Course Overview
Pick up your bow and confidently fiddle your way through a thorough and accessible beginner’s violin course.
If you have ever dreamed of playing soulful tunes or lively jigs on the violin, this course is for you. In “How to Play the Violin,” professional musician and instructor from the Youth Arts Academy, Jules Whelpton, guides you step by step from never having held a violin to performing on any stage.
This comprehensive 24-lesson series covers everything from basics to advanced techniques. You will learn to play by ear and sight-read music, mastering pieces ranging from classical to folk music. The course begins with choosing the right instrument and understanding its anatomy, progressing to rhythm, bowing techniques, resonant tuning, improvisation, and playing scales in major and minor keys.
With a thorough roadmap provided, you can grasp essential concepts to learn any violin piece, achieving mastery with time, patience, and dedication.
Video Lessons
01: Hello, Violin!
Explore the anatomy of the violin, learn how to care for and tune it, and perform your first exercise, “Monkey Dance.”
Duration: 20 min
02: Violin Rhythm and the Bow
Learn to read note values and practice rhythm through new exercises.
Duration: 11 min
03: Violin Notes and Phrases
Master simple tunes using finger tapes and practice making your violin sing.
Duration: 15 min
04: Developing an Ear for Violin
Train your ear to play by rote and understand the importance of scales.
Duration: 15 min
05: The Rhythmic Rest in Violin Play
Master rhythmic rests with essential bow patterns.
Duration: 14 min
06: Violin Bowing with Style
Develop bowing techniques such as legato and staccato.
Duration: 16 min
07: Dynamics and the Use of Violin Volume
Explore how volume changes bring emotion to music with four primary dynamics.
Duration: 18 min
08: Reading Violin Music
Begin to sight-read by understanding the musical alphabet and notation.
Duration: 8 min
09: Violin Scales: Your Magical Toolbox
Dive into Western music styles by studying scales and accidentals.
Duration: 18 min
10: Playing Violin as Fiddle
Learn the art of fiddling and play your first fiddle piece, “Swallowtail Jig.”
Duration: 10 min
11: Orchestra: Playing Violin with Others
Discover the benefits of playing in an orchestra and enhance your musical experience.
Duration: 11 min
12: Violin Playing in Key
Practice intonation, scales, and resonant tuning.
Duration: 15 min
13: Violin Playing in Time
Learn to improvise melodies within chord progressions using arpeggios.
Duration: 11 min
14: Adding More Violin Rhythms
Explore syncopation and compound meters for advanced rhythm techniques.
Duration: 12 min
15: Americana Fun for Violin
Practice improvisation within Americana folk music ensembles.
Duration: 11 min
16: Violin Chords and Harmonies
Learn to play chords and harmonies using resonant ringing.
Duration: 16 min
17: Double Stops on Violin
Master double stops with Pachelbel’s “Canon.”
Duration: 16 min
18: Playing Violin with Confidence
Gain confidence for public performances.
Duration: 7 min
19: Playing in Violin’s 3rd Position
Explore and learn to play notes in the third position.
Duration: 15 min
20: Playing in Violin’s 2nd Position
Learn second position for advanced note transitions.
Duration: 14 min
21: Playing in Violin’s 4th Position
Master fourth position, essential for vibrato.
Duration: 15 min
22: Vibrato Basics for Violin
Start practicing vibrato for rich, deep tones.
Duration: 20 min
23: Violin Ornaments, Trills, and Tremolo
Develop trills, tremolo, and ornament techniques.
Duration: 16 min
24: How to Be a Violinist
Review key concepts for learning any violin piece on your own.
Duration: 13 min

