News & features

worst things about playing the violin

The 10 worst things about playing the violin

Show-stealing lightbulb explodes and terrifies violinist during serene string recital

Show-stealing lightbulb explodes and terrifies violinist during serene string recital

This multitasking musician is playing the violin while surfing colossal waves

The seafaring virtuoso who plays the violin while surfing colossal waves

Fleeing his home during the Warsaw Uprising, Różycki buried his treasured concerto in a suitcase at the bottom of his garden...

This Polish wartime composer’s music lay buried in a suitcase in his garden. Now, it lives again.

Violinist Nicola Benedetti has announced a new series of ‘With Nicky’

‘With Nicky’: Nicola Benedetti’s educational violin videos with practice tips, techniques and support

Aaron Boyd protects 17th-century violin by hugging it during Texas freeze

Texas musician hugs 17th-century violin throughout freeze to keep wood from cracking

Exclusive
Virtuoso Maxim Vengerov reveals the five hardest violin pieces ever written

Virtuoso Maxim Vengerov reveals, and plays, the five hardest violin pieces ever written

Russian mother taken to court as 9-year-old boy’s violin playing ‘breaks local noise laws’

Russian mother taken to court as 9-year-old boy’s violin playing ‘breaks local noise laws’

Ruzica West owed £15,000 by former violin professor after taking him to court

Renowned violinist ordered by court to pay ex-pupil in £80k Landolfi violin dispute

Exclusive
Some of the Violins of Hope, part of a collection founded by violin maker Amnon Weinstein.

The Holocaust-surviving violins that endured atrocities to tell a vital story

Jennifer Pike Lark

Why does everyone love The Lark Ascending? Violinist Jennifer Pike explains its magic.

COVID-19 patient serenades hospital staff in Utah with violin

Intubated COVID-19 patient plays violin for medical staff to say a musical ‘thank you’

Violinist plays to drown out hate speech

Violinist plays powerful ‘This is Me’ to drown out hate speech in Florida neighbourhood

Violinist plays Paganini while hula-hooping

A violinist plays incredible Paganini while hula-hooping. What did you do today?

Min Lee cello lesson

Mother proves point by picking up her daughter’s cello and playing it as a violin

Violinist Randall Goosby has been signed to Decca Classics

Meet violinist Randall Goosby, the Itzhak Perlman protégé set to inspire a generation

Frederick Bremer School gives every new pupil a violin

A school transformed itself by giving every student a violin