Unit 2
Step 1
Near the end of the middle ages, a bowed stringed instrument called a fiddle appeared in Europe. Compared to its ancestors, the violin is in a class by itself in terms of completeness. In addition, it was not improved gradually over time, but appeared in its current form suddenly around 1550. Nowadays, some famous fiddle players include Charlie Daniels, Mark O’Conner, Bob Wills, Craig Duncan, Justin Branum, Bobby Hicks, and more. The industry seems to be dominated by men, sadly. To take care of a violin/fiddle, it is recommended that you wipe rosin dust off of the strings and violin after each use, only clean with a soft/dry cloth, store the violin in a place with appropriate temperature levels, and away from harm, loosen the bow when not in use, avoiding touching the varnished parts with sweaty hands, never use glue to fix anything, and more!
Step 2
How do we hear?: We hear when sound waves enter the ear canal until they hit the ear drum. From there, the vibrations go to the inner ear/ cochlea. In the cochlea, thousands of tiny hair cells turn those vibrations into electrical signals which are sent to the brain through the hearing nerve. The brain “tells you that you are hearing a sound and what that sound is.
What are decibels?: Decibels, in general, are a degree of loudness/volume. In more detail, decibels are “a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale”.
How loud is too loud?: The point where loud is too loud falls around 85 decibels. For example, listening to car traffic or a lawnmower for an extended period of time can damage hearing. This is good to keep in mind as a mobile device at it’s highest volume is typically 105 decibels, which is 100x more intense than 85 decibels.
How can you protect your hearing?: Some of the best ways to protect your hearing include using ear plugs/muffs, turning the volume down, giving your ears time to recover, keeping them dry, and getting regular checkups.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a numbness and tingling in the hand and arm caused by a pinched nerve in the wrist.
How can musicians prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?: Musicians can help prevent this issue by keeping their wrist in a neutral position. It also helps to rest your hands when you can, and to shake/ stretch them when you can.
What is tendinitis?: “Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon — the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone. The condition causes pain and tenderness just outside a joint.”
How can musicians prevent Tendinitis?: Musicians can help prevent Tendinitis by starting slow and then picking up the activity level, use limited force and repetitions, taking breaks, knowing their limits, warming up, and cooling down after playing.
What are Vocal Nodes?: “Vocal nodules are hard, rough, noncancerous growths on your vocal cords. You get nodules from straining or overusing your voice, especially from singing, yelling, or talking loudly or for a long period of time.”
How can singers prevent vocal nodes?: Singers can help to prevent vocal nodes by ALWAYS warming up, not straining their voice (singing at “the top of your lungs” in a car), drinking lots of water, resting their voice, using good breathing techniques, and having a humidifier around.
Step 3
There are a variety of different brands of violins/fiddles. The most common, especially amongst beginners and intermediate players, include Stentor, Knilling, Cremona, Cecilo, and Mendini. These range from about $150 to around $500. That being said, some violins have an estimated values, and have been sold for, millions. There are different sizes for violins/fiddles as well so people of all ages can play. There are 8 different sizes, but most adults and children typically 10+ require a full size violin. You know your size is correct when you can comfortably reach notes with your left hand while holding a violin. As for bow size, they typically correspond to the size of the violin. There are four main materials that are used for the stick of violin bows. Brazilwood (typically inexpensive and used for student bows), pernambuco (the best wood bow- lightweight and strong), carbon fibre (popular, sturdier than wood bows, little change due to temperature and humidity), and synthetic materials (fiberglass or composites. Often lower quality, but durable. Good for beginners). Acoustic violins offer the best “real sound” of a violin. They are also cheaper than their equivalent of an electric violin, and don’t require an amp. On the other hand, you can’t experiment with sounds or amplification with an acoustic violin. An electric violin is made more for added creativity, and contemporary genres where a classical tone isn’t as crucial. Recording and amplification is easy, and you can even use the headphone amp to practice silently. However, they aren’t great for beginners or more classical music.
Step 4
I have pondered the above data as I began to play my instrument and have continued to explore the tools from Unit 1!