When it comes to string instruments, the most popular option for people today is the violin. This is especially true among middle school and high school students that wish to perform in an orchestra. The violin is a classic string instrument that can create loud, obnoxious sounds similar to nails on a chalkboard or create the lull of a lullaby for a child. The instrument is played by gliding a bow across the strings of the instrument. Anyone can learn to play the strings, but the real challenge is learning how to read violin music.

Just like anything else, learning how to read violin music comes down to understanding the basics. Basics include notes, note value, understanding rests, and understanding various symbols that appear in a song. First, let us talk about the musical score. You will notice that there are five lines and four spaces. At the beginning of the first line on a piece of music there is a symbol, some numbers, and another small letter or symbol. Each of these plays an important part in understanding the tempo and overall beat of a song. The first symbol is the treble clef, this is used for non-base instruments. Next is the time measure. Traditionally this is measured as 4/4 or four beats per measure. However, some songs are of a quicker pace and may have cut time which means that each beat is worth half its value. Finally, the last letter or symbol indicates if a piece is played in B minor, B flat, or B sharp. This is also known as the octave in which you will be playing.

Next up we find the notes and their values. The first thing you need to understand is which is what note. Notes on a scale are easy to identify. One note falls on each line and space. If you were to look at a sheet of music that is showcasing a scale it would read: E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Looks confusing at first, right? If you separate the notes in the spaces from those on the line you will be able to remember them with ease. The notes that fall on a space spell out the word face while the notes on a line can be remembered as “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge.”

Once you have mastered understanding the music it is time to learn the value of each note so that you will successfully understand how to read violin music. This is also fairly easy. A whole note equals four beats and is represented by an egg like hollow O. A half note is the same symbol with a tale on it and is equal to half the value (two beats). Then there is the quarter note, worth one beat and represented by a filled in egg- like O with a tail. If you see what looks like a quarter note but has a flag added to the tail, then it is an eighth note.