick’s mesh next. The CAKLOR Complete Attack/Midfield Men’s Lacrosse Stick uses a high-quality mesh that is professionally strung. This mesh sits in a molded head that is made using a soft material that’s more forgiving. With this type, you’ll experience less loosening and warping of the strings.
Take a look at the lacrosse stick’s shaft. Many models are made out of a lightweight alloy that is extremely durable and easy to use. Others use a proprietary blend of materials for added stiffness. This gives you a more precise throw.
Finally, it’s important that you consider where you’ll be playing lacrosse. Players who typically spend their time on an outdoor field will need a weather-resistant stick. This allows you to continue playing even if it rains. Other lacrosse stick models go a step further by incorporating UV protection into their design.
- The better you take care of your men’s lacrosse stick, the longer it will last. If you had a rough game and parts of the stick have become dirty or covered in mud, you’ll need to rinse off as much of the muck as you can with cold water from your garden hose. Then, fill a bucket with mild dish soap and water and place the head of your stick in it. Let it soak for a while before rinsing it clean. Once clean, you need to reshape the pocket the way you want it. It’s a good idea to add a few wads of newspaper inside the pocket to help it keep that shape as it dries.
- Always store your stick indoors. You can let it air out in your garage, or you can keep it in a lacrosse stick bag. The bag is also great for use when traveling from home to the practice field. You don’t, however, want to just use any old bag to keep your lacrosse stick safe, as the mesh will harden when stored and you don’t want it to harden in the wrong shape.
- Inspect the netting on your lacrosse stick regularly. If it comes loose or looks worn, you can restring it. There are professionals who will do this for you in the event that you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself.
- There are several factors that influence the price of a men’s lacrosse stick. These include construction materials, whether the stick is designed for beginners or experts and what position the stick is best used for. The STX Stallion 200 Complete Men’s Lacrosse Stick and the CAKLOR Complete Attack/Midfield Men’s Lacrosse Stick are among the most affordable.
Violin — Children’s musical lecture “Piccolo”
In the Symphony Orchestra , violin is called the Queen of the Orchestra. It is no coincidence that there are more violins than other musical instruments. It is the highest in range and the smallest of the bow string group. Despite the fragility and elegance of form, the violin has great potential and unexpected strength. Therefore, the violin is considered the most perfect of all bowed instruments.
However, the violin did not always have such great potential. Not always her body was so nobly beautiful.
A long time ago, when there were no symphony orchestras yet, the violin was very unsightly. It was played by wandering or folk musicians. Its shape resembled a large pear. They called her a ham or a beep. When playing, the instrument was held vertically, resting it on the knee. She had not four strings, as now, but three. The melody was played on the third string, and the two lower ones served as a continuously stretching pedal, a humming bourdon, like a bagpipe. Hence its ancient name – beep, buzzer.
In the 16th-19th centuries, a completely different violin was also loved. It was a miniature pocket violin called a pochetta (in French, the word “poche” means “pocket”). Not a single self-respecting dance teacher could do without a pochette. It was necessary for playing melodies when showing students dance moves. When the lesson was over, the dance master put the pochetta in his pocket.
Finally, the violin falls into the hands of Italian wizards. The name of the most famous of them is Antonio Stradivari. He signed more than a thousand instruments. It is known that the craftsmen chose materials very meticulously: they walked through the forest and among many trees, first of all they chose “singing” fir trees, i.e. they noticed which spruce the birds land on more often, then they listened in order to assess the melodiousness. Cut down a tree in winter when it sleeps. And they didn’t knock them down, but carefully lowered them to the ground. The secret of making tools was kept secret and passed from father to son, from master to apprentice.
Having gone through such a difficult historical path, the violin took the place of the main musical instrument of the symphony orchestra. In an orchestra, the violins are placed to the left of the conductor, directly in front of the audience. However, in the orchestra they are not entirely equal, as they are divided into first and second. Among the violinists there is also the first violin. The musician who plays it is called an accompanist, which means a concert master. Sometimes the first violin is assigned to perform solo melodies, without orchestral support. Therefore, the role of the accompanist of the orchestra is very responsible.
Even when playing solo, the violin can sometimes sound like an organ, like a whole orchestra. This is how it sounds in the famous Chaconne by J. S. Bach. Listening to this immortal music, it is hard to imagine that this courageous and mournful music is played by a violin – a soft monophonic instrument.
The little grasshopper slept until noon –
Played the violinist from noon until evening.
An important bee flew in, sat down,
The thin musician began to listen.
He set aside his leg, and bowing,
Played the violinist Summer dream.
A golden circle of light and warmth
Music floated over the green meadow.
Music sounded, and forgetting things,
An important bee shook its head.
And the little grasshopper played the violin,
As if handing out happiness to everyone in a handful.
Didn’t shout, didn’t cry, didn’t speak words –
He led the green violin with a blade of grass.
Sergei Kozlov’s poems
history, video, interesting facts, listen
Musical instrument: violin
Violin – one of the most exquisite and sophisticated musical instruments, with a bewitching singer timbre very similar to a human voice, but at the same time very expressive and virtuoso. It is no coincidence that the violin was given the role of “ queens of the orchestra “.
The voice of the violin is similar to a human, the verbs “sings”, “cries” are often used to it. It can bring tears of joy and sadness. The violinist plays on the strings of the soul of his listeners, acting through the strings of his powerful assistant. There is a belief that the sounds of the violin stop time and take you to another dimension.
Read the history of violin and many interesting facts about this musical instrument on our page.
Sound
The expressive singing of the violin can convey the thoughts of the composer, the feelings of the characters of the opera and of the ballet more accurately and more fully than all other instruments. Juicy, soulful, graceful and assertive at the same time, the sound of the violin is the basis of any work where at least one of this instrument is used.
The timbre of the sound is determined by the quality of the instrument, the skill of the performer and the choice of strings. Bass is distinguished by a thick, rich, slightly strict and harsh sound. The middle strings have a soft, soulful sound, as if velvety, matte. The upper register sounds bright, sunny, loud. The musical instrument and the performer have the ability to modify these sounds, add variety and an additional palette.
Photo :
Interesting Facts
- Athira Krishna from India in 2003 played the violin continuously for 32 hours as part of the Trivandrum City Festival, as a result of which he entered the Guinness Book of Records.
- Playing the violin burns about 170 calories per hour.
- Inventor of roller skates, Joseph Merlin, Belgian manufacturer of musical instruments. To present a novelty, skates with metal wheels, in 1760 he entered a costume ball in London, while playing the violin. The audience enthusiastically greeted the graceful sliding along the parquet to the accompaniment of a beautiful instrument. Inspired by success, the 25-year-old inventor began to spin faster, and at full speed crashed into an expensive mirror, smashing it to smithereens, a violin and seriously injured himself. There were no brakes on his skates then.
- In January 2007 in the USA they decided to conduct an experiment in which one of the brightest violin music performers Joshua Bell took part. The virtuoso went down to the subway and, like an ordinary street musician, played the Stradivari violin for 45 minutes. Unfortunately, I had to admit that the passers-by were not particularly interested in the violinist’s brilliant playing, everyone was driven by the bustle of the big city. Only seven out of a thousand who have passed during this time have paid attention to a famous musician and another 20 have thrown money. In total, $32 was earned during this time. Usually, Joshua Bell concerts are sold out with an average ticket price of $100.
- The largest ensemble of young violinists gathered at the stadium in Zhanghua City (Taiwan) in 2011 and consisted of 4645 school students aged 7 to 15 years.
- Until 1750, violin strings were made from sheep intestines. The method was first proposed by the Italians.
- The first work for violin was created at the end of 1620 by the composer Marini. It was called “Romanesca per violino solo e basso”.
- Violinists and violin makers often try to make tiny instruments. So, in the south of China in the city of Guangzhou, a mini-violin was made, only 1 cm long. The master took 7 years to complete this creation. Scotsman David Edwards, who played in the national orchestra, made a 1.5 cm violin. Eric Meisner at 1973 created an instrument with a melodic sound 4.1 cm long.
- There are craftsmen in the world who make violins from stone, which are not inferior to wooden counterparts in sound. In Sweden, the sculptor Lars Wiedenfalk, while decorating the facade of a building with diabase blocks, came up with the idea to make a violin out of this stone, because amazingly melodic sounds flew out from under the chisel and hammer. He named his stone violin “The Blackbird”. The product turned out to be surprisingly jewelry – the thickness of the walls of the resonator box does not exceed 2.5 mm, the weight of the violin is 2 kg. In the Czech Republic, Jan Roerich makes marble instruments.
- When writing the famous Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci invited musicians to play the strings, including the violin. At the same time, the music was different in character and timbre. Many consider the ambiguity of the Mona Lisa smile (“the smile of either an angel or the devil”) as a consequence of the variety of musical accompaniment.
- The violin stimulates the brain. This fact has been repeatedly confirmed by well-known scientists who knew how and enjoyed playing the violin. So, for example, Einstein from the age of six masterfully played this instrument. Even the famous Sherlock Holmes (composite image) always used her sounds when he was thinking about a difficult problem.
- The most difficult for the performance of the works are “Caprines” Nicolo Paganini and its other works, concerts Brahms , Tchaikovsky , Sibelius . And also the most mystical work – “ Sonata of the Devil ” (1713) by G. Tartini, who himself was a virtuoso violinist,
- Guarneri and Stradivari violins are considered the most valuable in terms of money. The highest price was paid for Guarneri’s violin “Vietante” in 2010. It was sold at an auction in Chicago for $18,000,000. The most expensive Stradivarius violin is considered to be “Lady Blunt”, and it was sold for almost $16 million in 2011.
- The largest violin in the world was created in Germany. Its length is 4.2 meters, width is 1.4 meters, the length of the bow is 5.2 meters. It is played by three people. Such a unique creation was created by craftsmen from Vogtland. This musical instrument is a scale copy of Johann Georg II Schoenfelder’s violin, which was made at the end of the eighteenth century.
- A violin bow is usually strung with 150-200 hairs, which can be made from horsehair or nylon.
- The price of some bows reaches tens of thousands of dollars at auctions. The most expensive bow is the work of the master Francois Xavier Tourte, which is estimated at about $ 200,000.
- Vanessa May is recognized as the youngest violinist, having recorded violin concertos by Tchaikovsky and by Beethoven at the age of 13. Vanessa-Mae made her debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 10 in 1989. At the age of 11, she became the youngest student at the Royal College of Music.
- An episode from the opera “ The Tale of Tsar Saltan ” Rimsky-Korsakov “The Flight of the Bumblebee” is technically difficult to perform and is played at high speed. Violinists all over the world arrange competitions for the speed of performance of this work. So in 2007, D. Garrett got into the Guinness Book of Records, performing it in 1 minute and 6.56 seconds. Since then, many performers have been trying to overtake him and get the title of “the fastest violinist in the world. ” Some managed to perform this work faster, but at the same time it lost a lot in the quality of performance. For example, the Discovery TV channel considers Briton Ben Lee, who performed “Flight of the Bumblebee” in 58.51 seconds, not only the fastest violinist, but also the fastest person in the world.
Popular works for violin
Camille Saint-Saens – Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (listen)
Antonio Vivaldi: The Seasons “- Summer Thunderstorm (listen)
Antonio Bazzini – “Dwarf Dance” (listen)
P.I. Tchaikovsky – “Waltz-Scherzo” (listen)
Jules Masnet – “Reflection” (listen)
Maurice Ravel – “Gypsy” (listen)
I.S. Bach – “Chaconne” from d-moll partita (listen)
The use and repertoire of the violin
Thanks to its varied timbre, the violin is used to convey various moods and characters. In a modern symphony orchestra, these instruments occupy almost a third of the composition. The violins in the orchestra are divided into 2 groups: one plays the upper voice or melody, the other lower or accompanies. They are called first and second violins.
This musical instrument sounds great both in chamber ensembles and in solo performance. The violin harmonizes easily with wind instruments, piano and other strings. Of the ensembles, the most common string quartet, which includes 2 violins, cello and viola . A huge number of works of different eras and styles have been written for the quartet.
Almost all brilliant composers did not bypass the violin with their attention, they composed 9 concertos for violin and orchestra0003 Mozart , Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky , Brahms, Dvorak , Khachaturian, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saens , Kreisler, Venyavsky and many others. The violin was also entrusted with solo parts in concertos for several instruments. For example, Bach’s has a concerto for violin, oboe and string ensemble, while Beethoven wrote a triple concerto for violin, cello, piano and orchestra.
In the 20th century, the violin began to be used in various modern styles of music. The earliest references to the use of the violin as a solo instrument in jazz are documented in the early decades of the 20th century. One of the first jazz violinists was Joe Venuti, who performed with renowned guitarist Eddie Lang.
Construction of the violin
The violin is assembled from more than 70 different wooden parts, but the main difficulty in manufacturing lies in the bends and processing of wood. In one instance, up to 6 different types of wood can be present, and the masters were constantly experimenting, using more and more new options – poplar, pear, acacia, walnut. The best material is considered to be a tree that has grown in the mountains, because of its resistance to temperature extremes and moisture. The strings are made of veins, silk or metal. Most often the master makes:
- Resonant spruce top.
- Neck, back, curl from maple.
- Coniferous, alder, linden, mahogany hoops.
- Coniferous patches.
- Ebony neck.
- Chinrest, pegs, button, neck rest in boxwood, ebony or rosewood.
Sometimes the master uses other types of wood or changes the options presented above at his discretion. The classical orchestral violin has 4 strings: from the “basque” (salt of a small octave) to the “fifth” (mi of the second octave). In some models, a fifth alto string may also be added.
Different schools of masters are identified by knots, hoops and curls. The curl stands out in particular. It can be figuratively called “the painting of the author.”
The lacquer with which the wooden parts are coated is of no small importance. It gives the product a golden to very dark hue with a reddish or brown sheen. It depends on the lacquer how long the instrument will “live” and whether its sound will remain unchanged.
Do you know that the violin is shrouded in many legends and myths? Even at the music school, children are told an old legend about a Cremonese master and a magician. For a long time they tried to unravel the secret of the sound of the instruments of the famous masters of Italy. It is believed that the answer lies in a special coating – varnish, which was even washed off the Stradivari violin to prove it, but all in vain.
The violin is usually played with a bow, except for the pizzicato technique, which is played by plucking the string. The bow has a wooden base and horsehair tightly stretched over it, which is rubbed with rosin before playing. Usually it is 75 cm long and weighs 60 grams.
Currently, you can find several types of this instrument – wooden (acoustic) and electric violin, the sound of which we hear thanks to a special amplifier. One thing remains unchanged – this is a surprisingly soft, melodious and mesmerizing sound of this musical instrument with its beauty and melodiousness.
Sizes
In addition to the standard full size whole violin (4/4), there are smaller instruments for teaching children. The violin “grows” with the student. Begin training with the smallest violins (1/32, 1/16, 1/8), the length of which is 32-43 cm.
Violin techniques
The violin vibration is famous, which penetrates the soul of the listeners with a rich wave of sound. The musician can only slightly raise and lower the sounds, bringing even greater variety and breadth of the sound palette to the musical range. The glissando technique is also known; this style of playing allows you to use the absence of frets on the fretboard.
By slightly touching the string, the violinist extracts original cold, whistling sounds reminiscent of the sound of a flute (harmonic). There are harmonics, where 2 fingers of the performer participate, placed a quart or quint from each other, they are especially difficult to perform. The highest category of skill is the performance of flageolets at a fast pace.
Violinists also use the following interesting playing techniques:
- Col Legno – striking the strings with a bow cane. This technique is used in the “Dance of Death” by Saint-Saens to imitate the sound of dancing skeletons.
- Sul ponticello – playing with a bow on a stand gives an ominous, hissing sound characteristic of negative characters.
- Sul tasto – playing with a bow on the fretboard. Produces a gentle, ethereal sound.
- Ricochet – performed by throwing the bow on the string with a free rebound.
Another trick is to use a mute. This is a comb made of wood or metal that reduces the vibration of the strings. Thanks to the mute, the violin makes soft, muffled sounds. A similar technique is often used to perform lyrical, emotional moments.
The violin can play double notes, chords, perform polyphonic works, but most often its many-sided voice is used for solo parts, since a huge variety of sounds and their shades is its main advantage.
History of the creation of the violin
, however, it has been proven that these are two completely different tools. Their development in the XIV-XV centuries proceeded in parallel. If the viola belonged to the aristocratic class, then the violin came from the people. Mostly it was played by peasants, itinerant artists, minstrels.
This unusually diverse sounding instrument can be called its predecessors: the Indian lira, the Polish violinist (rebeca), the Russian violinist, the Arabic rebab, the British mole, the Kazakh kobyz, the Spanish fidel. All of these instruments could be the progenitors of the violin, since each of them served as the birth of the string family and rewarded them with their own merits.
The introduction of the violin into high society and reckoning as an aristocratic instrument begins in 1560, when Charles IX ordered 24 violins from the string maker Amati for his palace musicians. One of them has survived to this day. This is the oldest violin in the world, it is called “Charles IX”.
The creation of violins as we see them today is contested by two houses: Andrea Amati and Gasparo de Solo. Some sources claim that the palm should be given to Gasparo Bertolotti (Amati’s teacher), whose musical instruments were later perfected by the Amati house. It is only known for certain that this happened in Italy in the 16th century. Their successors a little later were Guarneri and Stradivari, who slightly increased the size of the violin body and made larger holes (efs) for a more powerful sound of the instrument.
At the end of the 17th century, the British tried to add frets to the design of the violin and created a school for teaching how to play such an instrument. However, due to a significant loss in sound, this idea was quickly abandoned. Violin virtuosos such as Paganini, Lolli, Tartini and most composers, especially Vivaldi, were the most ardent supporters of the free style of playing with a clean neck.