Is there a difference between a violin and a fiddle?

The difference in the violin and fiddle is simply the type of music they play. The goal of violin music is beauty and power. The goal of fiddling is simple to dance. Violin music is often harder to play than it sounds. Fiddle music is usually easier to play than it sounds. Violin performance takes more strength and concentration to play than fiddle music. It's easier to learn how to fiddle than how to play violin. So while the shape of the instrument is nearly the same, the music they play is entirely different.