Instrument Care and Maintenance
- Common Repair Problems Johnson String Instrument’s discussion of common repair problems and what to do about them.
- Guide for Instrument Care & Maintenance The Soundpost Violin Shop’s guide to proper violin care.
- Caring for Your Instrument and Bow Instrument care guidance provided by Robert Cauer Violins.
Instrument Pedagogy:
Violin
- String Pedagogy Notebook Michael Hopkin’s informative collection of videos, essays and instruction for stringed instrumentalists and teachers.
- Violin Masterclass Kurt Sassmannshaus’s excellent source of violin instruction for children through advanced students. It was created for violin professionals, teachers, parents, and students at all levels to enhance the study of playing the violin.
- The Violin Site Resources, violin tips and music for violinists, including violin instructional videos by Violin Professor Monte Belknap.
- Discover the Violin This section of the Philharmonia Orchestra's The Sound Exchange highlights the violin. Features include: an overview of the violin's construction and range, and Philharmonia violin players demonstrating violin technique. The entire The Sound Exchange is also worth exploring with its innovative, fun and educational tools for musicians, educators and students. .
- The Orchestra – A User’s Manual: Violin Professor Andrew Hugill, noted composer, writer and distance learning innovator, authored this online manual for orchestration featuring multimedia clips of Philharmonia Orchestra musicians illustrating aspects of instrumental technique, including bowing, plucking and left hand technique examples (use nav bar on the left to access these features). Additional information about the orchestra, orchestration, composition and instruments is also provided. Note: Hugill was one of the main innovators that created and developed The Sound Exchange.
- Vienna Symphonic Library Instruments Online – Violin The Vienna Symphonic Library's multimedia Instruments Online combines text, images and sound to explain the essentials of instrumentation. Features include the history, range, notation, sound and repertoire of the instruments, as well as playing techniques and illustrative sound clips (use the left nav bar to access these features).
- String Skills Gabriel A. Villasurda’s teaching materials for string players and teachers.
- Westbury Park Strings Based in the UK, Westbury Park Strings provides resources and instruction for violinists and string players around the world.
- Connie’s Violin Page Connie Sunday’s website with Internet links, answers to frequently asked violin questions and other violin resources.
- Group Violin Pedagogy Mimi Zweig’s brief history of group violin teaching.
- FiddlerMan Pierre Holstein’s free video lessons, instruction and music.
- Sheila’s Corner Sheila Helser’s violin tips and ideas for students and teachers.
- Folk of the Wood Violin Lessons Micky Cochran’s free beginning violin lessons.
- Online Violin Course Danish violinist Ole Quistgaard's free online violin course (translated from Danish)
- Fiddling Around the World Chris Haigh’s informative overview of fiddling styles throughout the world.
- Folk of the Wood Fiddle Lessons Micky Cochran’s free beginning to advanced fiddle lessons.
- Fiddle Sessions Free fiddle lessons & tips, sponsored by Mel Bay.
- Mr. Fiddle Instructional video clips and fiddle tips by Don Hicks.
- Fiddle Sites Provides links to many fiddle sites, fiddlers and sources of fiddle music.
- Fiddle Resources A-L; and Fiddle Resources M-Z. Fiddle Internet resources provided by Fiddler Magazine.
Viola
- The Viola Website Portal for violists on the web, including forums, articles and images.
- Discover the Viola This section of the Philharmonia Orchestra's The Sound Exchange highlights the viola. Features include: an overview of the viola's construction and range, and Philharmonia viola players demonstrating viola technique. The entire The Sound Exchange is also worth exploring with its innovative, fun and educational tools for musicians, educators and students .
- The Orchestra – A User’s Manual: Viola Professor Andrew Hugill, noted composer, writer and distance learning innovator, authored this online manual for orchestration featuring multimedia clips of Philharmonia Orchestra musicians illustrating aspects of instrumental technique, including bowing, plucking and left hand technique examples (use nav bar on the left to access these features). Additional information about the orchestra, orchestration, composition and instruments is also provided. Note: Hugill was one of the main innovators that created and developed The Sound Exchange.
- Vienna Symphonic Library Instruments Online – Viola The Vienna Symphonic Library's multimedia Instruments Online combines text, images and sound to explain the essentials of instrumentation. Features include the history, range, notation, sound and repertoire of the instruments, as well as playing techniques and illustrative sound clips (use the left nav bar to access these features).
- The Viola and Violists David Dalton’s introduction to the viola.
- The American Viola Society National organization for violists in the United States.
- Viola in Music Monica Cuneo’s website with information about the viola, viola music, and how to play the viola, including this direct link to Kato Havas worshop videos.
- The Viola List A Yahoo discussion group for violists, sponsored by the International Viola Society (The Viola Listis a sister group to The Young Violists discussion group on facebook – see below). This list is also part of Viola.org
- The Young Violists Facebook discussion group for young violists (sister group of The Viola List, and also sponsored by the International Viola Society). This group is for students of the viola who are seriously pursuing it as a career, from high school up to college and post-graduate level. Professionals and professors are encouraged to join as mentors.
- Viola Lovers A group for viola players to discuss and share music and information specific to the viola, sponsored by Fiddle Hangout.
- First Year Technique on the Viola Series of viola instructional videos including tuning, left hand position, shifting and more. Sponsored by D’Addario Strings.
- Mischa Amory Viola Masterclass
- Brett Deubnner Viola Masterclass
- Sydney Symphony Viola Masterclass Roger Benedict, Principal Viola of the Sydney Symphony, gives a viola masterclass for the 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra.
- LSO Viola Masterclass Paul Silverthorne from the London Symphony Orchestra gives a viola masterclass for the 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra.
- William Primrose viola videos
- Lillian Fuchs viola videos
Cello
- Internet Cello An international community of cellists with discussion forums, tips and resources.
- Cello Lessons for Beginners A direct link to Cello.org’s beginning instructions for beginning cellists (this content was formerly hosted on a different website).
- Cellobello Professional cellist Paul Katz’s online cello resource center with cello video lessons, videos of interviews and performances by prominent artists and teachers, and a central location for cello blogs by artists, teachers and students.
- Cello Talks by David Finckel Mini-cello lessons by professional cellist David Finckel.
- Cello Professor Cello Professor Jamie Fiste’s insights on cello technique and cello pedagogy. Articles, videos, technique tips and recommended resources are provided for cello teachers and students.
- Discover the Cello This section of the Philharmonia Orchestra's The Sound Exchange highlights the cello. Features include: an overview of the cello's construction and range, and Philharmonia cello players demonstrating cello technique. The entire The Sound Exchange is also worth exploring with its innovative, fun and educational tools for musicians, educators and students.
- The Orchestra – A User’s Manual: Cello Professor Andrew Hugill, noted composer, writer and distance learning innovator, authored this online manual for orchestration featuring multimedia clips of Philharmonia Orchestra musicians illustrating aspects of instrumental technique, including bowing, plucking and left hand technique examples (use nav bar on the left to access these features). Additional information about the orchestra, orchestration, composition and instruments is also provided. Note: Hugill was one of the main innovators that created and developed The Sound Exchange.
- Vienna Symphonic Library Instruments Online – Cello The Vienna Symphonic Library's multimedia Instruments Online combines text, images and sound to explain the essentials of instrumentation. Features include the history, range, notation, sound and repertoire of the instruments, as well as playing techniques and illustrative sound clips (use the left nav bar to access these features).
- Cello Teacher's Friend Abigail McHugh-Grifa's website with helpful hints for professional cellists and cello teachers.
- The Joy of Cello Playing Harry Wimmer’s tips for cello playing and cello music.
- Cello Journey Cello podcasts of live cello music with piano. Commentary provided in a blog format.
- Little Cellist A website for young cellists with games, cello videos and printable materials.
- Westbury Park Strings – Cello Cello section of the UK-based Westbury Park Strings which provides resources and instruction for string players around the world.
- Cello Chat Cello Chat is a message board sponsored by the Internet Cello Society. All cellists, whether professionals, amateurs, students, or children are welcome to post messages on this message board.
- New Directions Cello An organization for alternative and non-classical cellists (jazz, blues, rock, folk, experimental, ethnic, etc.).
- Yo-Yo Ma Cello Masterclasses
- Lynn Harrell Cello Masterclasses
- Mstislav Rostroprovich Cello Masterclasses
- Pablo Casals cello interpretation and technique clip
- First Year Technique on the Cello Series of cello instructional videos including tuning, left hand position, shifting and more. Sponsored by D’Addario Strings.
- Paul Tortelier Cello Masterclasses
- LSO Cello Masterclass Rebecca Gilliver from the London Symphony Orchestra gives a cello masterclass for the 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra.
String Bass
- International Society of Basses An international organization for those who teach, study, play and repair the double bass.
- Gollihur’s Double Bass Links Bob Gollihur’s extensive double bass links (over 900 links)
- Bass Clef Strings Rachel Webley’s website for cello and double bass provides basic information about how to read music and play the double bass.
- Double Bass Guide Bassist Jonas Lohse provides guidance about the double bass setup, gear and other resources, including clips of bass videos.
- Discover the Double Bass This section of the Philharmonia Orchestra's The Sound Exchange highlights the double bass. Features include: an overview of the construction and range of the double bass, and Philharmonia double bass players demonstrating double bass technique. The entire The Sound Exchange is also worth exploring with its innovative, fun and educational tools for musicians, educators and students .
- The Orchestra – A User’s Manual: Basses Professor Andrew Hugill, noted composer, writer and distance learning innovator, authored this online manual for orchestration featuring multimedia clips of Philharmonia Orchestra musicians illustrating aspects of instrumental technique, including bowing, plucking and left hand technique examples (use nav bar on the left to access these features). Additional information about the orchestra, orchestration, composition and instruments is also provided. Note: Hugill was one of the main innovators that created and developed The Sound Exchange.
- Vienna Symphonic Library Instruments Online – Bass The Vienna Symphonic Library's multimedia Instruments Online combines text, images and sound to explain the essentials of instrumentation. Features include the history, range, notation, sound and repertoire of the instruments, as well as playing techniques and illustrative sound clips (use the left nav bar to access these features).
- The Double Bass and Violone Internet Archive Jerry Fuller provides valuable resources and articles relating to the history of the double bass and early bass performance.
- Great Bass Viol Joel Morton’s historical bass website.
- Talk Bass A forum for double bass players.
- Ken's Corner Bass Forum Bass forum sponsored by Ken Smith Basses (KSB).
- Double Bass Forum Upright bass chat for double bassists.
- Active Bass An online community for bassists designed to share educational information and online lessons about the bass.
- Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog Double bass news, stories, podcasts and more.
- Contrabass Conversations Weekly podcast produced by double bass blogger Jason Heath. The primary goal of this podcast is to foster and develop learning and communication in the global double bass community.
- Double Bass Workshop This double bass store & repair shop also provides articles on double bass care, instrument setup, strings and other aspects of the double bass.
- Double Bass Masterclass Matt Gibson from the London Symphony Orchestra gives a double bass master class for the 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra.
- Technique for double bass Vito Liuzzi's double bass website with videos, technque tips and bass instruction.
- Rockabilly Bass Rockabilly bass site with information and resources.
- Jazz Double Bassist Facebook forum for jazz double bassists.
- Bass Lessons Online Jazz and slap bass online lessons by bassists such as Jim Stinnett and Ray Riendeau. Hosted on the International Institute of Bassists website, an organization dedicated to the advancement of contemporary bass performance and the study of the bass tradition (electric and acoustic upright bass).
- Andrew Anderson teaches the Double Bass Lyric Opera of Chicago and Grant Park Symphony bassist Andrew Anderson teaches concepts, ideas, and techniques for the double bass in this multi-part series.
- First Year Technique on the Double Bass Series of double bass instructional videos including tuning, left hand position, shifting and more. Sponsored by D’Addario Strings.
- Drive a Double Bass Bassist Michael Klinghoffer’s collection of videos, including instructional material about how to hold and play the double bass which correlates with his method book: "Mr. Karr would you teach me How to Drive a Double Bass."
- Double Bass Masterclass Matt Gibson from the London Symphony Orchestra gives a double bass master class for the 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra.
- Walking Bass Lines: Walking the Traditional Blues Bill Harrison presents a lesson showing how to construct walking bass lines on the traditional 12 bar blues. Click here for more bass line videos.
- Jazz Bass Lesson: Thumb Position Bill Harrison presents a lesson showing how to use thumb position on the double bass.
- Milt Hinton Jazz Bass Lesson
- A Solid Foundation to Acoustic Bass with Barry Bales
Videos
- Yehudi Menuhin Masterclasses
- Jascha Heifetz masterclasses
- Itzhak Perlman violin masterclasses
- Isaac Stern violin masterclasses
- Pinchas Zukerman Violin and Viola video lessons with Pinchas Zukerman (some via video conferencing).
- Violinmasterclass.com videos Violin pedagogue Kurt Sassmannshaus’s instructional videos from his website Violinmasterclass.com
- Joshua Bell violin masterclass
- First Year Technique on the Violin Series of violin instructional videos including tuning, left hand position, shifting and more. Sponsored by D’Addario Strings.
- London Symphony Orchestra masterclass LSO masterclass with violinist Maxine Kwok-Adams
- Violin Lessons with Todd Ehle Professor Todd Ehle's video violin lessons.
- Violin Site technique Demonstration of shifting, violin scales and bowing technique.
- Violin Channel Videos Videos of violinists, including some masterclasses and performances by famous violinists.
- Pinchas Zukerman violin masterclass
- Julie Lyonn Lieberman Non-traditional, eclectic violin performances and instructional material.