How to Play Czardas by Vittorio Monti on the Violin | Violin Lounge TV #328
Learn to play Vittorio Monti’s Czardas on the violin in this tutorial video! Download the free sheet music with my fingering and bowing notes here:
Learn to play this beautiful violin piece with a gypsy vibe
This was one of favorite pieces as a child and today it is still a great practice piece. You can learn so much from this piece because it has so many elements such as position play, big sounds, fast notes, double stops, harmonics, and more. All of which makes it fun to play! If you aren’t familiar with all of these you don’t need to play everything right away. Simply start with what you know and come back to the rest later!
The vibe is SO important
Focus on expressing what the piece wants to say and less on precise tempo. Don’t try to force it.
If you’re able to play the higher tempo…great! But if not, it’s better to play a bit slower and more controlled with the right gypsy vibe than for you to struggle and be less comfortable. You want to play something beautiful.
Express the contrasts
You have piano parts, different vibes and moods, so you don’t want to play everything fast or everything slow or everything romantic. Be sure to bring lots of different sounds into the piece to express those contrasts!
Watch the full tutorial above to get more detailed instruction on playing this piece
(and sign up on the right if you want to receive my sheet music with fingering and bowing notes)
Get your sheet music:
Hi! I'm Zlata
Classical violinist helping you overcome technical struggles and play with feeling by improving your bow technique.
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What do you think?
Leave a comment below if you have any questions or if you have another idea for my next tutorial!
24 Comments
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
- 6 Bow Technique Tips for Harmonics on the Violin | Violin Lounge TV #355 - Violin Lounge - […] those harmonic passages like in Vittorio Monti’s Czardas can be very scary when you have to perform […]
- Switch between SPICCATO and SAUTILLÉ Violin Bow Technique | Violin Lounge TV #360 - Violin Lounge - […] my full tutorial on Vittorio Monti’s Czardas right here. It’s the piece I used as an example in the…
Awesome Zlata! I’m a fiddle player but I’ll try to learn some of these passages because it will probably help me learn interesting new skills. Thanks a lot!
Heey, this is so amazing! You explain everything clear and I really want to play this piece now! You inspire me so much!
That’s great to year, Hendriëtta, keep me up to date about your progress on this piece. What piece would you like me to make a video on next?
Certainly, Yael, everything you learn in various styles can benefit all of them :). What would be a next piece you’d like to learn?
I really appreciate your efforts Zlata, your lessons have made me a better violinist than I used to be. I am very happy that I can benefit from your sound violin lessons right here in Nigeria
How wonderful to read that, Napoleon! That’s what keeps me going making more good stuff :). What’s the next piece you’d like to learn?
zeer mooi muziekstuk…maar vergt tijd om aan te leren!
thx voor de download;
Veel plezier met het spelen ervan, Marc! Van welk stuk zou je een volgende videoles willen zien?
The piece is beautiful when you play it. It’s going to take a lot of practice but I will master this piece. Thanks Zlata you are an inspiration to all who want to play better.
Thanks so much, Robert, that’s what keeps me going! What’s a next piece you’d like to learn on the violin?
Dear Zlata…The earth is a better place with your music and your sharing of your music knowledge. Thank you so much for that. I am trying to learn the Czardas for the past year and a half and i am just stuck with the Sautille part of the piece…i am going to try and practice the notes in pairs, like you mentioned in the video for the Sautille part. Is there any advice for the double stops? i keep missing one string sometimes..? i appreciate the time you take to teach and write to the eager students from all over the world. May the universe give you all the happiness and contentment.
Thank you and congrats on your persistence on this piece. You could do some general double stop exercises and scales. Just use the search bar on the top right. If you want to work with me to improve your bow technique (sautillé as well as the bowing aspect of double stops), you’re most welcome to join right here. As 80% of violin playing is the bow, it’s worth the investment to upgrade your bow technique. Blessings, Zlata
Zlata, what a helpful video. After nearly 36 years away from my violin, retirement has allowed me the time to devote to music again. I enjoyed how you offered the musical variations open to the player. Thanks also for the sheet music.
Glad it’s helpful to you, Jerry, and congrats on picking up the violin again. How was it to restart? Did you remember a lot?
I have played off and on for 50 years (Im 60 now). I stopped for about 20 years then started again 15 years ago after being exposed to Grappelli. I commit to 15 minutes a day, but it usually turns into 30 or 45….Over commitment results in procrastination for me… I wish I would have had some teachers when I was young expose me to gypsy and jazz violin when I was young. Im “playing” catch up now. That is a great tutorial! If you find the right music and the right teacher, music is truly the international language of fun! Thanks!
Great that you picked up the violin again, Michael!
Thank you Zlata for making this lesson and sheet music available. There is so much here to work on! I have only just started with it and am enjoying it already!
Great to read that, Sarah, enjoy!
Hi Zlata! I’ve wanted to play Czardas for some time and finally I think I have enough experience (position work, some vibrato, double stops) that it will be a good challenge and not just a frustrating challenge. Loosening up my right wrist and practicing artificial harmonics…what better to do during a pandemic? I appreciate your sharing your knowledge and approach.
Happy practicing, Jane, glad you appreciate!
i noticed you did not include the grace notes at the beginning of a couple of measures that used 16th. My piece has grace notes written so my question are….Do all copies have those grace notes and violinists simply ignore them or are there copies without these grace notes?(Btw, my 11 year old constantly listens to you tutorials as do I, so thank you very much)
There are different publications of this piece, so certainly in the embellishments there could be differences. Also performers add their own. Greetings to your young fiddler :).
Dear Zlata,
It is a wonderful video and very instructive. However, it is way too advanced for me at this stage.
Hopefully my level will rise to actually make reasonable attempts.
Thank you so much for the great work you put it.
You’re welcome!