Does anyone have any favorite non-classical violin music favorites? Any folk music (of any culture) or even movie related themes? I have so much trouble finding great melodies (outside of classical music) for the violin.

Have you heard the Metallica S&M album? It's a great album in which Metallica plays with the San Francisco Symphony. Here is a link if you want to try it out :

Amazon.com: S&M: Music: Metallica (http://www.amazon.com/S-M-Metallica/dp/B00002Z88D)

Also, here is a sample of the music off YouTube :

YouTube - Metallica - Nothing Else Matters(S&M) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erPnyi90cIc)

Thanks for the suggestion! Not something I would have found on my own, but I like it. There really is something powerful about combining diverse types of music or instruments.

I like pachebel Canon In D. YouTube - canon rock 2 (new version) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7Jh1BV1EOc&feature=related)

Thanks for the suggestion! Not something I would have found on my own, but I like it. There really is something powerful about combining diverse types of music or instruments.

You're welcome! I'm glad you like it! :)

Are you looking for music for yourself to play? If so, then what kinds of music are you able to play now?

Or, are you asking because you just want to hear some different music for the violin other than that which is classical in it's nature and/or origin?

I have lots of ideas depending on why you are asking.

I'm partial to the old fiddle stuff... Such as might have been played at barn dances... I own two right now, but can't play a note... hoping to fire them up some day soon!

I also heard someone do a mocking bird imitation that sounded so real, it amazed me!

Lot's of good stuff from blue grass bands... if you like that style.

My own feelings are that banjo's and violins can produce the full spectrum of feelings through music.

Clough: New stuff to listen to is always great--but yes I am looking for some new sheet music. As for what I can manage, I was in orchestra in school only up to high school (then it was choose art or music you didn't have room in your schedule for both). We had done fourth position, just started third--neither of which do I do very well. I have since then (that was a decade and a half ago) been surviving on my Suzuki books 1-4 (not so much 4, just beyond my abilities) with new music thrown in occasionally.

oneguyinohio: I do like some fiddle tunes. I have a collection of Mellie Dunham's and there are maybe four or five songs from there that I love. Some of the others seem to be just a lot of speed with little variation (maybe this just means I am not good enough to play that fast) However, I have been an Irish Washerwoman girl from the very start.

I am afraid my true weakness is for soundtracks (easier because I already know the tune? Maybe. But I can't pass up a poignant or mournful theme.) These are often available only for piano but the melody is usually still playable.

There is this band called "the sex slaves from hell" and they play a kind of folk/reggae/punk music with furious violin and fiddling on top of harsh basslines and raging drum loops... makes me tired just typing about it