As the title suggests, I've just joined the forums! An appropriate time to introduce myself it seems.
Well, my name's Chris - I'm 16 - and I play the piano, violin and guitar (also harmonica, but that doesn't really count ;-)).
I have just started my AS levels after finishing my GCSE's last year - I'm doing English lit., History, German and R.S. incase you're wondering.

As this is within the violin forum, I'll cut to the chase - I've been playing the piano for about 5 years now and am preparing to do my grade 6 exam in november, but I have only been playing the violin since January, properly that is. Hmm, perhaps it's best if I start from the beginning...

Approximately one year ago in August 2003, I started trying to play my cousin's (who reached grade 5 and gave up exams thereafter) violin, to see what it was like. I tried very simple pieces just playing easy little melodies from old piano books I had from years ago - Annie's Song, greensleeves etc.
I enjoyed this greatly, so much so that I decided a violin would be a suitable gift that Christmas! I chose a Stentor Andreas Zellar model and have been very pleased with it thus far.
Now that I owned a violin I began teaching myself properly, as I had done with the piano (bit of info; I taught myself piano and then started lessons two years ago and passed my grade 5 exam with merit in march 2003). I was of course aware that the violin is vastly different from the piano and much care had to be taken. I did ask my cousin however to correct any bad habits I was picking up and ensure that I was on the right lines so to speak!
I can't say anything else other than that it has gone very well. I love the instrument and practise every day, I play it in my church music group and played violin duets with my cousin only a few weeks ago at my aunt's wedding.

I would place myself around grade 3 standard (and have been told by numerous supervisors that that is where I would be). I am almost toally confident in the third position as well as the first and am playing harder pieces every month!
To be honest, I have been more than surprised with how far it has progressed within the space of half a year - I would have said I'd be around grade 1 exam standard by now if you had asked me in january. I just don't know, there's something about the violin that I really appreciate and haven't been able to find in the piano (though the piano is still just my favourite). It is without question a more lyrical instrument and perhaps the most expressive of all, something I am very keen on - emotion in music!

I joined these boards basically to learn more and more, I plan on starting lessons come Christmas time or afterwards, but until then I'm still loving self-tuition. I'd like to know if anyone else here has taught themselves any instrument, not nessecarily the violin, because I know that unless you experience it you wont know how rewarding and enjoyable it is to go at your own pace and observe your own progression 1st hand.
Secondly, I want to know about orchestras! My real reason for learning the violin was that I would love more than anything to be in an orchestra in school of some sort, I can't sing to save my life so choir is out of the question, but on tuesday I'm auditioning in school and my old GCSE music teacher (who takes the string orchestra there) will tell me if I'm good enough.
I've chosen to play a number of things encluding Boccherini's Minuet and Trio, Bach's Air on a G String, Affetuoso by Telemann and the Trout by Schubert.

Gosh, that's a rather long first post! I hope I haven't bored anyone, but as I'm sure you'll discover I'm more than passionate about music and have much more to ramble on about in the future!
Thanks for reading this anyway, and I look forward to meeting everyone!

Welcome, Chris! I taught myself clarinet, with bits of help here and there, and now, three years later, I'm working towards my Diploma. I'm really enjoying it, and can hardly wait to do my practice each day!
I did play the violin and viola (still do play the violin occasionally) as an adult learner - although not self-taught. But I think I'm more of a 'woodwindy' person really!

woodwindy, eh? Very well! Do you find it's easier to enjoy the instrument without a teacher, and that if you're dilligent and talented enough a teacher may even be considered superfluous? I don't know anyone else at my school who's tried teaching themselves and even my best friend Kyle says it can't be done! Despite this environmental opposition, I think it's a brilliant way to learn an instrument.

I think that as a teacher myself I am pretty focussed on what I need to do to improve, but I also think that you do need some input from others in some form or other, because bad technique, once learnt, is really hard to eradicate!
I've got on well, mainly by reading lots of books on technique, by listening very critically to myself and by lots of hard work - and also by taking exams regularly, which have been a useful guide to my progress. What has been really invaluable, though, has been going on summer schools for the last couple of years and getting some 'live' feedback on my playing from the experts there.
I don't think that it's superfluous to have a teacher - but having a very busy teaching schedule myself, I simply don't have the time during the school year!

QUOTE

I think that as a teacher myself ... I don't think that it's superfluous to have a teacher...

Bias perhaps? Heh, I don't think it is either, all cases are different for one thing and I think that you do have to be critical and very committed if you're going to teach yourself, but it does pay off.

I know that I need a foot behind me or I won't work so well

Hi Chris

I have been playing the violin for about 3 months and I have ventured through most of the current pieces for Grades 2 3 and some of 4.. i have just bought the new books for Grades 3 and 4 and I must admit I am enjoying these too... Are you hoping to take any exams for the violin? I hope to take Grade 3 or 4 soon. I must say I really enjoy teaching myself as you can put as much on toyour self as you want..you konw your own limits. I have also self taught the clarinet and flute ( with just a couple of lessons ages ago when I first took it up but have started playing it seriously recently) and also a bit of guitar. I must admit i find the clarinet quite hard btu flute much easier so my clarinet needs some wokring on.

Have you tried the new books for grades 3 and 4? What do you think of them?
I play along to cds to better my pitching ...its seems to be working...the more practice the better hopefully!

joy

Hello! Thanks for the reply - I do intend sometime in the future on taking exams, perhaps starting at grade 4 - I'm not sure yet.
I haven't bought the new books yet, but plan to very soon. I've tried playing along with CD's too! It helped quite a bit in the beginning, especially with Bach's air on a G string.