Welcome to the Violin and Viola Studio of Angela Schauer!
Online metronome and tuning page
Friday, January 20, 2023 by Angela Schauer | Uncategorized
For those of you who have misplaced your metronome, here is a useful online option from the Violin Lounge:
For those of you who need to tune up your instrument, here is another useful option from the Violin Lounge:
https://violinlounge.com/free-online-violin-tuner-with-mic-and-tuning-notes/
Build a bow hand
Monday, April 4, 2022 by Angela Schauer | Uncategorized
Here is how I build a bow hand. This is a Franco-Belgian style hold, popularized in the U.S. by famous pedagogue Ivan Galamian. If you watch a lot of videos of violinists past and present, you will notice some bow holds look more angular with a straighter pinky. That type of bow hold is called the Russian bow hold. The Franco-Belgian hold is what I teach, because it is what I learned. Key characteristics of the Franco-Belgian bow hold are flattened knuckles and a curved pinky. The amount of space between the pinky and ring fingers, and the middle and index fingers will largely depend on individual hand size and shape. 
The first step is to always have the stick of the bow supported - either with your left hand or the strings of the violin. If you don't support it, your pinky will get stuck holding all the weight. Hold the bow vertically (tip towards the ceiling) if you want to hold the bow with just the right hand.
I start with a curved thumb placed at the bottom of the wrap, careful not to place it thumb in the cut-out part of the frog. The tip of the thumb, not the pad, should be touching the stick.
Next, I round my middle finger over the stick and across from the nail of the thumb. My ring finger is placed next to the middle finger, with the pad of my finger touching the frog.
My index finger is placed next, landing on the bow between the top two joints and with a little from the middle finger.
Lastly, I place my pinky on its tip while maintaining an arched shape. The pinky touches the bow just on the side/corner just before the flat top of the bow.
From the side.
Paired with the violin.
Another way to practice building your bow hand is with a pencil. Regular yellow octagonal pencils work best.
Violins, Strings and Bows... Where to buy?
Friday, May 14, 2021 by Angela Schauer | Uncategorized
Where do you go to purchase instruments and strings?
While Amazon and Walmart are one-stop shops for most things, they should be avoided at all costs when purchasing quality instruments and strings. They are full of counterfeit strings and V.S.O. (violin shaped objects). They may seem like great deals, but playing on awful strings that will not hold pitch or instruments that feel, and often are, impossible to play are anything but. Watch this video if you aren't convinced. So where should you purchase then?
I always suggest purchasing through shops that specialize in bowed, string instruments.
For purchasing instruments and bows online, I suggest starting with Sharmusic.com. They have affordable instrument outfits (violin, bow, case), that are shipped mostly ready to play. Other websites to check out for instrument purchases: https://fiddlershop.com/, johnsonstrings.com and swstrings.com, Kennedy Strings. Some of these shops offer rent-to-own and trade-ins as well. Note: Unless it specifies "outfit," the price is for the instrument only and you will still need to purchase a case and bow.
What about strings? The same shops listed above are good places to purchase strings. I know Shar almost always has sales around holidays and the others might as well. In addition, check out https://www.concordmusic.com/; they carry shorter length viola strings for instruments smaller than 16". Look at D'Addario strings for those smaller violas.
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Unfortunately, the Moscow/Pullman area does not have any music stores, but Cole Tutino (cntutino@gmail.com) in Moscow offers bow rehair services and Paul Hill is local luthier.
Regionally there are some shops worth supporting.
Custom Strings in Spokane is a good shop for repairs, cases, and instruments. It is run by Jay Prior, a violist, and specializes in bowed string instruments. Hoffman Music is where most school instruments in the area are rented, though I don't recommend purchasing there, since I only recommend purchasing from bowed strings specialists. Violinworks is good for major repairs, but the owner Jim Kytonen is semi-retired and only accepts customers by appointment only these days.
Further out, I recommend R.L. Ray Violins in Olympia and David Kerr in Portland. There are many good shops on the western side of the cascades, but these are the two I have experience with.
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So what can you purchase from Amazon and Walmart? Sheetmusic, metronomes, stands and other accessories. Though be aware that they may not have the lowest price and still check out the shops listed above.
