If you think violins are boring and posh, please watch this

[Soubriquet]

I discovered Lindsey Stirling a few months ago and now listen to her almost every day.

I think she’s a fantastic violinist…so wanted to share her videos. It’s amazing how far she’s come considering she was rejected on AGT

master of tides

@Delphinna This is one of my faves of Vanessa-Mae’s - I used to play it in the car on a CD!

You ever been to a Ceilidh?

Em @Soubriquet you should try watching a fiddler.

@Soubriquet

Some people think violins are pretentious. Lindsey is proving they aren’t. It’s not a normal way to play it. Not many will dance whilst holding it.

As good as that performance is I don't it will dispel any myths of the violin being pretentious, in fact I'd say it does the opposite

Agree with pp the violin is actually fairly easily accessible and strongly linked to folk music as much as classical music.

I love the violin but I didn't really like her style.

And don't forget Nigel Kennedy !!

I can't stand the sound of the violin unfortunately, it's okay in an orchestra but as the leading instrument, it grates on me.

There is certainly a lot of inverted snobbery directed at classical music. A lot of it was the pop music of its time, or written by rebels. Some was written for the royal courts or churches, and while royalty is obviously posh, it didn't necessarily mean the composers or performers were. Political and social points could be made through music when not possible in other ways, for example Shostakovich's 5th symphony which he sarcastically called 'A Soviet Artist's Response to Just Criticism' (by the government). Opera tackles the topics of life such as poverty, betrayal, love, death, greed, as experienced by all kinds of person. Despite being demonstrably beneficial to overall educational success and good for the whole person, music is vastly underfunded in state education these days, which sadly widens the divide and makes music less accessible. This has long been the case under all flavours of government. People imagine it is especially expensive to see a classical show or opera, but pop concerts or football match tickets often cost more. The violin is carved wood, varnish, glue, steel or organic strings and possibly plastic pegs. It isn't 'posh' or 'boring', it is an object which some musicians work with.

Of course on MN violins aren't posh or boring. However, to a LOT of kids across the country, they probably do think of many instruments in this way. And it's great that artists like this can appeal to a younger audience (my DS has been completely inspired by the 2 Cellos guys, for example). I think most of you know what the OP is trying to say but some are just being deliberately obtuse about it.

Erica Nockalls, anyone? Used to play with Miles Hunt of the Wonder Stuff.

She has her own youtube channel but you could try this one...

I’ve just watched, thankyou it’s fabulous x

Gosh so many wankers in one place. Yes op of course the violin is seen as posh for most people. You learn the recorder at school then you give up and never play an instrument again unless you are super cool (possibly) or on the wacky backy (more likely) in which case you may teach yourself guitar in your teens. I am a professional person from a working class background and I do not know anyone at all who can play an instrument of any kind other than the guitar. Thank you for sharing this piece it was very interesting.

I like Ed Alleyne Johnson's stuff. Would love to see him live sometime. Also a big fan of The Gloaming, 2 fiddles in one band and Martin Hayes has to be one of the best fiddlers on the planet.
Seth lakeman's not too bad either 😁.
Loads of bands I listen to have violin/fiddle players. Sharon Shannon plays a mean fiddle as well as squeeze box.

And before Vanessa Mae, there was Dave Swarbrick...

Is Ling Ling here yet?

Whats the difference between a violin and a fiddle? Is there one?

No-one would ever consider a fiddle posh but its the same instrument just a different genre thats played on it?

(Question because I'm really not sure!)

is she actually playing that live and dancing? There's times when it looks like her bow movements are out of sync with the music.
It doesn't do it for me, give me a concerto and seated orchestra any day (maybe that makes me a violin snob?) but each to their own.

I don't know why so many posters are being so snarky, I liked your post and she looks like great fun.

The fiddler.

I agree with you, op. I play the violin and as a teenager I was embarrassed to be seen out with a violin-especially on the school bus! It is good to see a variety of players. In my day, Nigel Kennedy sort of made it cooler. I’m proud that I can play the violin now,

No-one would ever consider a fiddle posh but its the same instrument just a different genre thats played on it?

Yep

Clearly never been to a ceilidh 😆.Nothing pretentious and boring about the violin in Scotland and people here definitely don't think of it as being posh

@PearlclutchersInc

Whats the difference between a violin and a fiddle? Is there one?

No-one would ever consider a fiddle posh but its the same instrument just a different genre thats played on it?

(Question because I'm really not sure!)

I was going to ask the same thing. Where I live playing a fiddle is really normal, it's a traditional musical instrument. Not posh and not boring.

Yes op of course the violin is seen as posh for most people. You learn the recorder at school then you give up and never play an instrument again

In the past, in more places than now, there was such a thing as free instrumental lessons in schools. I benefitted from these myself and would not have done so if it hadn't been specifically offered. I've never been posh or earned as much as the average income.

Singing a few decades ago was an everyday activity in primary schools, and to some extent secondaries, whether in assembly, the classroom or both.

Unfortunately it is up to schools to decide how much music is on their curriculum, and while it is occasionally well supported, in many state schools (both primary and secondary) there is zero music taught.

The local music education hubs offer music lessons and groups in many styles, with bursaries available, but the schools don't always publish the details to parents.

Perhaps they write it off as 'too posh for kids like these' which is a great shame and cancels their opportunities.

If a foundation in music isn't provided in Key Stages 1, 2 or 3 then it's hardly surprising that young people feel alienated from it and it's in steep decline at GCSE and A-Level. This of course is then passed to the next generation. Of course, the unfortunate result is that privately educated young people, with schools that have fantastic music facilities, will end up vastly over-represented in all music genres. An awful lot of pop stars are champagne socialists these days. It's the classical players and teachers who are living on peanuts.

www.theguardian.com/education/2018/oct/10/music-disappearing-school-curriculum-england-survey-gcse-a-level

And before Dave Swarbrick there was

Paganini

... a gambler and womaniser who was so talented that many thought he had 'sold his soul to Satan'.

Dd has been picked to learn violin at school just this week The other options was the cello. Definitely some schools still offering music tuition.