Here's why:
* Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that renames or describes the subject.
* In this sentence, "violinists" is the subject, and "terrible" is the predicate adjective describing the violinists.
* The verb "sound" acts as a link between the subject (violinists) and the adjective (terrible), showing the state or condition of the violinists.
Note: While "usually" is an adverb modifying the verb "sound," it doesn't play the role of a linking verb.