Where to start when you want to play string quartets?

Playing in a string quartet is an enriching experience that combines the joy of music with the camaraderie of like-minded individuals. Whether you’re a beginner(ish), an intermediate or a seasoned orchestra player, you can learn and enjoy so much in a string quartet. However, where do you start?

The Joy of Playing in a String Quartet

To me playing chamber music is all the good stuff from playing solo and playing in an orchestra combined. Sure you have your solos, but a quartet also requires collaboration, listening and blending with your string quartet partners. You have your own part, but you’re still a team. Of course this is not to say that a soloist is also a team with the orchestra, but you get the difference. 

Besides a wonderful playing together experience, the string quartet repertoire offers endless opportunities for exploration and expression in classical, romantic and contemporary works.

Get a feel of playing in a string quartet

When you’ve never played in a string quartet, it might seem intimidating to search for fellow musicians and start one. A safe way to get the feel of playing in a string quartet from home, is to get the Tomplay sheet music app. You can play sheet music along with the recording of the other parts. You can mute the part you want to play and play along in whatever tempo you feel comfortable. Click here to try it for free and if you decide to continue, use the code VIOLINLOUNGE30 for 30% off your subscription.

Finding Fellow Musicians for your String Quartet

Finding musicians at your playing level is crucial for a cohesive quartet and an enjoyable experience for everyone in it. Here are some tips to connect with potential quartet members:

• Your teacher: If you’re currently taking lessons, certainly if you’re taking them at a music school, likely your teacher has contact with other string teachers and can match you with some of their students. Also check the bulletin board. There might be others looking for a string quartet.
• Your orchestra: Often string quartets are formed from people playing together in an orchestra, on amateur as well as professional level. If you’re not in an orchestra, you could ask around in local orchestras.
• Social media: I’ve found several play together partners in local Facebook groups for musicians. 
• Classified Ads: Websites like Craigslist or local community boards often have sections for musicians seeking ensembles.

Easy String Quartet Music for Beginners

Starting with easier pieces allows you to focus on ensemble playing rather than technical challenges. Here are some beginner-friendly string quartet pieces:

• “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” by Mozart: This well-known piece is melodious and relatively straightforward.
• “Canon in D” by Pachelbel: Its repetitive structure makes it easier to learn and perfect.
• “Simple Symphony” by Benjamin Britten: This piece offers beautiful, accessible music that sounds more complex than it is.
• “Divertimenti” by Haydn: Haydn’s quartets are both educational and enjoyable to play.
• Check out the website ‘Free gig music’ for easy arrangements of well known melodies for string quartet.

Preparing for Rehearsals

Preparation is a gift to your fellow string quartet members. Rehearsals are not to figure out your own part. You need to figure out your part and how it fits in the whole beforehand. Here’s how to get ready:

Listen to recordings: Familiarize yourself with the piece by listening to professional recordings. Pay attention to the overall structure and how your part fits in. This is extra effective if you do so with the sheet music in front of you.

Practice your part: Ensure you are familiar with your part before the rehearsal. Practice slowly to understand the tricky passages. Also make sure you understand how to fit in with the other parts. If you’ve tackled most of the technical difficulties a great way to practice fitting it into the whole is to use the Tomplay app. You can play sheet music along with the recording of the other parts. You can mute the part you want to play and play along in whatever tempo you feel comfortable. Also it’s possible to loop tricky bits and make your own notes. Click here to try it for free and if you decide to continue, use the code VIOLINLOUNGE30 for 30% off your subscription.

Mark your music: Note any dynamics, bowings, or fingerings that will help during rehearsal. In this way your practice pays off when playing together. Highlight difficult sections to work on in preparation.

Effective Rehearsal Techniques

Rehearsals should be more than just playing through pieces. Here’s how to make the most of your rehearsal time:

• Warm-Up Together: Start with scales or a simple piece to get in sync with each other.
• Set Goals: Decide on specific sections to focus on and what you want to achieve in each rehearsal. Just playing through your repertoire time after time isn’t so effective. It’s great to have a performance as your goal. 
• Play little bits: It’s tempting to get carried away by the music and play the entire piece. However, for a rehearsal it’s most effective to focus deliberately on certain sections or even a bar of a piece. You can also use the ‘whole part whole’ strategy: play the whole piece, identify the difficulties, practice those tricky parts and play the whole again to see how it fits in.
• Use a Metronome: This helps with timing, especially in tricky sections. If you’re not together, the metronome is always objective and can help you get on the same page (literally, haha).
• Discuss Dynamics and Interpretation: Talk about how you want the music to sound and agree on dynamics, phrasing, and tempo.
• Record Your Rehearsal: Listening back can provide insights into areas that need improvement.
• Take Breaks: Regular breaks help maintain focus and prevent fatigue.

Finding Performance Opportunities as a string quartet

For amateur string quartets quartets

For amateur quartets, performing in community settings can be both fulfilling and beneficial. Here are some ideas:

• Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities: These venues often welcome live music and provide an appreciative audience. I played a lot in nursing homes during my conservatory time and it was a very rewarding experience plus useful performance practice.
• Daycare Centers and Schools: Performing for children can be a fun way to share your music. For lots of children it can be the first time they see a violin, viola or cello.
• Local Community Events: Farmers markets, festivals, and community gatherings often seek local performers.
• Libraries and Coffee Shops: These venues sometimes host live music events and can be a great place to start.
• Churches and Places of Worship: Many have regular musical performances and welcome quartets.

For professional quartets

For professional string quartets there comes a time that you not only want to enjoy your quartet, but also want to monetize it.

• Wedding fairs and planners: if you don’t mind playing the Canon in D and the latest Bridgerton hits, weddings can be a great source of gigs. Visiting or playing at wedding fairs and getting to know wedding planners can be a good source of income. In the same way, you can get to know people who organize private parties and corporate events.
• Festivals like outdoor classical music festivals are a great opportunity to perform without having to organize something yourself. It’s always interesting to explore what’s already going on in your area and see if you can join.
• Host your own concert (offline or online): it definitely requires a lot of work in terms of organization and promotion, but simply finding a venue and selling tickets is a way to monetize your quartet and get the word out. A concert via livestream is also an option. 
• Make videos and publish them on YouTube: If your channel becomes a bit popular, you can earn ad revenue and it’s a great way for potential customers to find you and get to know your music.
• Recording and selling: there are several ways to monetize a recording of your music: digital downloads on platforms like Bandcamp, iTunes, and Amazon and streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, where you can earn royalties. However, it takes a LOT of download before this becomes interesting.
• Teaching and coaching: you can coach other chamber music ensembles, teach individuals or do educational projects for example at schools.