We receive many emails from parents looking for a teacher or a conservatory that can help their children discover the electric violin and its subtleties. We also get messages from teenagers who already have some knowledge of classical violin and want to explore something different.
We don’t know the curriculum of every conservatory and music school. However, through various encounters, we have compiled a list of music schools, conservatories, and teachers offering electric violin lessons. Contact us to learn more!
Can you start with the electric violin?
The electric violin and the acoustic violin are both violins, and you can play the electric violin if you’ve learned the acoustic one, and vice versa. However, it’s important to note that they are radically different worlds with distinct playing techniques.
To master each field, you need to evolve your playing style and knowledge on the subject. It’s exactly the same for acoustic and electric guitars; they are the same instrument but represent two different worlds and styles.
Today, it’s unlikely that you’ll be allowed to start learning the electric violin in your first year at a conservatory or music school. Many sum it up like this:
It’s better to start with classical violin before electric violin, otherwise you’ll never truly know how to play classical violin!
This reasoning isn’t entirely wrong, but it’s not entirely true either!
Classical violin techniques require immense learning effort. Not all of them can be directly applied to an electric violin. For example, mastering sound nuances with the bow on a classical violin takes hours of work. These nuances come from the pressure exerted on the strings by the bow. On an electric violin, this technique is hardly usable. The pressure won’t produce a sound with nuanced tones.
This is because the physical characteristics of an electric violin don’t allow it to interpret all these pressure changes. With an electric violin, the sound won’t be louder if you press the bow harder on the strings. Sound intensity is controlled with a volume knob!
Not all techniques learned on a classical violin will necessarily work on an electric violin. And the reverse is just as true! For example, the electric violin is associated with sound modulation through effects. Some effects are difficult to apply to a classical violin because its acoustics are completely different.
Classical and electric violins are complementary. If you practice one, you’ll be able to practice the other. But you’ll need to adapt your techniques and playing style.
Where can I learn the electric violin?
Learning the instrument
Several options can help you learn the electric violin:
- A specialized electric violin class at a conservatory or music school
- A teacher specialized in electric violin or willing to teach violin using an electric violin
- Learning independently
A teacher specialized in electric violin
Finding a teacher specialized in electric violin can be quite challenging. Don’t be afraid to ask, as it’s a skill they often don’t advertise much. In France, music education is quite traditional, typically starting with music theory and discovering a classical instrument.
But that doesn’t mean they know nothing about it. Many of them own an electric violin at home. These teachers can provide plenty of advice on all the specifics of the electric violin: effects, playing techniques, associated equipment, musical repertoires, etc.
A specialized electric violin class
Some conservatories and music schools offer classes dedicated to the electric violin.
This is the case for the Francis Poulenc Conservatory in Rosny-sous-Bois (93), which has opened a class entirely dedicated to the electric violin.
The Violons & Co music school in Vincennes (94) also offers electric violin lessons. This video medley of several tracks from the Game of Thrones series is one of their creations.
Contact the music schools and conservatories nearest to you to find out if their violin teachers are open to teaching electric violin.
If you’re a music school, private teacher, or conservatory accepting electric violins, feel free to write to us so we can add your details to this article.
Learning independently
The internet is full of tutorials, articles, and videos about the electric violin. It’s entirely possible to start learning this instrument on your own. Having some violin knowledge is a real asset! Nothing is insurmountable, so don’t be afraid to dive in!
Exploring other worlds related to the electric violin
Improvisation
In music, improvisation is the process by which an improvising musician spontaneously creates a musical composition, drawing on their technical and theoretical knowledge and creativity. Improvisation is often associated with spontaneity, creativity, inspiration, etc., of the musician.
Improvising is a real challenge for musicians who must produce something in real-time while respecting their surroundings. It might seem like improvisation has no rules. Yet, the musician must be able to produce a musical work live, while listening to what accompanying musicians are producing to adapt if necessary, and they must be able to be “understood” by their audience.
Here’s an example with one of our ambassadors: Volt W. Jingjit. He’s a jazz violinist who improvises at every concert with his Line electric violin.
Learning to improvise is a long and personal process. Everyone will have their own approach, as improvisation stems from who you are. Your background, musical tastes, and playing techniques will define your improvisation style.
To explore improvisation, you can join a jazz section at a conservatory or music school. Many conservatories have a dedicated jazz section or offer jazz workshops with other instrumentalists.
Effects
The electric violin isn’t just about learning and practicing the instrument. Many related aspects are also essential to fully enjoy an electric violin. Effects are one of them! What’s the point of having an electric violin if you don’t apply effects to it…
You’ll need to explore concepts around creating an effects chain and understand the purpose of each element. What’s the use of a compressor, harmonizer, or equalizer? Where should it be placed, and how should it be set up in an effects chain?
There’s no real recipe for creating an effects chain. What matters, in the end, is that the effect produced suits you! Your effects chains will define your style!
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An effects chain should be thought out and created in this order:
- Create the clean sound of your electric violin
- Think about the effects you want to use
- Build your effects chains
If none of the violin teachers at your music school or conservatory use pedals or effects processors, you can turn to a guitar or bass teacher. They’re usually familiar with this world and can guide you. You’ll also find dozens of tutorials, mostly in English, from violinists sharing their setups on YouTube.
The looper
A looper, also called a boucleur in French, is a recording pedal. It’s commonly used by guitarists.
In music, a loop is a musical sequence that is repeated indefinitely. A looper allows you to record yourself and then repeat that sequence so you can play an accompaniment over it.
Loopers are suitable for solo use but also work in a group setting. They can also be used to launch backing tracks that you couldn’t reproduce on the violin.
As with effects, if your violin teacher doesn’t know how a looper works, ask a guitar or bass teacher, or a musician participating in jazz sections or workshops.
As an example, here’s a melody created using a looper pedal paired with an effects processor, entirely improvised by a violinist at Musikmesse 2019.
Recording and composition techniques
When diving into electric violin, violinists often also explore the composition and recording techniques that come with it. The electric violin will push you toward musical horizons that go beyond just learning an instrument. It’s become so easy to amplify an electric violin and then record it with a computer that the urge to start composing will come naturally.
Ultimately, these concepts relate to your creativity and sound techniques: recording, editing, composition, mastering, etc. Once again, teachers can help, especially those teaching DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). The internet is also full of resources on the subject!
Can you start the electric violin on your own?
Being self-taught is entirely possible. Many violinists have started playing the electric violin on their own. If you already play classical violin, don’t wait any longer and dive in! After a few weeks of use, you’ll master your instrument!
If you have no knowledge of music theory or violin, it’ll be more challenging. You’ll need a lot of patience and determination to progress. But it’s entirely possible to start on your own! Impossible is not French, right?
