Greetings to all music enthusiasts!

In our latest content release, we bring you an instructive video featuring the talented James Manuele. The focus of this tutorial is on the bass string of your Antonio Giuliani Dreadnought classical guitar.

Dive into Bass String Exercises

James takes us through a series of carefully curated exercises for the bass string, each designed to hone your skills and bring out the best tonal qualities of your instrument. These exercises are not only useful for practice, but they also help deepen your understanding of the classical guitar’s bass capabilities.

Tailored for Antonio Giuliani Dreadnought Classical Guitar

While these exercises can certainly be applied broadly, they have been specifically designed with the Antonio Giuliani Dreadnought classical guitar in mind. This guitar, known for its rich and resonant bass tones, stands to benefit greatly from the exercises presented.

Questions? We’re Here to Help!

As always, if you have any questions about the exercises, your Antonio Giuliani Dreadnought, or any of our other products and services, we’re eager to assist. Our dedicated team at Kennedy Violins is committed to providing you with superior customer service. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at support@kennedyviolins.com.

We hope this video tutorial with James Manuele inspires you to explore the depths of your bass string and take your classical guitar playing to new heights. Happy practicing!

The post BEST Exercise for Bass Strings (Classical Guitar) appeared first on Education Center.

Hello Everyone,

Todays video is about learning how to bounce your bow. Bouncing your bow on a stringed instrument is more commonly known as Spicatto.

There are many types of Spicatto and today we are only going to focus on the primary mechanics of a simple Spicatto bow stroke. I will cover more techniques and practice exercises in later videos.

There are 2 primary things you can do that will pretty much guarantee your success in learning how to bounce your violin bow.

Remember, success with Spicatto = CONTROL.

1. You must practice with a metronome

—Practicing with a metronome will give you consistency from day to day on the speed at which you practice.
—Practicing with a metronome will provide you with a steady beat that will engrain in you an even stroke. This will help you be consistent, relaxed, accurate and clean.

2. You must have a relaxed bow hand.

— A relaxed bow hand is pretty much mandatory to achieve spicatto at higher speeds.
— A relaxed bow is only possible with a proper bow hold: bent thumb, bent pinky.

There are a few points to remember.

1. The faster the bounce the further up the bow you will bounce.

2. The faster the bounce the less vertically the bow will bounce. The bounce will height will become smaller as speed increases.

3. Turning your bow slightly away from you, so it’s on an angle will help with achieving a less scratchy sound.

4. The faster you bounce, the more the BOW is doing the bouncing. Conversely the slower the bounce, the more YOU will be controlling the bounce.

Here is how to practice bouncing your bow.

1. Practice the motion: Find a spot near the base of the bow (about 9-10 inches from the frog) and start bouncing. You can think of the bow as if it’s an airplane. The better it lands the better then sound. The worse it lands the worse the sound. How the bow contacts the string will determine your sound quality, so you are mostly learning how to control how the bow contacts the string. Start from a raised bow position ABOVE the string and let the bow hit the string and then lift.

Remember to strike the string in between the fingerboard and the bridge.

(There are techniques where you learn to bounce the bow FROM the string but this technique is much harder to learn and the results are less consistent without expert guidance from an experienced teacher.)

2. After you have learned the basic motion. Practice the motion with a metronome. Put the metronome at 62 BPM and bound each note 4 times. Each bounce is a beat on the metronome. Use a basic Major scale for the exercise. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 on every string.

3. Gradually build the speed with the metronome. A good goal speed would be 192 BPM.

4. After you are successful getting to 192 BPM or even a bit before, practice bouncing the bow 2 times times per beat and then once per beat. You can then Make it much harder with more advanced exercises. For example, you can do the same exercises listed above but with a two octave scale and then a 3 octave scale.

The post How to Bounce a Bow appeared first on Education Center.

Importance of Cello Care:

Caring for your cello is crucial for preserving its beautiful tone and structural integrity. Proper maintenance ensures that your instrument stays in excellent condition for years to come. Let’s delve into the key aspects of cello care and maintenance.

Cello Cleaning:

Regular cleaning of your cello helps to remove rosin buildup, dirt, and oils, maintaining its overall appearance and playability. Follow these steps for effective cello cleaning:

• Gently wipe the cello body and strings with a soft, lint-free cloth after each practice.
• Use a mild cleaner specifically formulated for cello varnish, if necessary.
• Avoid excessive moisture and harsh cleaning agents. Any cleaner/polish MUST be for stringed instruments.

Cello Storage:

Proper storage of your cello is crucial to protect it from damage caused by temperature fluctuations, humidity, and physical accidents. Consider the following storage tips:

• Store your cello in a suitable case, preferably a hardshell case, to protect it from impacts and external elements.
• Maintain a stable humidity level between 40% and 60% to prevent wood cracks or warping.
• Avoid storing your cello in extreme temperatures or direct sunlight.

Cello Humidity Control:

Maintaining the right humidity level is vital for the well-being of your cello. Fluctuations in humidity can cause the wood to expand or contract, leading to structural issues. Follow these guidelines for proper humidity control:

• Use a humidifier during dry seasons to prevent the cello from drying out.
• Utilize a hygrometer to monitor humidity levels in your cello’s environment.
• Consider using a Dampit or humidifier tube inside the cello case to maintain adequate moisture.

Cello String Care:

The strings are the heart of your cello’s sound production. Proper care and maintenance of the strings are essential for optimal playability and tonal quality. Here are some tips for cello string care:

• Regularly clean the strings with a soft cloth to remove rosin buildup.
• Replace worn-out or damaged strings promptly to maintain consistent tone and responsiveness.
• Properly tune the strings and avoid tuning the strings above pitch. If you do, you’ll probably break a string!

Cello Bridge Care:

The bridge plays a crucial role in transmitting vibrations from the strings to the cello body. Here’s how to care for your cello bridge:

• Check the bridge alignment regularly, ensuring it stands upright and perpendicular to the cello body. Look at the BACK of the bridge. It should be at a 90 degree angle to the top of the cello. As strings stretch, they’ll pull the bridge towards the fingerboard, so check it at least once per month.
• Keep the bridge clean and free from debris or rosin buildup.
• Consult a professional luthier if you notice any signs of warping or damage to the bridge.

Cello Fingerboard Care:

The fingerboard is where you produce different pitches and execute various techniques. Proper care ensures smooth playing and accurate intonation. Consider the following tips for cello fingerboard care:

• Wipe the fingerboard with a clean cloth after each playing session to remove oils and residue.
• Occasionally apply a small amount of fine-grade fingerboard oil to maintain its smoothness and prevent dryness. This is not necessary but it sure does look good!

Cello Bow Care:

The bow is a vital component of cello playing, and proper care ensures optimal performance and longevity. Follow these guidelines for cello bow care:

• Clean the bow hair regularly using a bow cleaner or a soft cloth to remove rosin buildup.
• Rosin the bow hair as needed to maintain proper grip and sound production.
• Loosen the bow hair after each practice or performance to prevent warping.
• Do not over tighten the bow. The distance between the hair and the bow should be about 1 pinky. Anymore and you risk warping or breaking your bow!

Cello Varnish Protection:

Protecting the cello’s varnish is crucial for maintaining its aesthetic appeal and preventing damage. Consider these tips for cello varnish protection:

• Avoid exposing the cello to direct sunlight for extended periods, as it can fade or crack the varnish.
• Use a soft cloth or a protective case cover to shield the cello from scratches and dings.
• Consider periodic application of a high-quality varnish protector or polish recommended by a professional luthier.
• Cello Maintenance Checklist:

To ensure you cover all the necessary aspects of cello care, maintain a handy maintenance checklist. Here are essential items to include:

1. Regular cleaning and dusting of the cello body, strings, and accessories.
2. String replacement when they show signs of wear or loss of tonal quality.
3. Periodic inspections of the bridge, fingerboard, and bow for any damage or adjustments required.
4. Monitoring humidity levels and using appropriate humidification devices.
5. Seeking professional assistance for major repairs or adjustments.

Conclusion:

By following these maintenance tips and tricks, you can ensure that your cello remains in optimal condition, allowing you to enjoy its beautiful sound and playability for years to come. For high-quality cellos and reliable accessories, visit Kennedy Violins, a trusted provider of string instruments and resources for musicians.

Remember, proper care and maintenance are essential investments in the longevity and performance of your cello. Embrace these practices and seek professional guidance when needed to keep your instrument in pristine condition.

Visit Kennedy Violins for a wide selection of cellos, accessories, and expert guidance on cello care and maintenance.

Check out Kennedy Violins’ Cello Collection for high-quality instruments crafted with precision and passion.

Keep your cello in top shape, and let the music resonate with its full potential!

The post How to Properly Care for Your Cello appeared first on Education Center.

When visiting our online store, it’s easy to immerse yourself in the exciting world of violins as you journey through the realm of an online experience. With the convenience and accessibility offered by virtual platforms, finding your perfect violin has never been easier. Kennedy Violins, a well known name in the industry, invites you to delve into the wonders of online violin shopping, where quality, expertise, and customer satisfaction harmoniously converge.

Unveiling the Online Violin Store

Searching for a violin that resonates with your musical aspirations? Look no further than the vibrant realm of online violin stores. At Kennedy Violins, we understand the significance of finding an instrument that ignites your passion. As a trusted online violin store, we offer an extensive collection of violins meticulously crafted by skilled luthiers. Our commitment to excellence ensures that each instrument meets the highest standards of quality and sound.

The Art of Violin Shopping

Buying a violin is a profoundly personal and meaningful experience. With online violin stores, you have the freedom to explore a wide range of options, compare prices, and read customer reviews, all from the comfort of your own home. At Kennedy Violins, we pride ourselves on providing a seamless and secure online shopping experience. Our website is designed to guide you through the process, allowing you to make an informed decision and find the violin that speaks to your musical aspirations.

Unlocking the Melodic Potential

When you choose Kennedy Violins as your online violin store, you’re not simply purchasing an instrument; you’re entering a world of unique possibilities. Our dedication to customer needs and customer satisfaction sets us apart from the rest. With over 20 years of experience, we have established ourselves as a leading authority in the industry. Whether you’re a beginner seeking your first violin or an accomplished musician in search of a masterful instrument, our knowledgeable team is here to assist you every step of the way.

Embrace the Melody

Discover the transformative power of music with Kennedy Violins. As you navigate the vast landscape of online violin stores, let our passion for exceptional instruments and unparalleled service guide you. Experience the joy of finding your perfect violin at our trusted online violin store, where artistry, craftsmanship, and affordability converge. To embark on your melodic journey and explore our extensive selection, visit Kennedy Violins today!

The post Benefits of Online Violin Shopping and the Unique Experience That Kennedy Violins Offers appeared first on Education Center.

The post Should My Child Learn Violin? appeared first on Education Center.

By Joel Kennedy

In today’s video, I’ll be talking about how to bow smoothly like a professional. In other words, how to learn the collé bowing technique on the violin.

Bowing smoothly on the violin takes a lot of practice and even if you learn the colle’ technique properly, it takes years before it truly feels comfortable and fluid.

collé is French for “stuck” or “glue”. The collé technique will have a glue effect to the frog of your bow that will make the bow seem stuck to your violin strings. Collé is important because if it occurs naturally in your violin bow hand, then many other bowing techniques on the violin will work better because colle is only possible when your bow hand is relaxed. Proper collé will enable you to play smooth bow strokes like a professional and enable you to learn advanced spicatto techniques, like sautille.

There are 4 exercises I teach you in this video. Practice them every day and you’ll have a smooth violin bow in no time!

The post Collé Technique or How to Bow Smoothly appeared first on Education Center.

Hi everyone, today I give you 3 easy steps to practice, in order to make sight reading in auditions EASY!

The 3 steps are:

1. What is in your foot? Just look at the time signature and ask yourself if you have a quarter or 8th note in your foot.
2. What is in your hand? Practice at home memorizing the first hand pattern for up to 4 sharps and 4 flats. With minimal practice, you will be able to memorize these patterns very quickly.
3. Rehearse. Finger through the first 2 or 3 measures as many times as you can until they tell you to begin. Remember to ALWAYS, follow the beat in your foot!

Quick tips:

• Don’t start before they tell you to. Use all your time!
• Pick a slow tempo that will provide you time to think ahead.

Good luck and happy practicing!

The post How to Prepare for an Audition appeared first on Education Center.

Consistency is Key

It is very important that practicing becomes a HABIT. Nobody has time to practice. Nobody has time to get to the gym. Nobody has time to… If you find yourself telling yourself that you don’t have time to do something that you’ve decided is important to you and you have a goal, then you have to MAKE the time to do it. It’s just that simple. Decide a certain part of the day will be the time that you dedicated to giving your instrument some love. Even if you are not perfect or the practice session isn’t as long as you think it should be, the fact that you are putting some time in, really adds up!

Play Everything Correctly as Many Times as You Can

It’s money in the bank! This is how your brain learns. Never make the error of practicing until you get something right. Practicing everything until you can’t get it wrong. The reasoning is very simple. If you play something 9 times wrong and then on the 10th time you play it correctly, you have effectively reinforced the incorrect way 9X more than the correct way. This is why you can get stuck on difficult passages that never seem to improve. Start slow, and gradually build speed. Here are some other very important characteristics of effective practice that I will be covering more in future videos:

• It’s very important to warm up. You need a good warm up routine. You need to warm up your mind and your body. Scales and technically less difficult repertoire are perfect for this.
• Use a metronome. The metronome is perfect. All great players use a metronome. The more you incorporate the perfection of the metronome into your practicing, the more perfection you will see in what you play.
• Slow practice = fast practice: Be patient! It’s important to start slow and build speed. Make sure you can play something perfectly at least 3X in a row before you build speed.
• Endurance = taking breaks. The human mind can only retain absolute focus for a certain period of time. Even the best of us can only keep a high level of concentration for about 45 min. Take a 5 or 10 min break after every 45 minutes of playing. Perhaps even more. If you are not focused, you are wasting your time.

The post Effective Practicing Habits appeared first on Education Center.

Hello everyone,

Today I’m talking about how to practice. A lot of people focus on how much time they practice and while that’s important, it’s arguably much more important to practice properly. When you practice properly, you will be able to accomplish much better results in a very short period of time.

When you are practicing, you will want to focus on 1 simple truth.

Do not practice something until you get it right. Practice it until you cannot get it wrong. When you are practicing, you are training your sub-conscience. Your sub-conscience does NOT distinguish between correct and incorrect, or sloppy and precise. It will simply memorize what you repeatedly do. This is why it is so important to practice “perfectly”.

Remember: Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect!

• You must play the music CORRECTLY as many times as you can.
• Be able to play the passage 10X correctly without a mistake at a certain tempo, then gradually build the speed.
• This is called the 10x rule. Be able to play the passage 10X correctly without a mistake at a certain tempo.
• If you play something wrong 9 times and then finally get it right on the 10th time. Your brain will simply prioritize and remember the 9x you played it wrong.

Helpful tips and tricks: How do you do this? Well, here are some simple guidelines that will make you a great practicer.

Use a metronome. If perfect practice makes perfect, then use a perfect device and that is the metronome.

• Use the 10x rule when practicing a passage.
• Play it perfectly at a slower tempo, then slowly speed up the metronome.
• Play it perfectly 10x again and then speed up the metronome again.
• Repeat this process until you can play a fast passage at 10% over the final tempo. This will give you a buffer for performance nerves or lack of focus.

Figure out all of your bowings and fingerings BEFORE you practice and always be consistent.

• NEVER make up the bowings and fingerings for anything on the fly.
• Write them in your music before you practice a passage and then be very consistent about following them.

Always properly warm-up. When you warm up, you are not only warming up your muscles but also your mind. You will have a much more successful practice if you warm up properly. I suggest scales and arpeggios WITH a metronome.

Hope that helps and happy practicing!

The post How to Practice appeared first on Education Center.

For an experienced violinist, the path to finding your “new best friend” may be somewhat simple in its initial approach. Go to a violin store, play several violins that fit into your budget, and buy the violin you like the most. However, figuring out how to buy a violin or other stringed instrument when you’re not the most advanced player can be a daunting task.

If you don’t play the violin, viola or guitar, how can you test one? What if you don’t have a store in your area that has a large selection of instruments? Perhaps most confusing of all is the fact that most violins look the same, and when you compare one to another, the price ranges are huge and the price differences seem to be nebulous and random. How can you be sure you’re not getting ripped off? How expensive an instrument do you need to purchase for your child, especially considering they may be a beginning student?

Fortunately the internet has allowed buying a violin or viola to become much easier. The preferred method of buying a violin is always to play one and then decide which is best for you. However, since most people do not have playing expertise or they are geographically isolated, purchasing from the internet has solved many of the problems that have historically plagued most violin purchasers. Now anyone is able to search thousands of violins across the country, investigate the companies they are interested in buying from, and educate themselves about every aspect of a stringed instrument.

If you’re looking for the best price, it is usually best to go with a company that has a large presence on the web and are used to selling stringed instruments all around the country. If you purchase from a small store that just happens to have a web site, they will probably have a small stock of instruments and purchase their instruments from local distributors and in small quantity. When they purchase in small quantities, it means they have to pay a lot for their violins, and that high cost will be passed on to you. If they sell small quantities of violins every year, then they have to make more per violin to pay the overhead costs associated with running their business. Small companies also lack the power to determine many aspects of the violins construction and overall quality when purchasing them.

Conversely, purchasing from a company that is well versed in the art of providing a high volume of stringed instruments all over the U.S, will be able to negotiate lower prices when purchasing their product from their sources and will have more leverage in controlling the materials, construction and overall quality of the violins. Also, you want to make sure that your violin is sent fast and is packaged very well so it is not damaged. A company that ships thousands of violins every year, will have the expertise to package your violin safely and have the stock of instruments that can ensure that you will be sent your instrument in a quick and efficient manner.

At Kennedy Violins, we have been offering stringed instruments to the public Since 2000. In that time, we have become extremely proficient at setting up stringed instruments very quickly and efficiently. We have a system that ensures the quality control is very high and the end product is very consistent. We are unique, in that we purchase the majority of their instruments directly from the makers themselves. Not only do we negotiate the best prices from our makers but we can even dictate the materials, design and construction methods of our violins. We have a large stock of instruments, so rarely will an instrument not be in stock.  We are also owned and operated by string players, so we know our product very well, and have created a product line-up that is applicable to beginner students and advanced ones.

If you can’t find the information you are looking for on the violin shop web site, you can easily call us Monday through Friday and our friendly and knowledgeable customer service staff will be able to answer any questions that you may have.

Living in the Internet age time has made buying a violin, viola, or guitar easier than ever, so start your search now and have no fear! And at our local shop we also offer cellos and basses. The next time you are in the Vancouver, Washington area come in and take a look! We will be happy to answer your questions.

The post How to Buy a Violin or Other Stringed Instrument appeared first on Education Center.