<p>There are too many violinists and violin teachers to fit at the lunch table! (Plus the bill just gets too big.) Most schools can fit all their bass faculty and day’s bass auditioners at a table. You would need a small banquet hall to fit in the day’s violin auditioners and faculty.</p>
<p>It isn’t just violinists, but the OP is a violinist, so the context is string auditions. I believe that pianists face a similar “coolness.” </p>
<p>Smaller departments/programs/institutions in any discipline or endeavour (e.g. government, business, education, health care) generally are more personable, flexible and informal. </p>
<p>As well, the more selective/competitive an instrument, program, or school is, the more the need to be or at least appear to be objective.</p>