Do any of you play violin in addition to the piano? I feel that many friends my age play one or the other, but there are a few who do both (but only one exceptionally well).

The Violin gives the violinist much more variety of sound, but in the end, the Piano can replace a symphony orchestra (somewhat). I find Piano more fun as well.

Violin has a steeper learning curve.

But isn't it ridiculous how a 5lb violin might cost more than a Model D?

It seems to me that many pianists wish to play the cello. I wonder why that is.

Funny you mention that, for I would love to play the Cello. It's quite expensive though...

Well, perhaps we are so excited by those low thundering BASS NOTES that we want to play more music that can vibrate tables and candles?

Maybe it's also that we want to be able to play sustained notes that don't die away the instant they are played.

Piatigorsky
Enough said.




Ginette Neveu

A lot of people I know in grad school/college play both violin and piano, but yeah, usually one significantly better than the other.

Ahhh - Ginette Neveu! One of my favourite violinists.

There's a young pianist that is concertizing a lot who also plays violin (and I believe composes, too), Conrad Tao.

Also, someone I know here at Brevard who is here for piano also plays studies violin.

Isn't she amazing! So sad for the world to have lost her at such a young age.

well if we're talking about professionals... there's also julia fischer. she played a violin concerto and a piano concerto in the same concert. her grieg concerto is on youtube.

but again, plenty of musicians play both the violin and piano. especially these days i know a lot of kids of my relatives brought up on both instruments together. when i was younger i think most people i know who pick the violin is because they couldn't afford the piano and the financial constraint is becoming less and less of an issue.

recently, i was motivated to learn the viola after learning that the mozarts, the beethovens, etc all play string instruments in addition to the piano.

another thing is that all instrumentalist are required to learn the piano in conservatories anyway, so i think many "serious" musicians learn the piano anyway at a young age.

I play both violin and piano, though I am a bit better at piano. Interestingly enough, I wish to play the cello. . . but I have a mad obsession to learn random instruments before I die. . . like a musical bucket list.
OP: certain violins cost more than concert grands because they are in beautiful condition, yet built int he 1700's. . . and make beautiful sound.
I personally find the piano more fun (*cough* better at it) but the violin has a rich color and certain technical abilities not seen on the piano. If you are interested in some - I highly recommend the Paganini Caprices, if possible, performed by Itzhak Perlman. (My favorites are 1, 6 "Trill", and 24 - might sound a tiny bit like Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini ).
Edit: Here they are:
1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze0c6jMhtWU&feature=related
6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2rhoHS5VTI
24: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmRs-Yrbo_w&feature=related

I wish I could play Violin, I love the sound, and its much easier to carry to places...

But my ultimate instrument that I love the most is of course the Piano.

Who carries pianos? We have them delivered for us!

What are you talking about?

I never leav the house without my piano...

lol

Saul,

I have a DVD of Julia Fischer playing both violin--her main instrument-- and piano.

Julia Fischer Violin & Piano. Can be bought at www.amazon.com. She said she was "equally proficient on both instruments" until about 8 years of age. Her mother and elder brother were pianists so her mother thought it would be nice to have another instrument in the family so she went with the violin, and stayed with it. Expect several others have had to make this choice and yet have maintained considerable ability on their "2nd instrument."

Has to feel great to be so good with two instruments!

Her piano piece on this DVD is Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor.
This is on YouTube.

There's a very nice interview with Julia on this DVD.

Bech

Thanks I'll check it out...

I just discovered... this piano performance is on YouTube!

Bech