Humor and Other Helpful Advice

Remember the old adage “Laughter is the best medicine”? Musicians are no exception when it comes to this sage piece of advice. We’ve put together some good stringed instrument jokes to share with your family and friends along with some interesting articles about the benefits of having music in your life.

• Gifts for cello players
  Whether it's a birthday, the holidays, or just because you care, finding the right present for a cello player can be a delightful experience.
• Tips to get your kids to continue instrument lessons
  Whether you believe that your child is the next Mozart, or just wants to jam as part of their friend’s band, learning an instrument can be a rewarding and life-changing experience.
• Benefits of school music programs for kids
  When music education is integrated into curriculum, it can have a powerful impact on students and how they learn.
• Music education and mental health
  Today college students are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis.
• Why learning an instrument is the best new year’s resolution ever
  Are you struggling to decide on a New Year’s resolution?
• Why violinists make faces while playing
  If you have witnessed an orchestra performance or have a violinist in your life, you may be familiar with some of the weird faces musicians make while they’re playing.
• Isabel Hagen; Comedy + viola
  If you’re a fan of the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, you may have caught the debut comedy set of Isabel Hagen.
• "What's wrong with my violin?"
  It’s happened to the best of us: you take your instrument out of its case, touch the bow to the strings, and cringe at just how terrible the resulting sound is.
• Naming your instrument
  Naming inanimate objects may seem a bit quirky or even pointless to some, but plenty of people think of it as a fun way to give a bit of personality to a prized possession.
• Is cello the instrument for you?
  You have decided to break into the world of stringed instruments, but you are not sure where to start.
• The corner of music avenue and math road
  Did you know that there is a strong relationship between math and music? Research has indicated that music activates the same area of the brain that is used for solving spatial-temporal reasoning problems.
• Our favorite violin jokes
  We could all use a laugh during these complicated and stressful times, and there are jokes for people of all kinds.
• Why the violin is perfect for TV and film music
  When caught up in one of your favorite TV shows or enjoying a movie, you likely aren't focusing on the background music. The soundtrack, however, is contributing in a major way toward helping set the scene and advancing the theme of the program.
• How loud is an acoustic violin?
  If you’re anticipating a violin performance onstage or in the studio, you’re probably wondering how loud you can play a violin An acoustic violin by itself isn’t always loud compared to other instruments and is not the loudest instrument in the orchestra.
• Violin hickeys
  It seems innocuous at first, just a small mark. But suddenly it’s drawing the stares of your friends, family, and strangers on the street. You have a violin hickey.
• How to find musical inspiration in isolation
  With all of us navigating shelter in place orders, it can be easy to slip into a rut of monotony and isolation. This can also make staying motivated difficult, but there is no better time than now to find inspiration in isolation. Whether you’re picking up a new skill or honing an old one, a creative hobby can help keep your mind sharp.
• Everyone should sing! Here's why…
  Your voice is a unique musical instrument that can be put to use without any special training. If you can speak using your voice, then you're capable of singing.
• The best jokes about violas
  Violas tend to get a bad rap. Larger than the violin but not as impressive in size and sound as the cello, violas could go unnoticed if not for the sense of humor they bring to the string family.
• Learning an instrument has long lasting, positive effects on your brain
  Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about how to encourage brain development in children as well as fight the decline in mental sharpness that occurs as we age.
• Evaluate violin makers
  What to look when evaluating a maker's work.
• Do you have a Strad in your attic?!
  Help with identifying your instrument.