i used to play the violin when i was in elementary school
I've never played an instrument before, but I really wish I could play the violin, which is also known as a fiddle.
The modern violin has been around for roughly 500 years. It was said to have been designed in the 1500’s by Andrea Amati.
That's so long ago! They are also the smallest and highest-pitched instrument in the family.
oddly playing the violin burns approximately 170 calories per hour, how random 
That's so weird, especially considering that they are usually hollow and wooden so they aren't that heavy.
true, its probably to do with concentration. the violin itself is typically comprised of spruce or maple wood.
strings, though it can also be played by plucking the strings with the fingers (pizzicato) and by striking the strings with the wooden side of the bow (col legno). 
Violins are important instruments in a wide variety of musical genres. They are most prominent in the Western classical tradition, both in ensembles (from chamber music to orchestras) and as solo instruments and in many varieties of folk music, including country music, bluegrass music and in jazz. Electric violins with solid bodies and piezoelectric pickups are used
eyvind many times over the last 10 years), he never hit a wrong note. it was pretty mindblowing to watch. he played violin, viola, and tried some traditional Chinese instrument, which we took out because it didn't mix so well. wish we had more time to jam because i'm sure it [would] have [been] a lot of fun. dave [aka Avey Tare] and i had been thinking about who to ask to play violin on a few songs that we wanted violin on