Violinist: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What violinist is

A violinist plays live violin for weddings, events and dinners, performing classical or contemporary pieces solo or with a group. People book one for ceremonies and receptions when they want a warm, live string sound that feels formal and personal.

Signs you need it

  • You want live string music for a ceremony, a processional or a formal dinner
  • You want a classical or contemporary piece played for a special moment
  • You want music that fits an elegant or intimate setting
  • You want a featured solo, such as a first dance or a toast, played live
  • Your venue is small or quiet enough that a violin can be heard well
  • You want a violinist who can also play with a pianist or a small group

What the pro does

  • Asks about the setting, the moments that need music and the pieces you like
  • Builds a repertoire of classical and contemporary pieces for each part of the event
  • Arrives with the violin, a stand and any amplification needed, then tests the sound in the room
  • Plays the processional, ceremony pieces and dinner music at the times you agreed
  • Plays featured pieces or a solo at the moments you chose
  • Packs up the instrument and equipment at the end of the event

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of the performance and the number of sets
  • Whether the violinist plays solo or with a pianist, cellist or other musicians
  • Whether a ceremony, a reception or both are covered
  • Whether the player is solo or in a duo or trio, and whether amplification is needed
  • Special pieces or arrangements the violinist must learn
  • Whether amplification is needed for a large room or outdoor space
  • Number of featured pieces you request

What a written quote should spell out

  • Start and end time, and the number of sets
  • Solo or group format and the musicians included
  • The pieces for each moment, such as processional, ceremony and dinner
  • Equipment the violinist brings, including any amplification, and what the venue must provide
  • Setup and teardown times
  • What happens if the violinist cannot attend

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Will you play solo, or do you bring a pianist or other musicians?
  • Can you play the processional and the pieces I picked, and do you need sheet music?
  • Can I hear a recording of you playing live at a wedding or dinner?
  • Do you bring amplification, and how do you handle a large or outdoor space?
  • How do you handle a request for a piece you do not know?
  • Can you play outdoors, and how do wind and heat affect your instrument and your music stand?
  • Do you carry liability insurance that covers you and your instrument?

Red flags

  • They cannot describe the pieces they play for a ceremony or a dinner
  • Their recordings are studio tracks with no live examples
  • They say they will play any piece with no time to learn it
  • They will not confirm the instrument, the amplification or the setup time
  • They do not ask about the room size or the guest count

What you can do yourself

You can list the pieces you love, the moments you want music for and the volume you prefer. You can also check the room for acoustics, a power outlet if amplification is needed and a clear place for the violinist to stand. Hire a violinist for the playing, the tuning and the volume balance, since string sound changes with the room and the weather.

Licenses and permits

No state license is usually required for a violinist, so ask for proof of liability insurance and references from similar events instead. Venues often handle public performance licensing for recorded music, so ask who covers it and check local noise rules with your state or local licensing agency.

Violinist questions

Does a violinist need a license?

Usually not a state license. Ask for insurance and references, and check with the venue about music licensing and noise limits.

Can a violinist play with a pianist?

Yes, many do. Ask whether the price covers both players, and whether the venue has a piano or the pianist brings a keyboard.

How early should a violinist arrive?

Ask for the setup time and confirm it with the venue. Allow time to tune the violin and check the acoustics before guests arrive.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See screened pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More music and entertainment guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request violinist