Besides the hours spent on education and sleep, the hours that I have dedicated to music total beyond any other activity in my life. Eleven years of weekly piano lessons and seven years of violin have exposed me to countless different experiences and discoveries. Time and time again, others ask me which instrument I like more, but such a question seems impossible to answer; there are many similarities in playing, performance, and competition with the two instruments, but there are just as many differences.

One can make many basic comparisons between playing violin and piano. The violin is held under one�s chin, fingering notes with the left hand while bowing with the right. In contrast, the piano may weigh a ton and span nine feet; it is played by depressing any of the eighty-eight keys with either hand. As different as the techniques may appear for playing each instrument, the issue of difficulty in technical skill still depends on many similar areas. Coordination and tone are such aspects of importance. Around my violin, my fingers tie themselves together time and time again in an effort to place the correct notes in correct the places at the correct times. My left hand additionally affects the sound through the use of vibrato, rapidly moving the hand back and forth to create the warm, gorgeous tones for which the violin is famous. The confusion mounts as my right hand attempts to coordinate the bow with the left hand. The location, pressure, and speed of the bow can be combined to create a multitude of different tonal expressions. When at the piano, familiar issues arise; my hands must manage their own lines while complementing each other, balancing and coordinating rhythms, precision, and style. The feet must also be coordinated, pedaling to alter the sound. On a piano, the notes are already set whereas the notes on a violin are set each time by pressing the fingers down. However, there is still great range in tones for piano. Body phrasing, the manner in which the keys are attacked and released, and pedaling all join to create different colors, from majestic to delicate melodies.

Both violin and piano have a wide range of applications. My violin studies have lead to ensemble experiences rarely accessible through exclusive piano study. Playing as just one link in a hundred-piece symphony is an unmatched experience. I find myself working with those around me as we linger in tense silence or explode with emotion. Orchestra also offers a social environment and opportunities for forming valuable personal relationships. Solo violin performance also differs from orchestral as well as solo piano performance. The primary works studied for violin are concertos, dependent on piano or orchestral accompaniment. Solo piano performance, however, is much more independent in nature, as the melody is accompanied within the multi-layered solo. Both the interaction through violin and independence through piano offer satisfying musical experiences.

The competition fields for violin and piano at a high school level are comparable. Competition in violin is most obviously displayed in orchestra seatings, in which the better players sit closer to the conductor. Through seating, annual orchestra auditions, and playing in such a community, orchestra members gain quite an accurate gauge of each person�s skill level. Symphonic instrumentation calls for approximately twenty-five violinists. However, with the popularity of violin, hundreds of violinists compete for these positions. In piano, competition is equally stringent. It is almost mandatory to memorize piano compositions for all performance and competition; this does not apply to any other instrument. (Ironically enough, the piano is one of the few instruments with a built-in music stand.) My piano events average to several per year, whereas local violin concerto competitions are limited to only a couple per year. I know that in competition for either violin or piano, there will always be those who are below and those who are above me in skill level. I do not pursue mastery; I am only following a love for music. Throughout my studies, the experiences I have gained from enjoying both violin and piano have benefited me in all areas of life. I have never confused the overlapping aspects of violin and piano or been confused by the differences. Instead, the applications of one course of study develop and positively affect the other. I would not venture to set one above the other; these two different blocks of wood strung with metal provide a truly enriching form of learning and musical expression.

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