At nearly every gig, someone asks Kailee Vallis's duo the same question: can you add a violinist? So Kailee — a professional musician who performs three to five nights a week on bass, guitar, and more — decided to stop hiring it out and learn violin herself.

In this episode, Jessica and Kailee talk about what it takes to add a new instrument to a working career: why clients keep requesting violin, what carries over from years of playing bass (and what absolutely doesn't), how she's already using violin in live sets, the electric-violin-and-pedalboard setup she plays on stage, how to avoid buying a "violin-shaped object," and why, even as a pro, she chose a teacher over another year of YouTube tutorials.

What you'll hear:

• How Kailee built a career as a gigging musician — and why violin was the one instrument she kept coming back to
• The real demand for violin at weddings and events, and the opportunity it opens for working players
• What transfers from bass to violin and what humbles even a pro musician
• Using violin on live gigs: long tones, pizzicato, improv, and creative pedal effects
• Electric violins on stage — what to look for and what to avoid
• Why instrument quality matters so much, from warped bows to bad electric violins
• Kailee's advice for professional musicians thinking about adding a new instrument: get a teacher

Resources & links:

• Kailee's duo: 2humansproductions.com · Instagram @2humansproductions
• Kailee's electric violin: Yamaha YEV 104

🎻 Learn Violin with Me

Whether you're picking up the violin for the very first time or returning after a long break, you don't have to figure it out alone.

🌟 Join my free community for adult violin learners — a warm, encouraging space to learn alongside others on the same journey. [Join here]

📋 Download the free Perfect Position Checklist — a simple guide to playing with proper position with your violin, bow, and body the right way from day one. Also includes free sheet music with all of my fingerings included. [Download here]

Learn more at oberlinviolinstudio.com