Lifelong Music-Making for Passionate Amateurs
Tuning in Fifths is a place for curious violinists and violists, to find connection, encouragement, and real-world insights for lifelong learning on your instrument, whether you are an avid amateur or a new adult learner.
Whether you’re rediscovering the violin as an adult or deepening your craft, this site offers:
Practical Tips
Technique, practice routines, and strategies
Repertoire Guides
Discover music that inspires your playing
Baroque Violin & Viola
Learn about historically informed playing, from gear to gut strings
Guides for Amateur Musicians
Baroque Playing for Amateurs
How to get started playing baroque violin or viola
Dive into the world of historically informed performance with this beginner-friendly guide.
Viola for Violinists
Making the switch from violin to viola for curious amateurs
Thinking about exploring the rich voice of the viola? This guide is for violinists ready to try something new.
Practice Guide
Make practice consistent, intentional, and rewarding
Looking for strategies to make the most of your time in the practice room? This guide gathers tips, tools, and resources to help amateur violinists and violists build intentional, enjoyable practice habits.
Recent Posts
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A Practical Review of the Charlie Ogle Baroque Violin
An Entry-Level Baroque Violin in Real-World Ensemble Playing Why I Chose a Charlie Ogle Baroque Violin After playing in a community Baroque ensemble for a while using a modern instrument strung with gut strings, I happened to come across an individual selling their Charlie Ogle Baroque violin for a great deal. I jumped on this…
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How I Use Weekly Music Lesson Notes to Guide My Practice
Over the years, I’ve tried many methods of taking music lesson notes and keeping a music practice journal. Some of these worked for a while, or evolved into other forms of journaling or note-taking. Ultimately, I found that a straightforward, one-document weekly music lesson note structure works the best for me to remember my lessons…
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Favorite Violin String Sets for Tone, Response, and Playability
Almost every violinist has a favorite violin string set, and it’s also not uncommon for violinists to do some experimentation to find the best strings for their personal instrument, as strings can behave wildly differently on different instruments. As an advanced amateur violinist I’ve done quite a bit of experimentation over the years and I…
About the Author
Hi, I’m Rose, an amateur violinist and adult violin student exploring the world of modern and Baroque string playing. I’m not a professional, but music is a central part of my life. I started this site to share what I’ve learned and create a space for others walking a similar path.
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