Stringed Instruments

String instruments, stringed instruments, or chordophones are musical instruments that produce sound from vibrating strings when the performer plays or sounds the strings in some manner.

Musicians play some string instruments by plucking the strings with their fingers or a plectrum—and others by hitting the strings with a light wooden hammer or by rubbing the strings with a bow. In some keyboard instruments, such as the harpsichord, the musician presses a key that plucks the string.

With bowed instruments, the player rubs the strings with a horsehair bow, causing them to vibrate. With a hurdy-gurdy, the musician operates a mechanical wheel that rubs the strings.

Bowed instruments include the string section instruments of the Classical music orchestra (violin, viola, cello and double bass) and a number of other instruments (e.g., viols and gambas used in early music from the Baroque music era and fiddles used in many types of folk music). All of the bowed string instruments can also be plucked with the fingers, a technique called "pizzicato". A wide variety of techniques are used to sound notes on the electric guitar, including plucking with the fingernails or a plectrum, strumming and even "tapping" on the fingerboard and using feedback from a loud, distorted guitar amplifier to produce a sustained sound. Some types of string instrument are mainly plucked, such as the harp and the electric bass. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, string instruments are called chordophones. Other examples include the sitar, rebab, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, and bouzouki.

In most string instruments, the vibrations are transmitted to the body of the instrument, which often incorporates some sort of hollow or enclosed area. The body of the instrument also vibrates, along with the air inside it. The vibration of the body of the instrument and the enclosed hollow or chamber make the vibration of the string more audible to the performer and audience. The body of most string instruments is hollow. Some, however—such as electric guitar and other instruments that rely on electronic amplification—may have a solid wood body.

* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .

Matching Stringed Instruments Colleges

The Juilliard School

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $51,230 average out-state tuition; $51,230 average in-state tuition

The New England Conservatory of Music

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $52,730 average out-state tuition; $52,730 average in-state tuition

Yale University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $59,950 average out-state tuition; $59,950 average in-state tuition

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $49,300 average out-state tuition; $49,300 average in-state tuition

Rice University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $52,070 average out-state tuition; $52,070 average in-state tuition

Manhattan School of Music

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $49,850 average out-state tuition; $49,850 average in-state tuition

Northwestern University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $60,276 average out-state tuition; $60,276 average in-state tuition

Scholarships for Stringed Instruments Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

$34,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Beinecke Scholarship is open to juniors at Dartmouth College who plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award. In addition,...

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Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

award

$34,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Beinecke Scholarship is open to juniors at Dartmouth College who plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award. In addition,...

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Gustave Blache III Art Scholarships

Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

$25,000 January 06, 2025 See Details

Description

The Gustave Blache III Art Scholarship is open to high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students in Lousiana. You must be interested in pursuing either Bachelor or Master of Fine Arts degrees at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and upload your portfolio with original work, including a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 15 art...

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Gustave Blache III Art Scholarships

Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

award

$25,000

deadline

January 06, 2025
See Details

Description

The Gustave Blache III Art Scholarship is open to high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students in Lousiana. You must be interested in pursuing either Bachelor or Master of Fine Arts degrees at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and upload your portfolio with original work, including a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 15 art...

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Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship

Clarion University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Sciences

Up to $22,030 Varies See Details

Description

The Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship is available to majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences at Clarion University. Your selection for this award will be based on academic performance and financial need. In order to be considered for this award, you must first be nominated by a faculty member. Once nominated, you will need to submit a "Goals...

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Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship

Clarion University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Sciences

award

Up to $22,030

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship is available to majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences at Clarion University. Your selection for this award will be based on academic performance and financial need. In order to be considered for this award, you must first be nominated by a faculty member. Once nominated, you will need to submit a "Goals...

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

$20,000 February 01, 2025 See Details

Description

The Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be...

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

award

$20,000

deadline

February 01, 2025
See Details

Description

The Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be...

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McKnight Doctoral Fellowship

Florida Education Fund

Up to $17,000 January 15, 2025 See Details

Description

The McKnight Doctoral Fellowship is available to African - American and Hispanic students who are planning to pursue a Ph.D. in one of the disciplines in the arts and sciences, mathematics, business, engineering, health sciences, nursing, or the visual and performing arts. Fellowships must be used at a participating Florida institutions. ...

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McKnight Doctoral Fellowship

Florida Education Fund

award

Up to $17,000

deadline

January 15, 2025
See Details

Description

The McKnight Doctoral Fellowship is available to African - American and Hispanic students who are planning to pursue a Ph.D. in one of the disciplines in the arts and sciences, mathematics, business, engineering, health sciences, nursing, or the visual and performing arts. Fellowships must be used at a participating Florida institutions. ...

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Herron Nonresident Award Program

Indiana University - Indianapolis

$16,344 February 01, 2025 See Details

Description

The Herron Nonresident Award Program is available to students entering the Herron School of Art and Design at Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis. Award decision will be based on a submitted portfolio or academic achievement. You must be categorized as a non-resident by the Office of Admissions to be eligible for this award.

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Herron Nonresident Award Program

Indiana University - Indianapolis

award

$16,344

deadline

February 01, 2025
See Details

Description

The Herron Nonresident Award Program is available to students entering the Herron School of Art and Design at Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis. Award decision will be based on a submitted portfolio or academic achievement. You must be categorized as a non-resident by the Office of Admissions to be eligible for this award.

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Presidential Scholarship for Distinguished Achievement - Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University

$16,000 November 15, 2024 See Details

Description

The Presidential Scholarship for Distinguished Achievement is available to incoming, full-time freshman students at Wake Forest University who possess exceptional talents in art, dance, debate, music, and theatre. Though Presidential Scholars need not plan to pursue a major in the area of their talent, they are expected to participate actively...

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Presidential Scholarship for Distinguished Achievement - Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University

award

$16,000

deadline

November 15, 2024
See Details

Description

The Presidential Scholarship for Distinguished Achievement is available to incoming, full-time freshman students at Wake Forest University who possess exceptional talents in art, dance, debate, music, and theatre. Though Presidential Scholars need not plan to pursue a major in the area of their talent, they are expected to participate actively...

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Fine Arts Fellowship - Wabash College

Wabash College

Up to $15,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Fine Arts Fellowship is open to students attending Wabash College and studying visual arts, creative writing, music or theater. The requirements for applying vary with each field. This scholarship is renewable annually, provided you maintain normal progress towards graduation.

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Fine Arts Fellowship - Wabash College

Wabash College

award

Up to $15,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Fine Arts Fellowship is open to students attending Wabash College and studying visual arts, creative writing, music or theater. The requirements for applying vary with each field. This scholarship is renewable annually, provided you maintain normal progress towards graduation.

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Donald B. Plott Scholarship

Davidson College

$15,000 January 10, 2025 See Details

Description

The Donald B. Plott Scholarship is available to students at Davidson College. You must demonstrate exceptional talent and passion for music to be considered for this award. An audition is required.

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Donald B. Plott Scholarship

Davidson College

award

$15,000

deadline

January 10, 2025
See Details

Description

The Donald B. Plott Scholarship is available to students at Davidson College. You must demonstrate exceptional talent and passion for music to be considered for this award. An audition is required.

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Arts and Music Scholarship - Rhodes College

Rhodes College

Up to $12,500 February 15, 2025 See Details

Description

The Arts and Music Scholarship is available to entering freshmen at Rhodes College. You must plan to major or minor in art, music, or theatre to be eligible for this award. Music and theatre applicants must audition and art applicants must submit slides.

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Arts and Music Scholarship - Rhodes College

Rhodes College

award

Up to $12,500

deadline

February 15, 2025
See Details

Description

The Arts and Music Scholarship is available to entering freshmen at Rhodes College. You must plan to major or minor in art, music, or theatre to be eligible for this award. Music and theatre applicants must audition and art applicants must submit slides.

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