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Always place your case flat on the floor with the label and any pockets facing up. Turn the case so that the clasps or zippers are facing you. Now you may open the case.

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Watch the video to learn about caring for the whole violin.

Key Points:
- Use a clean cloth to wipe off the dusty rosin.
- DO NOT clean the bow hair ever.  You can dust off the stick, but NEVER the hair.
- Do not use cleaning products on the violin.

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Watch the video. Learn about the parts of the violin.  They are:
* Scroll
* Tuning Pegs
* Peg Box
* Strings
* Fingerboard
* Neck
* Top
* Back
* Bridge
* Tailpiece
* Fine Tuners
* F Holes
* Chin Rest
* End button
* Serial Number and info
* Sound post (inside)

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This is a SHOULDER REST! It's important to have one of these in order to hold and play the instrument correctly.

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Step 1 - Learn The Names of the Strings for VIOLIN

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Step 1 - Learn The Names of the Strings for VIOLIN

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Are your strings in tune?  Learn the string names and also find out if your violin needs to be tuned. Do the sounds of your violin match these string sounds?

String names:
G String - lowest, thickest
D String
A String
E String - highest, thinnest

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Violin Tuner : Easy to use - "plucking" real violin sound

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This tool is called a METRONOME. Musicians use it when they practice in order to improve their time.  You can buy one like the one in the picture from a music store. OR you can look up a free metronome.
Google: metronome
It comes up right at the top.

This one is also good: https://www.imusic-school.com/en/tools/online-metronome/

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#1. How to Bow on the Open Strings (LONG TONES)

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#1. How to Bow on the Open Strings (LONG TONES)

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Watch this video.  Get a metronome and turn it on 60 bpm.  Practicing using your bow as shown on the video.  Notice how straight her bow path is.

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Bow Division While Bowing Open Strings | Violin Lessons

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You just need:
- A foam rest from the music store
- OR a similar SOFT and thick sponge
- Rubber bands

The shoulder rests like the image to the left usually function better than the rubber band ones.

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Learn the Names of the Strings for VIOLA

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Learn the Names of the Strings for VIOLA

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Are your strings in tune?  Learn the string names and also find out if your viola needs to be tuned. Do the sounds of your viola match these string sounds?

String names:
C String - lowest, thickest
G String
D String
A String - highest, thinnest

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Viola Tuner : Easy to use - "plucking" viola sound

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I know the bow is very exciting.  Please, WATCH THIS VIDEO before you touch the bow!!

Key Points:
- Don't touch the bow hair!
- Your hand oil will ruin the hair of the bow.

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Ten Commandments of Bow Care-#1 Thou shalt not touch the Bow Hair

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Watch this video to learn how to use your bow for the first time.

Key Points:
- When you have a new violin, you will need to put rosin on the bow often.
- Older bows do not need rosin every day.
- You need to take the glossy surface off the rosin so that it gets chalky.  You can use sandpaper or a light scratch with a sharp object to get it started.

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How to Rosin Your Bow for the First Time Violin Lesson - Violin Lessons for Beginners Online Free

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Step 2 - Tuning: Learn About Using the Pegs for Tuning the VIOLIN

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Step 2 - Tuning: Learn About Using the Pegs for Tuning the VIOLIN

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Watch the video below. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND watching the tuning videos with an adult.

*Warning* - turning a peg too far can break a string.  Always turn the peg to loosen the string first, then tighten very slowly while plucking the string toward the correct pitch.

Key Points:

- You need to PUSH the peg toward the pegbox while you turn it so that it "sticks".
- Between two strings is the sound of a 5th.  That sounds like the first two notes of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
- You can use a drone or piano to tune.

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How to Tune a Violin for Parents & Students (when it's WAY out of tune) - Part 2 - GSA

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Step 3 - Rest Position to Shoulder Position

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Step 3 - Rest Position to Shoulder Position

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Learn how to properly position your violin at rest and in playing position.

Key Points:
- Use your LEFT hand to fly your violin to your LEFT shoulder.
- Half chin and half cheek in the chin rest.
- The violin should be at a 45 degree angle, NOT straight ahead of you
- The goal is to hold your violin comfortably without your hands

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YUMMM Fried Apple Pie Tacos - Learn how to make them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0qXjLt8qjI Like these Violin Lessons !!! Check out the official app http://apple.co/1j9RYlp Watch more How to Play the Violin videos: http://www.howcast.com/videos/501253-How-to-Hold-a-Violin-Violin-Lessons Holding the violin, for a beginner, is one of the most important things to learn when you are first learning how to play.

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Step 3 - Using An Electronic Tuner To Tune

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Step 3 - Using An Electronic Tuner To Tune

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Here is another video about tuning that may help you understand the process better.

*Warning* - turning a peg too far can break a string.  Always turn the peg loose first, then tighten very slowly while plucking the string toward the correct pitch.

Key Points:
- Breaking strings is normal at first.  This is why it is a good idea to have extra strings in your case.
- Pegs are only used for big adjustments.  You can use the FINE TUNERS for small adjustments.

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Watch this video to learn how to tighten the bow.

Key Points:
- Whenever you play you need to tighten the bow (but not too much). - Tighten the bow so that a pencil will slide through the middle. Do not tighten more than that.
- When you put your violin away, you need to loosen the bow hair.

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Step 4 - Tuning for VIOLA: "Guitar Tuna" App For Smartphone

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Step 4 - Tuning for VIOLA: "Guitar Tuna" App For Smartphone

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See how this VIOLA player uses a tuner and his FINE TUNERS to tune the viola strings.  He uses his PEG for the A string toward the end.

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⭐️How to Tune a Viola - Easy Beginner Tutorial by Exact-Notes.com

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Watch this video in full screen mode.  Learn how to use your RIGHT HAND to pluck the open strings in Shoulder Position.

Key Points:
- You can pluck both with and without the bow
- Your right hand thumb belongs on the right corner of our fingerboard.
- Pluck with your right hand FIRST FINGER.
- Pull the string gently upward to make the sound.

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Step 3 - How to Hold the Bow with your Right Hand

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Step 3 - How to Hold the Bow with your Right Hand

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Watch this video in Full Screen mode to learn how to hold your bow correctly with your RIGHT hand.

Key Points:
- Bunny Ears on the pencil
- Middle and ring fingers hang down and are relaxed in front of the frog
- Middle finger and thumb are lined up
- Thumb stays CURVED and the tip of the thumb is against the stick
- Pinky tap on top
- First finger lays down, curved on its left side

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Violin Bow Hold and Grip EPISODE 1 Lessons for Beginners Online Free Bow Hand

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Learn how to properly position your LEFT HAND and fingers.

Key Points:
- The neck of your violin NEVER rests in your palm.
- The neck of your violin is held between your thumb and first finger knuckle.
- You must keep your nails short!
- Use the very tips of your fingers.  Your fingers should form squares.

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Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds.

Correct Left Hand Position

1. In first position, the thumb should be about an inch from the nut, slightly bent, and touching the neck at the middle joint. ...

2. The thumb and first finger should be aligned when playing a whole step above the nut. ...

3. The wrist should be straight, NOT bent inward.

Can you play a violin left handed?

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left hand position violin - Google Search

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Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds. Correct Left Hand Position In first position, the thumb should be about an inch from the nut, slightly bent, and touching the neck at the middle joint. ... The thumb and first finger should be aligned when playing a whole step above the nut.

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Step 5 - What To Do When You Break A String

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Step 5 - What To Do When You Break A String

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Here is a video about how to replace a broken string.

Key Points:
- At around 2:30 in the video, watch and listen to how the teacher gets the string in tune. Start low and loose, tighten slowly to the higher pitch while plucking the string.
- Make sure that your new string is both in the groove of the bridge and in the groove of the nut on the fingerboard.  There may not be a groove if the violin is brand new.