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Most of us are aware that the famous scientist, physicist, and Nobel laureate Albert Einstein was also an avid violinist. He not only played for personal enjoyment but also believed that music was deeply connected to his scientific thinking. Einstein was even noted to have befriended Shinichi Suzuki, the founder of the renowned Suzuki Method, during Suzuki's time in Berlin. But Einstein was far from the only scientist with a love for the violin. In fact, history is filled with brilliant minds who found solace, inspiration, and even scientific insight through playing the violin. Here’s a list of remarkable scientists who shared a passion for both music and discovery.  Albert Einstein (1879–1955) - One of the greatest physicists of all time, Einstein found deep joy and inspiration in playing the violin. He often credited music with helping his thought process and played pieces by Bach and Mozart regularly. His love for music was well-documented, and he even played chamber music with professional musicians. William Herschel (1738–1822) - Before becoming a pioneering astronomer who discovered Uranus, William Herschel was a professional musician. He composed numerous musical works and was a skilled violinist and organist. His structured approach to music likely influenced his later discoveries in the cosmos. 🔗 Learn more C. V. Raman (1888–1970) - The Indian physicist best known for discovering the Raman Effect had a deep interest in the science of musical acoustics. He conducted research on the acoustics of stringed instruments, including the violin, and Indian percussion instruments. 🔗 Learn more Max Planck (1858–1947) - The father of quantum theory, Max Planck was also an accomplished pianist and violinist. He regularly played chamber music and deeply admired the works of Bach and Beethoven. Werner Heisenberg (1901–1976) - A key figure in quantum mechanics, Heisenberg was a passionate violinist. He even considered a career in music before dedicating himself to physics. Heisenberg found inspiration in music and saw a connection between musical harmony and quantum physics. Albert Michelson (1852–1931) - The physicist who made precise measurements of the speed of light, Michelson was also an accomplished violinist. He believed that music and science shared a deep, mathematical connection. Theodor Billroth (1829–1894) - A pioneering surgeon, Billroth was a skilled violinist and a close friend of composer Johannes Brahms. He often played chamber music and believed that the arts and medicine were deeply intertwined. Alexander Borodin (1833–1887) - While Borodin is best known as a composer (notably for Prince Igor), he was also a chemist and physician. His research in organic chemistry was significant, but he played the violin and composed music as a passion. James Beament (1921–2005) - A British scientist specializing in insect physiology, Sir James Beament also had a profound interest in music. He authored The Violin Explained, providing scientific insights into the mechanics of violin sound production. 🔗 Learn more Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852–1934) - The father of modern neuroscience, Cajal was also a dedicated violinist. His deep artistic sense extended beyond music into detailed scientific illustrations of neurons. Lewis Thomas (1913–1993) - A physician, biologist, and essayist, Thomas was an amateur violinist who often wrote about the intersection of music and biology in works like The Lives of a Cell. Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921) – Honorable Mention - Though primarily known as a composer, Saint-Saëns was deeply interested in astronomy and science, making him a rare example of a musician with strong scientific curiosity. Conclusion: The Intersection of Science and Music:
These scientists highlight the fascinating overlap between musical and scientific thinking, particularly in disciplines like physics, medicine, and astronomy, where pattern recognition and abstract reasoning are crucial. Their ability to merge these two seemingly separate worlds is a testament to the power of creativity in both the arts and sciences. Whether they played for relaxation, intellectual stimulation, or social connection, these violin-playing scientists remind us that the pursuit of knowledge and beauty often go hand in hand.
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As a former music major and Suzuki Violin teacher I often receive comments from the parents I work with that allude to an assumption that my life growing up was free from some of the challenges that contemporary families experience. I assure you that my family struggled with all the same things current families do. I had my mother write this article posted below for my parent workshops to demonstrate the realities of my musical upbringing. I like sharing this because my life demonstrates that even with challenges of finding routine and committing to practice, I still made it through with flying colors.  Myself circa 1982 at the American Suzuki Institute in Stevens Point, Wisconsin where I would go every summer with my mother. How I got involved - My friend Thelma Wilcox was new in town and had started a Suzuki violin group which I heard when my children were very young. I was immediately struck by the level of musicianship, good intonation and fine tone of such young children and asked how she got such good results. She invited me to visit one of her classes. I was inspired by the playing level of the children and by the involvement of parents in the class. She suggested that I bring my 4 year old son to the class to watch the other children. He came and was not at all interested, but his 2 year old sister, Heather, was eager to join the group. After reading the book Nurtured by Love by S. Suzuki I was somewhat skeptical as it seemed to be geared towards Japanese family life, but decided to go along with the program anyhow to see how it worked out for our family. What was difficult at first - The most difficult part was finding uninterrupted time for practice and listening. I had a 6 year old and a 2 year old as well as 4 year old Heather and all demanded my attention. I was also teaching a large group class of piano and clarinet students at my home at the time. I found it tough to find a routine and stick to it. What was easy - The listening was easy for me because I loved to listen to music. I enjoyed group lessons and the opportunity to visit with and share ideas with other parents. I enjoyed private lessons because Heather had an excellent teacher and it was a joy to watch her teach. What we got out of it - Group recitals were a great family time for us and we often celebrated with a cake, special meal, a new dress or a meal out. As Heather and her sister Alison, who followed on violin 2 years later, grew in their musical abilities they had the opportunity to play in various area ensembles and to socialize with a variety of children from other communities. Something positive, rather than something negative. All children crave attention and music gives them a way to seek it positively. What I would have done differently - I would have made more of an effort to keep to a strict practice schedule. Too many times I agreed to do it later or maybe we can skip today and do extra practice tomorrow....not a good thing. I tried to do extra listening on those days. How our lives would have been different without it - I cannot imagine a life without music in our home. Heather was an intense child and I remember one day out of frustration she threw her violin across the room. Thank heaven the living room had a thick carpet and the little violin survived! I learned that when she got frustrated, we would put the violin away for the day (or once for a week) and do more listening. Summer institutes - One of our most enjoyable and productive activities was attending the American Suzuki institute in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It was here that I first experienced the scope of the Suzuki movement. Heather and Alison enjoyed living in a dorm, eating in a college cafeteria and socializing with Suzuki children from all over the world. It was here that they were able to hear very advanced students and to see where they were headed. They came home inspired to work hard to get to the next book or that wonderful piece in Book 6 that they had heard performed. I too enjoyed the socialization with other parents with similar concerns and interests and learned a great deal from the parent classes.
I consider Suzuki Violin Book 2 to be a collection of little gems and have enjoyed playing the different character pieces in this collection for decades. If you have not yet exposed yourself to the original opera, song or dance versions where these pieces were extracted from it is a highly enjoyable endeavor! I marveled when I first heard how brisk and joyful Chorus from "Judas from Maccabeaus" sounded - it is a contrast from the stern and slow style that is often taught by Suzuki Violin teachers. Below is a list of links to the origins from some of the repertoire in Suzuki Violin Book 2. 1. Chorus from "Judas Maccabeaus" 2. Musette example from J.S. Bach (this is to help give a sense for the dance and bagpipe feel of a true musette). 3. Hunters' Chorus 4. Long, Long Ago 5. Waltz 6. Bouree (I was unable to find this). 7. The Two Grenadiers 8. Theme from "Witches of Dance" 9. Gavotte from "Mignon" 10. Lully Gavotte 11. Minuet in G 12. Boccherini Minuet Additionally, Mark Polesky just created a resource of references for the origins of pieces from all of the Suzuki Violin repertoire Books 1-10. For a more in depth exploration of the Suzuki repertoire please visit: http://www.markpolesky.com/suzuki/ Feel free to share related links to your favorite Suzuki related recordings below in our comments.
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AuthorHi! It's me, Heather. I absolutely love working on the Music for Young Violinists project and all the many facets: blogging, website, music, teaching materials, freebies, videos, newsletter and giveaway contests. The best part is connecting with you so feel free to drop me a line. You can learn more about me on the "ABOUT" page. Thanks! |
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