Violins (and other string instruments) in popular music

I some examples of violins in rock, pop, or other popular music for one of my violin students. She’s an adorable little precocious 8 year old who is quite interested in the violin for someone her age, and I want to offer her some extra incentives for remaining interested (and practicing, but that’s another issue!). I know I’m going to smack my head and say “of course!” when others mention songs I should have thought of, but really the only bands I can think of are Dave Matthews Band and 10,000 Maniacs. Well, I did considere Elenor Rigby by the Beatles but don’t think that’s a good example (even though I love that song), ditto for symphonic Metallica or GnR et. al. I asked her what kind of music she likes, and she said she listens to Lizzie McGuire (isn’t she fictional? I have no idea). Poppy country would be good too, even though I don’t listen to most country music.

Please dopers, help me be a good violin teacher!

I used to play violin in grade school and decided in 6th grade to give it up and play french horn then trombone which I played through my high school graduation. One of the reasons I stopped with the violin was due to lack of interesting music I liked which featured the instrument. Now that I’m older I like a variety of musical styles and some feature the violin. I doubt that many of them would appeal to this little girl, but its worth a try.
Bush - Glycerine (sp?) features violin
King Crimson - Red, Lark’s Tongues, and Starless and Bible Black have violin
Allison Krauss - violin/fiddle is featured in her music.
Darling Violetta - Theme to Angel TV Show, lots of violin
Anekdoten - Prog-rock band, features Cello
Boud Deun - Fusion band, features violin
Rush - Losing It off of Signals features violin

I really cannot help you too much with specific country music examples, but there are a number of artists that use violin.

Good luck,

Mike

Try bluegrass/country fiddle player Alison Krauss.

Charlie Daniels Band - Devil Went Down to Georgia

Papa John Creach played violin with the Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, and on his own solo albums. He played a gamut of styles, from blues to “Over the Rainbow” and might be something of an inspiration to a new violinist (he also became a rock star at a age 53!).

It’s a Beautiful Day featured David LaFlamme’s violin in a folk/rock setting. Their “White Bird” is one of the prettiest rock songs ever.

Don “Sugarcane” Harris was a pioneer rock violinist, who played with people like Frank Zappa and John Mayall. He was immortalized in a song by David LaFlamme of “It’s a Beautiful Day.”

Two well-know country fiddlers are Byron Berline and Vassar Clements.

The Dirty Three. Phenomenal band. Just a drummer, a guitarist, and a violinist, but their music is incredibly dynamic and moving. The violinist, Warren Ellis, has also played with Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and can be heard on Nick Cave’s The Boatman’s Call, Murder Ballads, and Let Love In. The website I linked to has several free downloads available.

The Dambuilders were an alternative pop band that featured a violinist, Joan Wasser. Their 1994 album, Encendador, was pretty good.

two very talented bands:

Estradsphere plays, literally, all styles of music. One of the 4 core members is a violinist.

and

Deadweight is a classically trained trio (Cello, Violin, Drums) who sound like a normal rock band. If you heard them without really paying attention you would think it is just the normal guitar/bass/drums rock trio.

You’d be surprised how many current rock bands use strings… I’d be damned if I could name them all, and I don’t know about pop… does she like Disney music… like say the Little Mermaid or something? Generally those movies have songbooks for violin and other instruments.

You could always have her learn the vocal melodies or hooks for the pop songs she loves, I doubt they’re difficult. Don’t let her be limited by the fact that violins aren’t prevalent in the music she likes.

Anyway:
Beatles - Don’t Pass Me By, Martha My Dear, Yesterday
Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
Who - Baba O’Riley
Collective Soul - The World I know
Apparently the girl who plays Lizzie McGuire, Hillary Duff, has an album out. I’m not familiar with her though.

Sorry I don’t really know pop music.

I’ve got to go with Apocalyptica. They started off as a cello quartet that played Metallica. More recently, they’re a trio that plays mostly their own stuff. But it’s all good.

Bond is a classically trained string quartet that plays everything from Led Zep to Tchaikovsky, backed with a rock orchestra if such a term exists. And they’re probably the best new group never discussed on the SDMB. Their live concert is on Trio today (3/18) from 6:00-8:00. A must if you have cable.

Back in the 1960s the equivalent group was The New York Rock and Roll Ensemble (Michael Kamen’s old band), a bunch of Julliard types who rocked pretty well.

ELO - Electric Light Orchestra - was similar and so was the otherwise unknown Neon Philharmonic.

In the 1980s, The Dream Academy had a cellist as part of a very good group.

As for individual songs that used strings, I’m of course blanking now but you’ll have me listening for them every moment for the next week, darn you.

Flogging Molly and Yellowcard are both current bands with violins in them. Actually, I think Yellowcard has a fiddle, but it’s worth a shot.

Probably more hardcore than you’re looking for but A Perfect Circle’s “Three LIbras” has violin, and I think some of their other songs do to.