cid said
When I got my violin I thought all violin was classical music. I do not dislike classical music. I listen to it once in a while, but there are few pieces I can hear and know what they are. It just really is not what I really like. 

I like 60’s, early 70’s and FOLK. I love folk. I was just wondering, does anyone know if when you are taking violin lessons, is it being taught for the violinist to be playing classical violin, or do you learn it and then play the genre you like? If you like and want to play folk, do you need a folk violinist specific instructor? 

I never thought about the possibility of folk violin. I would really rather learn folk violin. From what I have read today on the internet, and from past posts here, I guess, I would be called more of a fiddler. 

So, if I would need a folk violin specific instructor, I would have to do this on my own. If that is the case, can someone direct me to a good series for teaching folk violin. I am not talking bluegrass or country, although, I do think they do cross over.

There was a post on here with the name of a book. I have been looking for it today, and  have also been looking on Amazon. I think it was a Mel Bay book? Does this sound familiar? Which Mel Bay? I found more than one.

It would also be solo fiddle, not background that would be sung to, I want to play the songs themselves, melody. 

Also, does folk fiddle have vibrato? I do not do vibrato yet. Have no idea when I will get to that. 

I am not sure how well I posed this question, but I hope you get the gist of it. 

Thanks.  

I was just wondering, does anyone know if when you are taking violin lessons, is it being taught for the violinist to be playing classical violin, or do you learn it and then play the genre you like? If you like and want to play folk, do you need a folk violinist specific instructor? 

Beginning violin lessons generally start with very basic skills and the tunes you play are for learning purposes, rather than playing for pleasure.  A teacher will generally start with a lesson book and the lessons build on other skills.  So learning Hot Cross Buns is not necessarily to teach any specific genre of music, but to learn the skills that song teaches.

Most students will want to learn specific genres or even specific songs after learning the basics of violin.  But it takes time and students are always learning.

Great classical pieces of music are generally challenging, and students won't even touch the original score at first.  Many times, a simplified version of a classical piece is first attempted.  For example, I played a very simplified version of Pachabel's Canon that was composed in my first violin book I learned with.  Granted, it was the final lesson of that book, but it was still a very simple version of the piece.

Also, does folk fiddle have vibrato? I do not do vibrato yet. Have no idea when I will get to that. 

I have heard folk music played using vibrato on held notes many times.  It is quite common.  There is no hard and fast rule using vibrato.  It is entirely up to the player as to when and how much vibrato they wish to add.

In an orchestra, sometimes the conductor will ask for vibrato on certain parts, but most of the time he/she will leave it up to the violinists to add.

Here is my two cents... The more diverse and wide range of music you can add to your repertoire, the better player you will be.  The beauty of violin is it can be played to most any kind of genre (however, I probably would not play to rap music). 

Try some classical.  It is a great challenge for violin because the strings are considered to be the most important section in an orchestra and those pieces are often composed for strings.  And therefore, given some of the more technically difficult parts.