The violin is the smallest member of the String Family. It has four strings and is played with a bow. An orchestra has more violins than any other single instrument. The violin is also one of the most popular solo instruments. A distinctive feature of the violin is its hourglass shape. Someone who plays the violin is called a violinist. It is thought that the first violin to have four strings, and closely resemble the modern violin, was built in Cremona, Italy by Andrea Amati in 1555. Antonio Stradivari, a student of the Amati family, became one of the greatest violin makers of all time. We call one of his instruments a Stradivarius. A person who makes and repairs violins and other stringed instruments is called a luthier. The art of making a violin is just as complicated as playing it. Modern violins are constructed from over 70 pieces of wood. Even though Mozart was a prominent pianist and composer, he also played the violin. In fact, Mozart’s father began his son’s musical training on the violin. A violin and a fiddle are the same instrument. Even though the term “violin” is more often used in connection with classical music and the “fiddle” with folk music, they are in fact the same. 10 w10 7 w w 1 wwwwwww w w w 6 w w w 2 9 wwwwwww w w w 3 w w wwwww w w w w8 w w wwwwwww4 w w w w w w w w wwwww5 w w w w w ACROSS w w w 1. The violin is a member of the ______ Family 2. A violin can also be called this 3. There are this many strings on a violin w 4. In 1555, designed his violin (first name) 5. Stradivari was a student of this family DOWN 6. Someone who plays a violin is called a _____ 7. A violin made by Antonio Stradivari is called this 8. The first modern violin was made in ______, Italy 9. His musical training began with the violin 10. Someone who makes and repairs stringed instruments A Violin 11.