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Taking lessons to learn the violin is a very expensive
hobby as weekly classes can add up to $2,400 year.
The Squidolin teaches you to play through a series of
simple exercises, yet it plays like a regular violin when
connected to an amplifier. It features a beautiful contemporary design, and a comfortable bow made of
natural Maple wood.
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Squidolin
Learning Violin
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Squidolin - Learning Violin
Anatomy of the Violin
For more than 300 years violins have remained unchanged. The following are the
components which make a violin today.
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My first instrument
I purchased my first violin this past week. It’s a very basic model, but comes with
everything i need to get started. In addition I also bought a “Violin for Dummies”
book. So i’m off to explore...
What’s Rosin for?
It took me a while to realize (and read) that in order
to make sound, the Horsehair had to be coated with
Rosin resin. I first had to score the Rosin though.
Blowing to tune?
Cool, cheap looking pipe. Between this and the CDROM included in the Dummies book, I tryed to tune
the Violin. This tool is interesting because the sound
changes depending on how hard you blow on it. It’s
completely useless to an untrained ear like my own.
* circled are the A and G pipes.
Trying to tune?
I have never tunned any instrument. But here is my
crack shot at it. Blowing into the G pipe and trying to
tweek the G string. So difficult!
All I had to guide me was some online tutorials and
a Violin for Dummies book. I quickly realized that I
needed professional instruction.
... off to my first lesson!
Squidolin - Learning Violin
Violin lessons
After visiting Metzler violin shop in Glendale, CA, they recommended I speak to
Herman about classes. I gave him a call and the following day I started. At this point
I was still unsure what about the violin I wanted to design. After struggling, it soon
became clear the project would revolve around learning to play.
HERMAN MARKOZIAN.
Has been playing the piano and violin since he was a
child. After beign instructed for 6 weeks, I compiled a
series of notes and pointers...
When reading notes, keep a mental metronome. A
count that is indicated by the music sheet.
Try to practice the bowing, later worry about the
finger placement on the fingerboard.
An Octave is composed out of A,B,C,D,E,F,G and half
notes.
The violin only has 7 Octaves.
Only play in between the bridge and the fingerboard.
The 2 most important fingers when holding the bow
are the pinky and the thumb.
When rubbing the bow, do not force it down ... the
weight of the bow alone should be sufficient to create
clear sound.
When changing a note, the violinist must synchronize
the bow stroke with the finger change placement.
Bowing is very important to learn first.
Bows can somtimes cost up to $100,000.
When bowing, don’t use your shoulder, just use the
bicep. If you use your shoulder, the bow will not rub
perpendicular to the direction of the violin.
The bow must be slid perpendicular to the direction of
the strings.
First time using a bow, you must apply a generous
amount of Rosin.
The bow must be under tension but not overstretched
as to un-bow the bow.
Use the bow’s hair edge to play.
Playing the bow closer to the bridge allows the violinist
to create great sound while moving slowly.
If the violin isn’t bowed perpendicularly, it will make an
inconsistent sound.
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The Yamaha EZ-AG
I researched self teaching instruments, and it turned out that Yamaha made a self
teaching guitar. So I purchased the EZ-AG to study it.
This battery operated self teaching guitar features
multiple songs to learn from. It can also be played
as a regular guitar. Priced at $200, it is a cheap
alternative to learning this popular instrument.
CHORDS.
Built in computer picks up the intensity in which the
user strums the chords. Along with where your other
hand touches the chord, it computes different notes.
INDICATORS
Visual indicators aid the user in knowing where to
place the hands/fingers. When the guitar teaches you,
it also lights up the appropriate keys for correct finger
placement.
VARIETY
The computer gives you a choice of teaching the user
one hand at a time, or both. It also lets you choose
what song you want to learn. The newest model even
lets you download a song you wanna learn.
PORTABILITY
Battery power gives you the flexibility of playing it
outdoors with friends, or alone using headphones.
Squidolin - Learning Violin
Electric Violins
The following 2 violins are very popular electric instruments. They were both sold at
Metzler violin shop, after looking at them and feeling them, this is what I found out:
VIPER by WOOD VIOLINS
VIVO2 by TED BREWER
The vivo2 features a injection molded polycarbonate
body. It comes in different colors with built in LEDs
that flicker synced to the music.
The viper comes in wood color and black. It’s built for
5 strings. Although it’s clearly “rock star guitar” inspired,
it has some tasteful details and a great shoulder rest.
OBSERVATIONS:
OBSERVATIONS:
It’s $2,000.
It’s $2,500
Plastic makes it feel kinda cheap.
Guitar-like scroll doesn’t integrate well
stylistically.
Very light.
Comes in 4 and 5 string version.
Can sound like an acoustic violin.
Has built-in “A” string tuner.
Transparency looks un-attractive by it’s electric housing.
Great shoulder rest.
Looks uncomplicated.
Tailpiece is nicely designed very clean.
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Violin Trends
Even though the string instrument is usually associated with classical music, we can
easily find it in everyday pop music. What’s more interesting is the young crowd have
taken the violin and implemented in a modern way.
MAINSTREAM MUSIC.
Country to Techno. The violin is found almost in every
genre. In “Clubbed to Death” Rob Dougan mixes it
with Piano and some other beats.
VIOLIN + DJ.
Blending violin with mainstream music controlled by
a DJ. Feels like the violin is a voice amidst the music
background.
CELLO MEETS BEATBOXING.
A couple of young musicians blend the rich sound of
the violoncello with the hipness of beatboxing. The
result is a strange (but very cool) blend of the past and
present musical styles.
Looking at what the next generation is doing with the violin I
have come to realize that these young artist haven’t lost the taste for this old instrument. They are reenergizing this old instrument by giving it a refreshing new music to play.
Many are deparate to play, so they resort to sites like Youtube and Blogger to find video tutorials, sound
clips and tips.
This gap that exist between professional instruction and
practical use is what is resolved in this project I call the
Squidolin.
Squidolin - Learning Violin
Ideation
The ideas at the beginning of the project don’t often
solve the problem, but they usually have a strong
spark.
LEARNING SAMPLED SOUND
Half violin / half music player would break down the notes
of your favorite tune and show you how to play it.
DYSON VIOLIN
Using the ball as a bow grip would
always give the user a perpendicular
stroke.
WHISTLED
Violin would light up the fingerboard to indicate
how to play the notes you whistled.
IMMERSIVE SOUND
A string setup where the user positions his/
her head through the instrument creating a
surrounding sound experience.
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DIGITAL STRINGS
Replacing ordinary strings with flat sensors is one of
the ways to help relieve the learning pains.
BENT 2 STRAIGHT
Gradually straightens the way the
user holds the fingerboard.
FADING MARKS
Marks fade away with use, so as the
violinist gets more proficient, he will
no longer need marks to remind
him where to place the fingers.
IPHONE + VIOLIN
This marriage would be to the user added benefits of
displaying music sheets, recording your music, sharing
and competing at a global scale.
Squidolin - Learning Violin
Ideation
ASSOCIATIVE LOGIC
Some ideas on how to associate sound with other
elements...
LIGHT STORY
Through a series of light indicators, the
violin shows the student what to do,
and in what order.
TV AS INSTRUCTOR
Connected to the TV, the violin provides
the student all the information s/he needs
to learn.
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THE NUDE FEMALE
As I began to hone on what the
Squidolin would do, I began to base the
style around the curves of the female
body.
Squidolin - Learning Violin
Refinement
THE SQUID
As I continued, an aquatic shape began
to emerge, overtime turning into a
more squid-like shape... hence the it’s
given name.
THE WAY FORWARD
This sketch was key in the form
development of the Squidolin. The
proportions where aesthetically and
functionally right.
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THE BOW
The violin’s companion is the bow. The
Squidolin needed a smart bow that
detected motions and communicated
back. I also took the opportunity to
update it’s look.
THE FROG
The shapes reference the old design.
THE RESTS
Rest needed to be designed into the
Squidolin to comfortably hold the
instrument.
Squidolin - Learning Violin
Construction
The step between drawing and buildling...
MIRRORED MODEL
I borrowed a technique from car designers... mirror
modeling. Great way to get symmetrical shapes :)
SOLIDWORKS
CNC MILLING
After sculpting with the clay, I moved into Solidworks
to CAD the squidolin for milling.
Recieved the milled components, they are fitted and
they match. All goes well.
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Interface
For the Squidolin, the interface is an integral part of the design. The following
represent screens the student would come across Due to time constraints, I wasn’t
able to fully illustrate the interface, but the idea is represented below.
SYNESTHETIC RELATIONSHIP.
Virtual object would react to sound in expected, real
world situations. In the example, upon getting a good
vibrato, the table would wabble to the point of tipping
over the glass.
ORGANIC TIMING.
Learning tempo via real-world experiences. Things like
water drops in the water could teach a student to sync
to a beat.
MONKEY-DO.
By companring a live feed of the student with a digital
violinist, the student can correct it’s posture.
LIVE PERFORMANCE.
The Squidolin could connect to the Internet and social
networks where the student could perform and share
his/her music.
Squidolin - Learning Violin
Squidolin on your own.
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Day or night.
Groovin’ with the Squid.
Squidolin - Learning Violin
Squidolin takes center stage.
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Shoulder rest
2 way interface button
Squidolin - Learning Violin
Squidolin LV1 learning violin
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© CARLOS MENDEZ 2009