There are many times in which an actor or an actress has to learn to play an instrument for their role in a movie or TV series. This can be very daunting, especially if they don’t consider themselves to be musically talented.
While these actors and actresses are taught by some of the best music teachers in the world, it is still very impressive to see them dedicate themselves to the role and take on the challenge of learning something completely out of their comfort zone.
Here at the Music Education Centre, we offer violin lessons in Auckland to both children and adults, and we thought we’d share some of the most interesting characters that play the violin on the big screen and how the actors behind these roles pulled it off.
If you are interested in learning the violin yourself, these actors and actresses can really serve as a source of inspiration.
Rachel Weisz in The Brothers Bloom
Rachel Weisz not only had to learn the violin for her role in the Brothers Bloom, but she also learnt banjo, guitar, and accordion, all of which were played in a single scene! While she performed brilliantly with each instrument, the violin is where she really shone, as her bowing was impressive for a novice violinist.
Robert Downey Jr in Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin was famous for knowing how to play the violin, and Robert Downey Jr went to violin lessons for over a year in preparation for his role in portraying Charlie Chaplin. To add further difficulty to this tremendous task, Downey Jr had to learn how to play the left-handed violin! This commitment to the role is very impressive, as is the fact that he also had to learn to play tennis with his left hand too.
Elliot Page in The Umbrella Academy
One of the defining characteristics of Elliot Page’s character in The Umbrella Academy is that Vanya (the character) is an amazing violinist. While Elliot took a few violin lessons in preparation, in most scenes, it is not Elliot playing the violin but a talented violinist by the name of Imogen Sloss.
Are you looking to begin violin lessons in Auckland? Here at the Music Education Centre, we teach a wide range of instruments to both children and adults in Auckland. There is no better way to learn the violin than to have an experienced music teacher leading the way and ensuring your improvement. Please feel free to get in touch with us today should you find that you have any questions for us.