The complexities of playing the violin can be tough sometimes, which is why it’s helpful to find violin sheet music for free. There are still opportunities out there to find unique sheet music that you may not know about.
I always check to see if I can download sheet music for free before paying for arrangements or making my own. There’s so many resources for finding sheet music online nowadays and it’s all for free. Whether you’re looking for classical or some more contemporary tunes, there’ll be something to suit your needs.
Best Online Resources for Beginner Violinists
It is hard to believe that violinists and other classical musicians were able to only meet in person a few decades back to learn about their craft and to get support and encouragement.
There used to be several classical music magazines that provided information about jobs and auditions.
Most networking took place at events such as Summer Music Festivals where large numbers of students and professionals performed together. One couldn’t help but feel connected to the wider classical music community and learn about potential opportunities.
All you need to connect with a global audience of violinists or music lovers is a computer today.
You can find everything you need online to learn how to play the violin, even lessons!
There is so much information online for violinists that we thought we’d summarise some of our favorites.
1. Violinist.com
Violinist.com ranks at the top of the list for all things violin. This site is a digital directory of violin-related information if you happen to be the type that likes a little bit of everything.
The ‘teacher tab’ provides helpful tips from teachers around the world on different teaching techniques, what music to use for different levels of playing, and more.
Another thing you’ll find on this z-ivoice community are our discussion boards. Popular discussions are often focused on violin related topics and members give advice to those who ask. This discussion is a great example: it covers the topic of “bow pressure”.
2. The Violin Site
The Violin Site has a lot of information. It includes tips and exercises for learning the violin, shops and violin makers, and biographies of well-known composers and violinists.
Find out how to improve your intonation and your musical vocabulary.
These books include a list of the most famous violinists and a list of books on violin care. You can even find fun facts about the violin, such as the fact that you can burn up to 170 calories an hour playing the violin.
3. The Violin Lab
Violin Lab is an educational website for violinists that offers tutorials for all skill levels.
They have instructional videos on how to play the violin; you’ll get beginning to advanced technique, Suzuki Book 1-4 instruction, different bowing styles, vibrato help and more. Check out their selection.
They have their own social media forum where you can upload videos, share thoughts, questions, experiences – and really beyond.
4. The Violin Channel
Since 2009, the Violin Channel has provided violin lovers with relevant and exciting content. The website features a unique collection of interviews with well-known artists, as well as a section dedicated to up-and-coming musicians.
The audition section is a favorite tool for professional violinists. It posts information about open auditions around the globe.
This website has a large video section. One unique feature is the “New to Youtube” videos. For example, this is Fedor Rudin, a 23-year-old VC Young Artist’ from Russia performing Bartok’s Solo Violin Sonata.
5. 8notes.com
8notes.com is a popular website for those that are seeking violin I love music, plus I want to perfect my theory and my skills. I need an interactive metronome service and online theory lessons that keep me interested and will challenge me.
This is an excellent resource with all sorts of different songs. There are classics, folk songs, jazz tunes and even wedding ceremony pieces.
Downloading sheet music is straightforward on this website: just click on one of the categories or use the search box. This site also has a page with backing tracks, another feature not available elsewhere.
Some of their sheet music is free and the rest can be accessed through a yearly $20.00 per year subscription fee.
Membership gives you access to various PDF downloads of music, play along tracks, and instrumental parts. You even get free access to transcriptions!
They also have a forum page for musicians of all instruments, and categorized sections for different genres. For instance, this page is specifically for classical musicians.
If you want to learn how to play the violin and become a virtuoso, there are loads of resources that you can use. These websites are a great place to start.
6. Violinonline.com
Violinonline.com is a wonderful site for either starting with or getting back to the basics of violin playing.
On this page alone, you’ll find a huge variety of important things to help you enjoy playing the violin more and have more time for other aspects of your life. This includes general information on holding and fingering the violin, bowing technique exercises, practice tips and care for your instrument. You can also learn about how the violin was developed as well as its history in general.
Exercises include scales, etudes and technique builders from different method books and composers.
There’s a lot of free holiday music to choose from! You can find the best selections on our page.
7. Violinmasterclass.com
Violinmasterclass.com is a nonprofit website that focuses on providing videos featuring lessons from world renowned violinist Kurt Sassmannshaus, who founded the website in 2004.
There are a lot of video tutorials you can watch that cover the technical skills needed to play the violin.
It’s easy to get started on the right foot with this site – just go to the Plan Your Practice page, download a helpful practice chart for your lessons, and fill it out as you learn!”
There are a lot of violin performances on the other page as well as recital videos to get inspiration from!
8. CMUSE
CMUSE is a fun and unique site that takes a lighter look at the classical music world.
This website has a lot of great content for those who like to stay informed on all the latest music happenings. They have posts that include interviews, videos, quizzes and so much more.
The website has a lot of different types of music. One page is just for classical and the violin category has some good items.
Ya know, they even help us stay digitally connected to various music events. For example, there was this recent event with the LA Phil that showcased their rendition of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony in a free virtual-reality performance.
9. The Strad
The Strad magazine is an old favourite and has been around for 120 year. Their website offers a wealth of information for all levels of violinists.
The “Health” section is a unique feature of this website. The “Health” section of Strad is unique because it recognizes that musicians often have to deal with physical problems related to their playing. This section provides a forum for musicians to get help and to discuss injuries. You will find articles that address both the physical and psychological demands of playing.
The “Strad Degree Online hub” is another great feature. Here violinists can access resources related to music education. International schools and programs are also great sources for degree programs.
10. Allthingsstrings.com
Allthingsstrings.com is the website for Strings Magazine. They publish a lot of free content, including their newsletter and some articles and reviews. You should check them out.
On this site, you’ll find info on violin makers, musicians, books, teachers and workshops. Check out the Directory page for their complete listing. If you’re looking for a music camp that does summer or winter, make sure to check out this page for a list of local and worldwide events with contact info.
It can take some time to browse through all these sites and find the best one for you. But it’s worth it! If you need to find a violin teacher, learn new music, buy a violin, connect with people and other instruments, or if you just want to perform online – then this is the place you need to be. You can even compose music online, but we’ll save that for a future post!
Of course, there are many more resources dedicated to this topic. For example, you can visit university websites that often link to digitized collections of sheet music and other resources that are free for public use. Keep your eyes peeled for new resources and communities. There are always new ones coming out that might be what you’re looking for.
Advice for Learning to Play the Violin Online
Whether it’s rock or classical music, or even film soundtracks, the violin is becoming more and more popular. If you want to learn how to play Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, take a look at some video tutorials or study music theory.
Learning music theory (treble clef, bass clef, keys, reading sheet music) takes some time. Your first lesson probably won’t teach you to become the next Vivaldi if that’s what you were wondering.
Many musicians are doing quite well making up excuses. They need a lot of work to come up with new techniques, have to be extroverts enough to teach others, and often the violin is the hardest instrument for beginners.
Some people learn how to play the violin using apps or tech. Almost any way you want to learn is possible through the internet (websites, YouTube videos, etc.).
How can you learn as effectively as possible?
How do you avoid picking up bad habits without the help of a tutor?
Set Clear Goals
What are you looking for? Before you look online for violin teachers, this is the first question to ask.
If you want to be a professional violinist, your goals will be different than if they are if it’s just a hobby.
To improve your playing, take more online lessons.
There are many reasons to learn violin. (Source: StockSnap)
The basics of both will be the same, but an amateur musician can focus solely on playing the violin and skip over music theory. A professional musician will need to be proficient in international music terminology.
Understanding your learning goals and why you are learning is key. This will help you stay focused on your learning and prevent you from giving up when you get stuck. This is especially important when teaching yourself. You are the only one who has to learn from you and you don’t have a music teacher to encourage you.
Motivation can take many forms. One example of motivation is to put on a show, play at a friend’s wedding, join a band or apply to a school of music. You need to find a reason for you to keep going.
Put Together a Programme for Online Violin Lessons
Once you’ve got the goal figured out, it’s time to prepare a plan. When it comes to picking music lessons for your kids, you might feel a bit lost and not sure where to start.
For example, you might find a video on vibrato right after learning how to correctly position your hands.
These two lessons can’t really be put one after another. Vibrato is far too complex for somebody who’s just learnt about where to put their hands. To make sure you’re progressing as you should, and understand the theory as well, it makes sense to study theory only before practicing it on the piano.
So how do you do this?
When you decide to learn how to play the violin, there are a lot of ways you can go about it. You can read or find books on the subject in libraries or specialised bookstores. Music schools often offer explanations of their courses and show potential students what they’re going to get out of it.
You need to decide on the best order for the violin information you want to learn:
- Positioning your hands
- Improving your posture
- Holding the violin bow and bowing technique
- Note value
- Rhythm
- Music training
- Finding sheet music for violins and broadening your repertoire
- Improvising
- Tempo
- Performing a concert as part of an symphony orchestra, quartet, or soloist
- Composing music
- Maintenance such as changing violin strings and tuning your instrument
- Etc.
Online violin courses might not be right for you. Check out some beginner courses on our homepage.
“Why not put together a list of musical goals. (Source: Conger Design)”
Don’t hesitate to change things around if what you learned is not for you. Add or take away whatever lessons you want to stay on track with what you’re learning..
Practising the Violin Regularly
To succeed in music or any other art, you need to practise regularly:
- It is important to be able to practice the violin, no matter what.
- Don’t plan too many things for the same day or you will never be able to finish them.
If you don’t study or learn anything for a long time, then it’ll be hard to remember things from previous lessons. Making time for studying is a very important part of learning to play the violin and remember what you’ve learnt.
Practising an instrument regularly means you are less likely to give up. Allocating an hour every week for practising makes this task more manageable and will help you improve your music skills.
Books about the Violin
It’s likely everyone has picked up a violin and experimented with the strings at least once. In many cases, people are fascinated by a virtuoso playing. The soulful melody can give people chills. You know you want to make music, but don’t have the time? Are you regretting not starting to make music earlier? Some people say it’s harder for adults to learn instruments. They think this is because they can’t bend their joints as much as when they were younger.
Textbooks and books are helpful, as well as viola lessons. These can make even the most difficult concepts seem more enjoyable. A lesson might be more appropriate word than tutorial, since the ability to play is passed from teacher to student and through these books you get knowledge from professionals in your field.” These books can offer a great new perspective on your chosen instrument and give advice on how to proceed with learning.
Violin Scores and Methods Books in the Library of Congress
A large chunk of these scores are popular American compositions of that time, but there is also a significant amount of classical music arrangements available.
The sheet music you are seeing here is a piece from an old and rare collection that’s not available anywhere else. They come from a private collection donated to our Library for everyone to enjoy.
| Solos | |
| M 40-44.3 | Collections and separate works |
| Duets, violin and piano | |
| M 217 | Collections (original compositions and arrangements) |
| M 218 | Separate works (original and arrangements) |
| M 219 | Sonatas |
| M 220 | Suites and cyclical works |
| M 221 | Pieces |
| M 222 | Collections of arrangements |
| M 223 | Arrangements of separate works |
| Solo violin with orchestra | |
| M 1012 | Scores, full and reduced and arrangements for reduced orchestra |
| M 1012.5 | Cadenzas |
| M 1013 | Solo(s) with piano reduction |
| Chamber Music for Strings (two or more string instruments)* | |
| M 286-287 | Duets |
| M 349-353 | Trios |
| M 450-454 | Quartets |
| M 550-554 | Quintets |
| M 650-654 | Sextets |
| M 750-754 | Septets |
| M 850-854 | Octets |
| Chamber Music for Strings and Piano* | |
| M 310-314 | Trios, two strings and piano |
| M 410-414 | Quartets, three strings and piano |
| M 510-514 | Quintets, four strings and piano |
| M 610-614 | Sextets, five strings and piano |
| M 710-714 | Septets, six strings and piano |
| M 810-814 | Octets, seven strings and piano |
| Chamber Music for Strings and Winds* | |
| M 290-291 | Duets, one string and one wind |
| M 360-364 | Trios |
| M 460-464 | Quartets |
| M 560-564 | Quintets |
| M 660-664 | Sextets |
| M 760-764 | Septets |
| M 860-864 | Octets |
| Chamber Music for Strings and Plectrals* | |
| M 294-295 | Duets, one string and one plectral |
| M 370-374 | Trios |
| M 470-474 | Quartets |
| M 570-574 | Quintets |
| M 670-674 | Sextets |
| M 770-774 | Septets |
| M 870-874 | Octets |
| Methods Books and Orchestral Excerpts | |
| MT 259 | Combined Strings |
| MT 260 | General |
| MT 261 | Physiology of the hand |
| MT 262 | Systems and methods |
| MT 265 | General studies and exercises |
| MT 266 | Orchestral studies |
| MT 267 | Bowing techniques |
| MT 268 | Positions |
| MT 269 | Chording techniques |
| MT 270 | Harmonics |
| MT 271 | Other special techniques |
| MT 272 | Two violins, studies and exercises |
| MT 274 | Teaching pieces |
| MT 275 | Instructive editions by several composers |
| MT 276 | Instructive editions by one composer |
| MT 278 | Self-instructors |
| MT 279 | Instructive course, anthologies, etc. |
It is of course not appropriate to use the word ‘textbooks’ to describe these tools. We can’t expect students to learn from books alone, then. And yet, violin manuals by outstanding violinists and teachers can provide some guidance when picking your own customized path in the world of music. They can help you get over the metaphorical hurdles of certain studying methods to find a style that’s perfect for you.
FAQ for Online Resources for Beginning Violinists
What are the most popular online resources for beginning violinists?
There are many online resources for beginning violinists. However, some of the most popular ones are listed below.
- How to play the violin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPVh8DY3q3E
- Violin Lesson Videos: http://www.violinlessonsvideos.com/
- Violin Lessons Online: http://www.violinlessonsonline.com/
- Popular violin music: http://www.popularviolinstube.com/
What is the difference between digital and print resources for violinists?
The differences between digital and print resources are numerous, but the most important is that digital resources are easily accessible.
Digital resources provide violinists with a wealth of information on their instruments, including videos, audio clips, and interactive tutorials. They can also be used by teachers to provide feedback on performance.
Print resources typically offer more depth of information than digital ones. They often include detailed illustrations, photographs of famous violinists in action as well as information about their life and career.
Which online resources have a large community of violinists?
There are many online resources for violin players. They range from forums, websites, and social media platforms.
The three most popular online resources are YouTube, Reddit, and Facebook. There are so many videos to watch on YouTube that it can be overwhelming for beginners. Reddit is a great place to get started with violin playing as there are many beginner posts with tips and advice on how to learn the instrument. Facebook is a great place to find other people who play violin because there is a large community of players who share their knowledge with each other.
Which books and resources should a beginning violinist read before they start lessons?
A beginner violinist should read the following books or resources before they start lessons:
- The Violin Handbook: A Complete Guide to Playing the Violin by David Oistrakh
- The Little Red Book of Violin Techniques by Nikolai Znaider
- Learn to Play Piano: A Step-by-Step Course for Beginners by Susanne F.
What benefits of using online resources for violin?
Online resources for violin can be a great way to learn about the instrument. They have tons of content and videos, which can help you learn the basics or improve your skills.
You don’t need to worry about spending a lot of money on lessons and classes when you can find them online for free. There are also some online teachers that will provide you with lessons and tutoring through video chat.
What is the best way to find violin music online?
There are many ways to find violin music online. You can search for it on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, or other online stores.
The best way to find violin music is through recommendations of friends and family members. They might know of a song that you haven’t heard before and would love to share with you.