What size violin does my child need?

A comprehensive guide by Kennedy Violins

Choosing the right size violin for your child is not just a matter of aesthetics or comfort; it is crucial for their learning experience. An ill-fitting violin can make the learning process difficult, leading to a lack of enthusiasm or even physical discomfort.
At Kennedy Violins, we understand the importance of this decision, and we’re here to guide you through the process. This article will walk you through the various factors to consider when choosing a violin size suitable for your child.

Why Violin Size Matters for Children

Physical Comfort

An oversized violin can be cumbersome for a child, causing strain on their neck, arms, and hands. Similarly, an undersized violin may be uncomfortable and limit the quality of sound that the player can produce.

Playability

The right size violin ensures that a child can easily access all finger positions. It also aids in achieving the correct posture, which is crucial for effective playing and learning.

Sound Quality

A properly sized violin will produce a better sound, which can be motivating for young learners. An ill-fitting instrument can compromise tone and pitch, diminishing the overall learning experience. As a general rule, the larger the instrument, the better sound. However, if the student is attempting to play on an instrument that’s too big, it could cause tension issues and bad technique.

Standard Violin Sizes

Violins come in various sizes, generally ranging from 1/16 to 4/4 (full-size). The ideal size depends on the child’s individual measurements. Some kids are bigger or smaller for their age. Here are some general guidelines of age ranges in the standard sizes:

● 1/16: Suitable for ages 2 to 5
● 1/10: Suitable for ages 3 to 5
● 1/8: Suitable for ages 3 to 5
● 1/4: Suitable for ages 4 to 7
● 1/2: Suitable for ages 6 to 10
● 3/4: Suitable for ages 9 to 11
● 4/4: Suitable for ages 12 and above

The size of the bow, case and shoulder rest should correspond with the violin size. Most of the times a violin comes in a set or outfit.

How to Measure Your Child for a Violin

Arm Length Method

Have your child extend their left arm straight out, perpendicular to their body.
Measure from the base of the neck to the center of the palm. For help with the measurements for violin and other orchestral instruments you can refer to Kennedy Violins Sizing Guide.

Violin Sizing Chart

14″–15″ arm length: 1/16th-size violin
15″–16″ arm length: 1/10 size violin
16”–18″ arm length: 1/8 size violin
18″–20″ arm length: 1/4 size violin
20”–22” arm length: 1/2 size violin
22″–23″ arm length: 3/4 size violin
23″ and above: 4/4 size violin

For more specific measurements, check out my own violin size chart right here.

Consult With a Teacher or Professional

If possible, consult your child’s music teacher or a professional violinist to validate your measurements and suggestions.

When to Upsize your Child’s Violin?

Growth Spurts

Children grow, and their violin should grow with them. Keep an eye out for sudden growth spurts, as this is often the time to consider upsizing.

Signs of Discomfort

If your child is showing signs of discomfort or complaining about difficulty in reaching the fingerboard, it may be time to upsize. An easy way to check this, is to look at their 4th finger in 1st position. If they are not able to reach the proper place on the fingerboard, and play in tune, there’s a good chance the instrument is a bit too big for them. Of course, this is dependent on them having proper left hand technique as well, so the advice from a professional is often very helpful.

Professional Guidance

Regular checks with a music teacher can help you determine when it’s time to move on to a larger violin. Usually a qualified violin teacher will tell you in the lesson when it’s time to upsize your child’s violin.

Conclusion

Choosing the correct size violin for your child is an important step in their musical journey. With the right fit, not only will the learning process be more comfortable, but it will also be more enjoyable. At Kennedy Violins, we are committed to helping you make this critical choice and are always available for consultations and advice. With easy returns and exchanges, we make it very easy to find the perfect violin for every student.

We hope this guide helps you in choosing the right violin size for your child. For more personalized guidance, feel free to reach out to us at Kennedy Violins. Happy playing!

Hi! I'm Zlata

Classical violinist helping you overcome technical struggles and play with feeling by improving your bow technique.

Closing note by Zlata

Thanks to Kennedy Violins for writing this article. I’m publishing it, because they are an amazing violin shop that sells quality violins with a professional set up at very reasonable prices. Here are some of my personal recommendations as a violin teacher:

Ricard Bunnel G2 Student Violin Outfit

Available in all sizes this is a great instrument to start playing the violin.

Buy here

Louis Carpini G2 Violin Outfit

Ready to upsize your child’s violin? This is a great next step:

Buy here

← Best Violin Strings for Children's Violins 20 Beginner Violin Myths Busted →

Best Violin Strings for Children’s Violins

Oops, your kid’s violin string broke!

Here are good strings to buy for kid’s violins recommended by violin teachers

Let’s start with a quick top 3 buying guide

After that I will share some more about when and how to replace your violin strings and you’ll find more in depth violin string reviews of the five best strings for children’s violin.

#1 Pirastro Tonica violin strings

Best overall

Most popular and most recommend by violin teachers. It’s a synthetic core string that has a great well-rounded open sound on all fractional sizes.

Buy here

#2 D’Addario Prelude

Most affordable

Affordable steel strings that have a warm open sound even on the smallest sizes children’s violins.

Buy here

#3 Thomastik Aphayue

Most stable

This one is really popular on rental instruments by luthiers. Beautiful synthetic core strings with great tuning stability at a very reasonable price.

Buy here

When to replace your children’s violin strings?

Obviously when a string snaps, you need to replace it. However it’s best to not let it come that far. Usually when strings are worn down they don’t sound as good and waddle a bit in pitch. Certainly the last thing can get in the way of your child’s violin progress as the string won’t stay in tune even if your child plays in tune. This is very confusing.

When you bought a relatively cheap violin set online, think anything below $ 200, usually the strings are very bad quality steel strings. Steel core strings aren’t that bad (see my violin string reviews below), but sometimes the quality that ‘comes with the violin’ is very disappointing and sometimes even impossible to stay in tune and play.

Can I replace my child’s violin strings myself?

Of course your child’s teacher will be happy to replace the string during the lesson, but then you need to wait until the lesson and it will cost you valuable lesson time. It’s perfectly doable if you’re a bit careful to replace violin strings yourself. Watch this video for a close up step by step guide to replacing violin strings by yourself.

Which size of violin strings should I buy for my child?

It’s very important that the sizing on the string set corresponds with the sizing of the violin. If you place for example 4/4 stings on a 1/2 violin, the string tension will be too low when you’ve tuned them. It will be impossible to play. If you lost what size violin your child has, just measure the body or total length of the violin and look it up in this violin size chart.

Why should you use good quality violin strings for your child?

Even if your child just started playing the violin, good strings are very important. Cheap strings can injure your kid’s finger tips (very painful cuts are possible from low quality strings) and can also be hard to learn on. Learning to play the violin is hard enough as it is and bad strings can really hurt your kid’s motivation for the violin.

What difference do strings make?

Bad, cheap, old or worn down strings make it impossible to play in tune on the violin. Besides that they can cause very painful cuts in your child’s finger tips. Here are the differences between bad and good quality violin strings:

Comfort: cheap strings are often very thin and tight. This will hurt the finger tips sometimes up to the point that your child get’s a finger tip cut. Besides painful (and a dent in the motivation), this also means that they can’t play the violin for a while.
Tuning stability: bad strings don’t stay on the right pitch. Playing in tune on the violin is hard enough as it is. Let’s make sure your child plays on good strings that don’t make it harder.
Stability of pitch: cheap, old or worn down strings waddle. It’s a bit different than my point above. Waddling means that the string stays on the same tension, but while playing the note changes in pitch. Very annoying and really gets in the way of your child’s practice.
Sound: good strings simply sound a lot better. It can even seem like you have a different violin. If you bought a cheap violin set, upgrading it with a set of good quality strings can make a BIG difference.
Durability: With good strings you end up saving yourself money. They might cost a little more, but you can enjoy them much longer. Sometimes even over a year, depending how much your child plays.

What are the best strings to buy for my children’s violin?

Now you know how to replace your child’s violin strings, when to replace them, what size you need to buy and what difference good strings make, it’s time for some in depth reviews. These strings are not only my personal picks as a violin teacher, but I’ve also surveyed over fifty violin teachers to learn their favorite strings.

#1 Pirastro Tonica violin strings

Pirastro is a German string brand that is used by soloists as well as orchestra violinists all over the world. The Tonica strings are nylon core strings that give violins of each size an open, well-rounded and balanced sound. What I also like about these strings is that (like other synthetic core strings) they are not too thick and not too thin. When strings are too thick, on some fractional sizes they are very hard to place. When strings are too thin, they are not comfortable under your finger tips. The strings are easy to play, even in high positions. Tonica’s have short break in time, the tuning stability is good and the last relatively long.

Set price: $ 42

Buy here

Pros:

Great sound
Last long
Not too thick
Available down to 1/32 size

Cons:

Sizing is grouped 4/4, 3/4 to 1/2, 1/4 to 1/8 and 1/16 to 1/32, not a ‘size per size’
Some find these too expensive

#2 D’Addario Prelude violin strings

Warmest sounding affordable steel core violin strings. Some violin players associate steel core strings with bright or even harsh sound. For fractional sized children’s violins however, you might need some extra brightness. Children’s violins have to produce the same pitch as 4/4 adult violins, while they are much smaller. A bright steel core string might just bring out a bit punch and volume a children’s violin might need. These Prelude strings are relatively warm sounding. With just under $ 20 per set, they are a good quality affordable option.

Set price: $ 19,99

Buy here

Pros:

Warm sound
Affordable
Durable
Great tuning stability
For each size one size (no grouping), so the string is well adjusted to the size of the violin
Separate 1/16 even, so you don’t need to use 1/8 strings for a 1/16 size (which often means a low string tension)

Cons:

Less warm sounding than synthetic core strings
Slightly higher string tension than synthetic core strings (synthetics feel softer)

#3 Thomastik Alphayue violin strings

If you’re renting a children’s violin at a violin shop, changes are it has the Alphayue strings. They are good sounding affordable synthetic core strings that are comfortable under the finger tips. Thomastik Dominant’s have been the gold standard for years, but are quite expensive at the moment and the Alphayue strings are an excellent alternative. As we’re used to from Thomastik they have a short break-in time and great tuning stability.

Set price: $ 31

Buy here

Pros:

Short break-in time
Great tuning stability
Durable
Synthetic core strings at a very reasonable price

Cons:

For a warmer tone, choose the Tonica strings

#4 Thomastik Dominant violin strings

Thomastik Dominants are one of the first synthetic core strings and they are absolutely the gold standard for violin strings. They are used by famous soloists like Hilary Hahn and Anne Sophie Mutter. You absolutely can’t go wrong buying dominants. For viola it’s a big advantage that they’re available in fractional sizes just as for the violin. Almost every violinist grew up with Dominants and teachers still recommend them. I do find that over the years they’ve become a bit on the expensive side, while personally I don’t find them much better than Tonicas.

Set price: $ 77

Buy here

Pros:

Wonderful neutral sound
Durable
Short break-in time
Great tuning stability

Cons:

They’ve gotten a bit expensive over the years

#4 Super-Sensitive Red Label violin strings

Don’t be put off by the ‘bright sound’, because certainly in the smaller fractional sizes this could just mean that it brings out the sound and the small violin doesn’t sound too soft. Red Labels are the industry standard for school instruments and fiddlers. Their durability and tuning stability is great. If you’ve used Preludes and miss a bit of volume or punch in a smaller sized violin, it could be sensible to switch to Red Labels.

Set price: $ 22

Buy here

Pros:

Bright sound
Durable
Great tuning stability
Affordable

Cons:

Not available in 1/16 size
Might be too bright for some instruments

Hi! I'm Zlata

Classical violinist helping you overcome technical struggles and play with feeling by improving your bow technique.

Closing notes

I hope I’ve given you some reassurance that in the case your kid’s violin string breaks that you can select a good string and replace it at home. Also when you’ve bought a cheap violin set, the renewal of the strings can make a big difference in sound and playability.

Guide to buying violin strings

If you’d like to read a lot more about violin strings, what they’re made of and see a lot more string reviews, check out this violin string buying guide.

Free online violin tuner

If you just replaced your strings, tuning the violin might be a challenge. New strings typically need some time to break in and you need to tune the violin very often. Use my free online violin tuner right here to make it a lot easier for yourself, even if you’re a beginner.

What strings are on your child’s violin?

And what do you like about them? Leave a comment and share your experience with other budding violinists and their parents.

← 17 Best Online Violin Lessons, Courses and Apps: REALLY learn to play! What size violin does my child need? →

17 Best Online Violin Lessons, Courses and Apps: REALLY learn to play!

Violin teacher recommends online violin lessons that actually work

The violin is a difficult and sensitive instrument to learn, but also one of the most expressive instruments and very rewarding to learn.

Especially if you’re looking for (adult) beginner violin lessons online, it’s important that you learn a good basic technique so you can play in tune and make a beautiful sound.

Are you looking for ways to improve, stay motivated, and learn more about your instrument, but without leaving your own home? One incredible advantage we have over violinists 200 years ago is the internet. No matter how far along you are in your violin journey, you can always find inspiration from the phenomenal resources, lessons, and performances online. Here I’ve compiled just a small slice of the most popular web sites. This is particularly for beginner violinists in mind, but players of all levels can learn from these resources.

Can you really learn to play the violin online?

Distance learning in music is hundreds of years old. For example the violinist Tartini wrote letters to his students with hints to improve their violin playing. From this resulted his famous book ‘the art of bowing’ that has benefited violin players over the world for centuries.

You can combine online violin lessons and resources with traditional ‘offline’ violin lessons or learn on your own. Especially for self led adults who don’t have the ambition to become professional musicians, it’s perfectly possible to learn to play the violin online.

Free and paid online violin lessons

In this top 17 I will discuss free as well as paid, cheap and expensive options to learn to play the violin. In this day and age there are thousands of free YouTube violin lessons and tons of free resources. Money doesn’t have to be a problem of you’re determined to learn the violin.

Let’s start with our top 3 online violin lessons!

Below is a quick guide to our three top picks when it comes to online violin lessons, courses and apps. After that I will discuss the 17 best online violin lessons in detail.

Best violin lesson videos

iClassical Academy

This website has a wonderful library of lesson videos (masterclasses) for a variety of level of players and by famous violinists like Leonidas Kavakos. They have wonderful courses on Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas and Paganini Caprices, but also cover more basic techniques like a vibrato trainer and an intermediate course about bowing technique. Their videos on Kreutzer etudes are valuable even for children who have violin lessons.

With subscription options of around $ 19 they are one of the most affordable academies with a very high level of quality and an enormous video lesson library.

Join and use coupon VIOLINLOUNGE20 for 20% off.

Get iClassical Academy

Best violin sheet music app

Tomplay

If you’re looking for violin sheet music and an effective way to practice, take a look at the app Tomplay. You can use it on desktop (Apple as well as Windows), Android devices and Apple devices like a smartphone or tablet.

They have a library of 60,000 sheet music arrangements, so the piece you’re practicing or song you’d like to play is probably in there: violin etudes, simple pieces, movie tunes, pop music and classical repertoire. You can play the violin, the accompaniment or both at any speed and use handy tools like a metronome.

Join and use coupon VIOLINLOUNGE30 for 30% off.

Get Tomplay

Best 1-1 live violin lessons

Play with a Pro

Play with a Pro is a platform where you can find your next violin teacher suitable for your level of playing. If you find it hard to find a local teacher, definitely check them out.

They not only provide a connection with your teacher, but you can schedule a lesson directly and use their software for the best performing video and audio during your live 1-1 violin lesson.

Videos and fancy apps are great, but in the end everyone who wants to learn to play the violin at a certain level needs live 1-1 lessons.

The quality of the teachers you’ll find at Play with a Pro is great: seasons professional orchestra players, soloists and sought after teachers.

Go to Play with a Pro

Best online violin lessons for beginner violinists

If you’re just starting out on the violin, all the courses, websites and apps on this page might seem very overwhelming. A great place to start is my free 40 lesson violin beginner course. This takes you from scratch (pun intended) to your first violin concerto with basic technique, scales, etudes and wonderful pieces. This course offers more value than many paid courses. Sign up right here.

From the selection on this page, consider the Suzuki violin lessons at Learn Violin Online and the complete lessons inside Violin Lab. The website Violinspiration is aimed at adult beginner violinists and offers many free video lessons as well as a paid academy. If you want to connect to a teacher and have 1-1 live lessons, consider the Trala app.

Mind that these options are mainly suitable for adult beginner violinists. For children I recommend to get a local teacher.

Top 17 online violin lessons, websites and teachers

#1 Tonebase

Tonebase is similar to iClassical Academy but provides a broader range of topics and levels. Like iClassical, the teachers are all high-caliber violinists such as Augustin Hadelich, Stefan Jackiw, and Nancy Zhou. Many of these video lessons are applicable to beginners and include very helpful exercises. Categories include technique and skills, theory and musicianship, interviews, and masterpieces of the repertoire. In weekly live workshops, you can ask instructors your questions in real time. Every lesson comes with pdf resources such as workbooks and annotated scores. The online community supports each other and provides feedback. Tonebase even invests in education by giving a 30% discount to current students and educators.

Pricing:

Free: Youtube videos (a different channel for each instrument i.e. Tonebase Violin), three free video lessons, unlimited access with 14-day free trial
Subscriptions: $49/month, $299/year, $695/lifetime

Pros:

Detailed videos and course with sheet music, live advice from top musicians, interactive online community

Cons:

Tonebase is more expensive than other online lessons and does not provide different levels of membership. Also, the courses are not organized pedagogically so this would not be the best choice if you are looking for very structured step-by-step guidance.

#2 Learnviolinonline.org

With Learn Violin Online, you can access online courses, sheet music, and materials to progress in your violin studies. The courses are available 24/7 and there is no timeline to finish them, so you ned not feel rushed. There are different packages available depending on your needs, starting at $37/month. There is also an instagram account with lots of fingering tutorials on easy pieces.

Pricing:

Free: Instagram playalong tutorials, free beginner violin course, free vibrato course
$37/month: Access to all digital courses and the community
$57/month: All digital courses, the community, and video exchange feedback (asynchronous)

Individual courses are also available for purchase.

Pros:

Sample courses/videos you can try for free, supportive online community and lots of options between membership, short affordable courses and private lessons. Meghan is friendly person and a great violin teacher.

Cons:

Meghan is the only teacher on this platform.

#3 TomPlay

You’ve heard me talk about TomPlay before if you’re familiar with my channel. It is not exactly a lessons resource, but an extremely helpful sheet music app with over 60,000 arrangements. On TomPlay you can find professional recordings of piano accompaniments to pieces you’re learning, so you can practice it with piano. A handy feature is that you can even set the recording at different speeds so you’re not racing to catch up! The site features classical music as well film music and even rock. There’s a huge selection, so whether you want to play Vivaldi’s Four Seasons or the theme from Titanic, TomPlay can help you make practicing more engaging.

Pricing:

Use the coupon VIOLINLOUNGE30 for 30% off your yearly subscription.

Free: 14-day free trial, blog articles

$15/month: Unlimited access to entire score library

If you only want to practice a particular thing and don’t want to pay monthly, you can also just purchase individual scores.

Get Tomplay

Pros:

Only pay for what you need, available on any device. The scores scroll as you play, and you can make your own markings on the score and print it out. You can also set the track to help you practice one passage in a loop.

Cons:

Since it is a sheet music app, there are no tutorials. Also, if you wish to practice from the sheet music without the accompaniment, that can be difficult as there are no pedals to flip the pages. However, you can always print the music out instead.

#4 Stringosaurus

Teaching violin to 3-5 year-olds requires a lot of patience and dedication. Usually, the methods you’ve learned for older children just won’t work. Why? It’s simple: kids this age just want to play! They are incredibly brilliant and will absorb anything, but they are far more likely to stay engaged when play is involved. Through videos, books, and props, Stringosaurus turns practice time into a fun and hilarious story that also teaches basic violin and general music skills. If you’re hitting against a wall struggling to teach these amazing tiny students, try a new approach by checking out what Stringosaurus can offer.

Pricing:

Pricing: $24/month (for annual subscription): Membership in the Stringosaurus Resource Hub, with over 80 high quality resources and more being added, and online community support. Resources can also be purchased individually.

Pricing:

Pricing:

The app is free with in-app purchases.

Pros:

Stay accountable in practice, track daily hours, meet other musicians online, support each other with real feedback.

Cons:

Only a practice tool, not a lesson website. It may not be a good choice for those who are cell-phone addicted or easily distracted while practicing.

#17 Violin Lounge

Well… I couldn’t help mentioning this one! I can’t say Violin Lounge an online blog, Youtube channel and teaching platform run by a professional violinist (yours truly) who wants to help absolutely everyone improve their violin skills, specifically through sharing bowing techniques. The Youtube channel features 1,000+ videos on technique, repertoire, and fun vlogs. The website includes all kinds of courses with awesome guest teachers as well as lots more articles like this one! Violinists of all ages can find inspiration, get questions answered, and obtain direct help from a professional violinist. (forgive my bias)

Pricing:

Violin Lounge offers free resources and paid lifetime access online courses.

Free: Youtube channel, blog (i.e. where you are now), free beginner violin course,
$ 111: Violin Bowing Bootcamp self study course about bowing technique
$1,777: Full Bow Like A Pro course, including 400+ video lessons, video exchange feedback, practice plans, sheet music, and lifetime access
$1,222: Paganini’s Secret violin course, guiding you from a G major scale to Paganini’s 24th caprice without selling your soul to the devil. Includes video exchange feedback.
More in the shop right here!

Hi! I'm Zlata

Classical violinist helping you overcome technical struggles and play with feeling by improving your bow technique.

Pros:

Lots of free resources and tips, rare but essential focus on right hand (bowing) technique, courses led by multiple teachers, lifetime access to courses and videos.

Cons:

No live lesson option, no monthly subscription option.

No matter how long you have been playing the violin, you will find something among these resources to help and inspire you.

I’ve tried to give an as accurate possible picture of the online violin lessons, courses, websites and apps out there. If you noticed a mistake or you would like your platform featured, please e-mail us.

How do you take online violin lessons?

If you have used any of them yourself and have additional thoughts, please leave them in the comments for others to learn from!

← Top 24 Violin Composers in the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern Period Best Violin Strings for Children's Violins →

Top 24 Violin Composers in the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern Period

Listen to the most beautiful violin music from the 24 greatest violin composers of all times

Explore the baroque, classical, romantic and modern period with some beautiful listen tips of the 24 greatest violin composers and learn what’s so special about them. I’ve got three violin pieces per composer for you, so sit back and enjoy!

Tech notice: If you’re viewing this page on mobile, please note that it might have difficulty loading because of all the embedded videos with music examples. This page performs better on desktop.

6 Greatest Violin Composers in the Baroque Period

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Bach’s six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin are some of the most important pieces in the violin repertoire and played by every major soloist. Although he is most famous for his sacred music, he wrote these while working for the prince of Köthen who anted only secular works.

Violin music by Johann Sebastian Bach:

Chaconne from Partita no 2

E Major Preludio from Partita no 3

Concerto for Two Violins

Download free violin composer flash cards

24 printable PDF flash cards

Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759)

Handel’s violin sonatas are beautiful examples of the Baroque style, both regal and playful. Born in Germany, he spent most of his life in England working for King George I and King George II, and became famous for his operas.

Violin music by Georg Friedrich Handel:

Violin Sonata in D Major

Violin Sonata in A Major

Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)

Like Bach, Telemann also wrote a collection of works for solo violin, as well as several concertos for four violins. He was the most popular and prolific composer of his day, with over 3,000 finished works.

Violin music by Georg Philipp Telemann:

Concerto for Four Violins in G Major

Viola Concerto in G Major

12 Fantasias for Solo Violin

Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)

Corelli’s violin sonatas and concerti grossi became famous throughout Europe, known for their rich textures and creative harmonies. His music also helped establish the preeminence of the violin.

Violin music by Arcangelo Corelli:

La Folia

12 Violin Sonatas

Christmas Concerto

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

No composer had more impact on the early development of the violin concerto. Vivaldi wrote 230, most notably the beloved Four Seasons. Most of these he wrote for L’Ospedale della Pietà, a convent and orphanage that also boasted one of the most celebrated orchestras in Europe.

Violin music by Antonio Vivaldi:

The Four Seasons

Violin Concerto G Minor

Concerto for Four Violins in B Minor

Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770)

Tartini is remembered for the violin sonata he wrote after purportedly having a dream where he saw the devil playing the violin. While that is his most famous work, he also wrote 135 violin concertos.

Violin music by Giuseppe Tartini:

“Devil’s Trill” Sonata

Violin Sonata in D Major

Violin Concerto in E Minor

6 Greatest Violin Composers in the Classical Period

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Haydn wrote three violin concertos that are treasured by both students and professionals for their beauty and technical challenges. In addition to his concertos and numerous string quartets, he is often called “the father of the symphony” because he wrote one hundred and six of them.

Violin music by Joseph Hayden:

Violin Concerto No. 1 in C Major

“Emperor” Quartet

“Surprise” Symphony

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Mozart wrote five violin concertos in three years, and the later three are the most celebrated examples of the mid-classical violin concerto. The first movement of his work for string quartet Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is among the most recognized classical melodies.

Violin music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:

Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Symphony No. 29

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Although primarily known for his piano and symphonic works, Beethoven’s violin concerto is one of the longest and most challenging in the repertoire. The first performance was unsuccessful, and the concerto did not become popular until long after Beethoven’s death.

Violin music by Ludwig van Beethoven:

Violin Concerto in D Major

Romance in F Major

Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major ‘Spring’

Rodolphe Kreutzer (1766-1831)

A professor at the Conservatoire de Paris and considered a founding father of the French violin school, Kreutzer essential work 42 Etudes is often called “the violin bible.” Kreutzer also wrote nineteen violin concertos.

Violin music by Rodolphe Kreutzer:

Etude No. 42

Violin Concerto No. 13

Etude No. 2

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Mendelssohn wrote two violin concertos, one for string orchestra and one for classical symphony. Violin Concerto in E Minor bridges the classical and romantic eras and is regularly ranked in the top five violin concertos ever written.

Violin music by Felix Mendelssohn:

Violin Concerto in E Minor

Violin Concerto in D Minor

String Octet

Nicolo Paganini (1782-1840)

Paganini’s infamous 24 Caprices, not to mention his six violin concertos, push the limits of players’ physical capabilities. Audiences were so shocked by his antics that there were rumors he had made a deal with the devil. He probably just practiced a lot.

Violin music by Nicolo Paganini:

Violin Concerto No. 1

Caprice No. 5

Caprice No. 24

Download free violin composer flash cards

24 printable PDF flash cards

6 Greatest Violin Composers in the Romantic Period

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Brahms’ intense concerto, his three violin sonatas, and other solo pieces are dream-repertoire for any very serious student. If you want to delve a little deeper, check out his double concerto for violin and cello.

Violin music by Johannes Brahms:

Violin Concerto in D Major

Violin Sonata No. 3

String Quartet No. 1

Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880)

Little-known outside the violin world, Wieniawski spent his short but eventful life writing dramatic concertos, solo pieces, and caprices that rival Paganini’s. He traveled all over the world concertizing and composing until he died of a heart attack at age forty-four.

Violin music by Henryk Wieniawski:

Concerto No. 2

Etude-Caprice No. 4

Scherzo Tarantelle

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto, written while trying to escape depression, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. He is best known for his symphonic works and his numerous ballets including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker.

Violin music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky:

Violin Concerto in D Major

String Quartet No. 1

Serenade for Strings

Max Bruch (1838-1920)

A young but talented German composer achieved international fame through just one piece: Violin Concerto in G Minor. Jealous composers scoffed at him for the enormous success of this piece, and even Bruch was reportedly angry that it eclipsed all his other work.

Violin music by Max Bruch:

Violin Concerto No. 1

Scottish Fantasy

String Quintet in E-flat Major

Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908)

This Spanish-born violinist and composer toured the world to bring the flavor and exuberance of his homeland to other cultures through his music. Notable composers such as Lalo, Bizet, and Saint-Saëns dedicated pieces to Sarasate.

Violin music by Pablo de Sarasate:

Zigeunerweisen

Romanza Andaluza

Zapateado

Edouard Lalo (1823-1892)

Ironically, this French composer is best-known for his Spanish-sounding violin concerto, which also happens to be the piece that inspired Tchaikovsky to write his own famous violin concerto. He had an extensive number of other works including three operas.

Violin music by Edouard Lalo:

Symphonie Espagnole

String Quartet in E-flat Major

Piano Trio No. 1

6 Greatest Violin Composers in the Modern Period

Eugene Ysaÿe (1858-1931)

A giant of the classical world both figuratively and literally, Ysaÿe brings modern harmonies and effects to his virtuosic compositions. His sonatas for solo violin are even more difficult than earlier ones by Paganini and Wieniawski.

Violin music by Eugene Ysaÿe:

Sonata no. 3 ‘Ballade’

Sonata for Two Violins in A Minor

Snow of Yesteryear

Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

Elgar’s violin concerto is his longest orchestral work, and incredibly difficult. He declared himself that he loved its strong emotional style. Elgar’s most beloved works include The Dream of Gerontius and Enigma Variations.

Violin music by Edward Elgar:

Violin Concerto in B Minor

Salut d’Amour

String Quartet in E Minor

Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)

This Viennese-turned-American violinist was a household name at the turn of the century due to his live concerts and his recordings. His show pieces are common encores on concerts and recitals. Kreisler had a distinct sound known for its sweet tone and expressive phrasing.

Violin music by Fritz Kreisler:

Tambourin Chinois

3 Old Viennese Dances

Praeludium und Allegro

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)

Prokofiev, a major Soviet composer, is known mainly as a pianist, but his violin concerto and sonatas are incredibly important to the repertoire for their originality and unusual beauty.

Violin music by Sergei Prokofiev:

Violin Concerto No. 1

Violin Sonata No. 2

Peter and the Wolf

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Shostakovich spent his conflicted composing career writing in two styles: a straight-forward one to satisfy the Soviets, and an inventive, ground-breaking one to satisfy himself. The violin concerto is one of the latter, which is why it was not performed until after Stalin’s death.

Violin music by Dmitri Shostakovich:

Violin Concerto

5 Pieces for Two Violins

String Quartet No. 8

Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

One of the quintessential composers of the American style, Barber’s lush, nostalgic compositions include a violin concerto, his famous string quartet, and a rarely heard unfinished violin sonata. Many of his vocal songs have also been transcribed for violin.

Violin music by Samuel Barber:

Violin Concerto

String Quartet Op. 11

Sonata (Unfinished)

Hi! I'm Zlata

Classical violinist helping you overcome technical struggles and play with feeling by improving your bow technique.

I’ll admit I’ve ignored so many great composers and beautiful pieces

The challenge of writing an article like this is not to find good pieces, but to select which pieces NOT to include. There’s so much beautiful violin music!

If you’re comfortable listening, also explore this:

31 Violin concertos ranked by difficulty level

30 Most famous violinists of past and present

22 Most romantic violin solos

Who do you think is the greatest violin composer of all times?

Share your favorite violin music in the comments!

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The ‘Big Five’ Violin Concertos: what makes them so famous?

Everyone has their own favorites, but these big five romantic violin concertos are most played and listened to over the world

Why are these five violin concertos so special?

Over the past four hundred years, dozens if not hundreds of violin concertos have been written. Some have been forgotten, their manuscripts lost or destroyed. Others are never played because they are by obscure composers, are difficult to find, or are not considered “flashy” enough. Even so, there are still plenty of options to choose from. Everyone has their own favorites, but certain pieces always float to the top of the pile no matter what. In this article, we’ll talk about the five most famous romantic violin concertos.

#1 Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor

This concerto has long been a favorite among audiences. In fact, Bruch was envied and insulted by fellow composers during his life because of this work’s popularity. His detractors were ultimately ignored, however, as it still remains a concert hall staple and mandatory repertoire for serious students.

Max Bruch was a German composer who began composing when he was nine. His parents encouraged his talent, helping him to find teachers. Bruch started his first violin concerto when he was twenty-six, but completely rescinded the original version to rework it. With the help of the great violinist Joseph Joachim, he eventually created the masterpiece that we know today.

The concerto is in three movements, but the first movement segues directly into the second. This concerto is challenging but still doable for most advanced students, often being one of the first major concertos they learn.

After the concerto’s debut in 1868, all the great violinists began playing it, so much so that it eclipsed essentially all of Bruch’s other compositions. He did not appreciate that very much, and other composers became very jealous of his success. To make it worse, he had completely sold the concerto to his publisher, so he did not make money from it himself.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#2 Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor

Classical music lovers can debate endlessly about what the five greatest violin concertos are, but you can be sure Mendelssohn’s will be on the list. Written in 1844, it incorporates the best of both traditional classical styles and Mendelssohn’s budding romanticism. And in case you were wondering, Mendelssohn also wrote a little-known Violin Concerto in D Minor earlier that is also worth a listen.

Mendelssohn wrote the concerto for his friend Ferdinand David, who was concertmaster of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Over the next several years, David gave Mendelssohn many suggestions and premiered it in 1845.

Contrary to the classical style of the time where the orchestra would state the main themes, the violin solo begins almost immediately The movements lead directly into one another without any pauses, which is also unusual. It is considered one of the earliest Romantic violin concertos, and still uses a standard classical orchestra of strings, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, and timpani. It is perhaps fitting that Mendelssohn’s most famous concerto is the last one he ever wrote.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#3 Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major

Clocking in at a cool 45 minutes long, the Beethoven Concerto is considered one of the most challenging in the repertoire, and a major accomplishment for anyone who learns it. The orchestra plays an intro lasting over two minutes, which gives the soloist plenty of time to stand there in front of the audience wondering if his or her entrance will sound good.

After writing two beautiful Romances for violin and orchestra, Beethoven completed his one and only violin concerto in 1806. Its premier was not successful, and it did not become popular until a young Joseph Joachim brought it back to life decades later. (Interestingly, Mendelssohn was the conductor for that performance.)

Beethoven’s concerto is greatly influenced by the French style of the time. It is exceptionally long, and the third movement is particularly difficult to memorize because it is in rondo form. A rondo is when the main theme alternates with different contrasting themes, which can get very confusing. There are very few rests for the soloist. The instrumentation is the same as that of the Mendelssohn concerto.

Now that it is considered one of the top violin concertos, dozens of soloists have written their own cadenzas for the piece, including Joshua Bell, Fritz Kreisler, Nathan Milstein, and Maxim Vengerov.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#4 Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major

Like the Beethoven Concerto, the opening of this piece sounds as though Brahms started writing a symphony and then suddenly remembered he was supposed to be writing a violin concerto. When the soloist finally does come in, he does it in style with some fiery runs and perfectly tuned double-stops (playing more than one string at once). It may not be as melodic or violin-centered as Beethoven’s but the sheer amount of energy in the work is breathtaking.

As you can probably tell by now, Joseph Joachim was the towering violinist of his day. He was so respected by his colleagues that several—including Schumann, Dvorak, Bruch, and Brahms—wrote concertos for him, although he never played the ones by Schumann and Dvorak. Joachim actively helped Brahms develop his concerto, premiering it in 1879.

Incredibly grand and rich, this concerto weaves together elements from Joachim’s Hungarian roots. One unusual thing is the gorgeous two-minute oboe solo in the second movement. Pablo de Sarasate was so offended by it that he wouldn’t play the concerto, but Joachim welcomed it as a complement to the tone of the violin.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#5 Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major

Okay, I know you’re wondering at this point why so many violin concertos are in the key of D, but maybe that’s a subject for another article. Tchaikovsky wrote this concerto while trying to recover from depression, and it is heart-on-your-sleeve, alternating between deep reflection and unrestrained joy.

Tchaikovsky wrote the concerto while recovering from depression at a villa on Lake Geneva. He was deeply inspired by Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole, as Spanish influence was very big at the time. He became so excited by his new idea that he wrote the whole thing in a month. He completely rewrote the middle movement, and the original movement he later used for Souvenir d’un Lieu Cher.

Tchaikovsky wanted Leopold Auer to premier the piece, but he refused. According to Auer, certain passages needed to be rewritten in order to be both more beautiful and more playable. A hurt Tchaikovsky instead gave the concerto to another violinist to premier. Auer later edited the concerto so he and his students could perform it. He ultimately regretted not taking Tchaikovsky’s initial offer and asked his forgiveness.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

These are the five most famous romantic concertos, in no particular order. Would you change anything or add one to the list? Let me know in the comments!

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