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SALT LAKE CITY — Ricochet, detache and marcato are everyday words for violinist Rob Landes.
In fact, those words have been in Landes’ vocabulary since he was just 3 years old.
Fast forward 27 years, and now Landes is a violinist with the world-renowned Orchestra at Temple Square.
“It’s a really amazing experience. This has got to be the best orchestra and choir in the world,” said Landes. “It’s just so fun to play at such a high level.”
Music has taken Landes all over the world.
Landes performed in the Disney Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra in Los Angeles, played at the summer festivals in Colorado and toured in Europe with the Brigham Young University chamber orchestra.
“I got to see a lot of the world,” said Landes. “That wouldn’t have happened if I weren’t a musician.”
Like many students, Landes says he did not enjoy practicing the violin while growing up.
“I honestly didn’t like playing at all. I didn’t enjoy it until I was 10 or 11," said Landes. "(But) as a teenager, I knew I wanted to do music the rest of my life.”
Although he plays hymns and traditional violin music, Landes says he enjoys creating cover versions of pop and rock songs with his violin.
He recently made a video of the song “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons.
“I got pretty good at learning (songs) by ear and doing some fun harmonies or variations with it,” said Landes.
But Landes is not your typical violinist. Landes manipulates the harmonies to sound as if several violins were playing at once. He creates these unique arrangements through a looper pedal.
“What I like about the looper pedal is it allows you to record yourself live and make it sound like you’re playing with four or five different instruments at the same time... I’ve had a lot of fun with it.”
Landes hopes people will enjoy his unique style of music as much as he enjoys playing it. Landes says he plans on creating more pop and rock cover videos in the near future.
“I love music,” said Landes. “It’s a gift I can give to people. Music is really something everyone can learn if you really work at it. I want people to know that through hard work great things are possible.”
