Full Version: Starting Violin?
im trying to decide if i should start learning the violin or not- i already play flute (grade 8) and piano (grade 7), n i thought playing a string instrument might be a good idea. One of my friends used to play the violin, so i might ask if i could use hers to start with to see if i like it (i actually want to play viola, but id have to buy one first) The main problem is, ive got gcses in june, and then starting on A levels, so i dont know if id have enough time to practice a lot, plus im not sure if id be able to find a teacher (my parents are already paying a lot towards all the music i do, so they're not really that keen on paying for more lessons) - so do u think its a good idea? and if i did start how long would take to get to a reasonable standard?... but now im babbling so ill stop
If playing the violin is something you really want to try, then there is no harm in giving it a go. Lessons in the early stages are important, so even if you can persuade your parents to let you have a lesson every other week, it would be better than none at all.
Bowrrowing an instrument to start with is an excellent idea, although it is perfectly feasible to hire a violin quite cheaply from a music shop - should your firned want theirs back! You can always switch to viola at a later stage - most violists do in fact start out playing the violin.
As to how long it will take you to get to a reasonable standard, well, you have the advantage that you play another two instruments to a good standard already, so there won't be any issues with reading the notes. It will be more about learning good technique and direct application of that through lots of practice. The violin requires regular attention, especially when you are new to the instrument, for several reasons:
1. you need to be listening carefully to your intonation ALL of the time
2. the position of your left arm and hand when playing the violin is not natural and takes time to get used to
3. co-ordinating bow arm and finger action takes time to perfect
4. producing a listenable tone on the violin takes time
5. don't expect instant results. (Patience and conscienciousness are very important when playing the violin)
The more practice you put in, the quicker these things will improve, but you need to think carefully and realistically about other pressures which will be on you very soon and whether this will mean your practice time is limited. It might be worth putting it on hold until after you've taken your GCSE exams. You could then spend some time on the violin over the summer.
Good luck!
Bowrrowing an instrument to start with is an excellent idea, although it is perfectly feasible to hire a violin quite cheaply from a music shop - should your firned want theirs back! You can always switch to viola at a later stage - most violists do in fact start out playing the violin.
As to how long it will take you to get to a reasonable standard, well, you have the advantage that you play another two instruments to a good standard already, so there won't be any issues with reading the notes. It will be more about learning good technique and direct application of that through lots of practice. The violin requires regular attention, especially when you are new to the instrument, for several reasons:
1. you need to be listening carefully to your intonation ALL of the time
2. the position of your left arm and hand when playing the violin is not natural and takes time to get used to
3. co-ordinating bow arm and finger action takes time to perfect
4. producing a listenable tone on the violin takes time
5. don't expect instant results. (Patience and conscienciousness are very important when playing the violin)
The more practice you put in, the quicker these things will improve, but you need to think carefully and realistically about other pressures which will be on you very soon and whether this will mean your practice time is limited. It might be worth putting it on hold until after you've taken your GCSE exams. You could then spend some time on the violin over the summer.
Good luck!
I just took up violin also. I bought a cheap little Palatino full-size. It was weird because when I first tried to play it it was hopeless. I could produce scratchy screeches and little else. But the dealer showed me how to tune it, how to rosin the bow and how tight to have the hair set and all that. I still need those little pieces of tape the beginner violins have on the fingerboard so you can play an open major scale. I'd be lost without it--that's how much of a rookie I am. I wanted to add something to my open mic act. Instead just a straight guitar set, I thought it might be nice to do some fiddling. But it was a struggle at first just to make a sound.
But after a couple of weeks of practicing these little "Yankee Doodle" "Eliza Jane" and "Bear Went Over the Mountain" type of ditties that I learned from a DVD, I started to get the hang of it. Now after a few months, I am learning the Early American fiddle songs. Some are mountain fiddle--I don't even know the titles of. I learned "McGinty Went Down the Sea" and "College Hornpipe" since I like the rustic New England tradition. I also learned some old Christian hymns that I got off a Yazoo collection even though I'm not religious but I like the archaic style. I've even learned "Sweet Georgia Brown" partly because I adore Maceo Pinkard and partly because I love the way Staphane Grapelli plays it with Django. I also learned some Christmas diddies and do them in pseudo-Early American style. I'm learning "Ragtime Annie" and some mountain piece right now. I do just a smidgin of classical. I have no real technique to speak of so classical is out of the question. I can fake a few bars and throw them into the fiddle numbers to kind of spice things up but that's all. I can't even play a single violin composition all the way through. I'm afraid it wouldn't be very good. My attempts at bluegrass are even worse.
I still make mistakes all over the place and my bow hand gets tired quickly and tends not hit the strings right and it sounds scratchy or I start playing two strings at once when I only want one. I can't do that vibrato thing with the finger either. I just can't seem to pick it up. I've learned that many rural fiddlers don't use or approve of that technique so that's okay there but it limits my ability to pick up more classical. I'm just not very good yet. But I'm good enough to play the thing on open mic nights. That makes you better--when you can get up in front of people and get through it and get real applause when you're done. I love playing the fiddle. It's tremendous fun, a tremendous challenge, exhilirating, frustrating, and very humbling for a guy who is pretty musical and plays several instruments. Now I know how Michael Jordan felt trying to play baseball. You think you should be able to pick it right up but it's not working that way for me. It's a struggle. Constant struggle trying to make that ol fiddle do what I hear in my head. What a beautiful instrument though. It's like a beautiful woman--puts you through a wringer but it's still worth it in the end.
But after a couple of weeks of practicing these little "Yankee Doodle" "Eliza Jane" and "Bear Went Over the Mountain" type of ditties that I learned from a DVD, I started to get the hang of it. Now after a few months, I am learning the Early American fiddle songs. Some are mountain fiddle--I don't even know the titles of. I learned "McGinty Went Down the Sea" and "College Hornpipe" since I like the rustic New England tradition. I also learned some old Christian hymns that I got off a Yazoo collection even though I'm not religious but I like the archaic style. I've even learned "Sweet Georgia Brown" partly because I adore Maceo Pinkard and partly because I love the way Staphane Grapelli plays it with Django. I also learned some Christmas diddies and do them in pseudo-Early American style. I'm learning "Ragtime Annie" and some mountain piece right now. I do just a smidgin of classical. I have no real technique to speak of so classical is out of the question. I can fake a few bars and throw them into the fiddle numbers to kind of spice things up but that's all. I can't even play a single violin composition all the way through. I'm afraid it wouldn't be very good. My attempts at bluegrass are even worse.
I still make mistakes all over the place and my bow hand gets tired quickly and tends not hit the strings right and it sounds scratchy or I start playing two strings at once when I only want one. I can't do that vibrato thing with the finger either. I just can't seem to pick it up. I've learned that many rural fiddlers don't use or approve of that technique so that's okay there but it limits my ability to pick up more classical. I'm just not very good yet. But I'm good enough to play the thing on open mic nights. That makes you better--when you can get up in front of people and get through it and get real applause when you're done. I love playing the fiddle. It's tremendous fun, a tremendous challenge, exhilirating, frustrating, and very humbling for a guy who is pretty musical and plays several instruments. Now I know how Michael Jordan felt trying to play baseball. You think you should be able to pick it right up but it's not working that way for me. It's a struggle. Constant struggle trying to make that ol fiddle do what I hear in my head. What a beautiful instrument though. It's like a beautiful woman--puts you through a wringer but it's still worth it in the end.
Quillion, you'd be much better off not putting tape markers on your fingerboard. As a violininst the ability to fine tune your ear to pick up small discepancies in intonation is a very important skill and one you should begin to develop from the earliest stages of playing. Let your ears guide your fingers, it isn't really that hard and will help your development as a player.
The violin is wonderful, but frustrating. So if you do go ahead then you will need to be very patient.
With your previous music knowledge and experience you will be well set to make quick progress, but if you are anything like me the lack of technical brilliance (and believe me I lack this in buckets), as the violin is one of the most technically difficult instruments to play, is so frustrating. I just KNOW how I want the music to sound, but I just can't do it.... yet!
<goes to practise>
With your previous music knowledge and experience you will be well set to make quick progress, but if you are anything like me the lack of technical brilliance (and believe me I lack this in buckets), as the violin is one of the most technically difficult instruments to play, is so frustrating. I just KNOW how I want the music to sound, but I just can't do it.... yet!
<goes to practise>
I'm a flute (+ general woodwind!) player too, and playing violin is one of the best things i ever chose to do! I looove it, i started in September and didn't expect to make fast progress as it's so different to wind instuments, but i'm doing my grade 4 in a few weeks and can play grade 6 stuff too.
I'd defo say go for it
My parents didn't want to me to play violin... partly for the cost (didn't want to dish out for ANOTHER instrument) and 2... cause they didn't want to listen to that x_x But when i got payed £100 for playing in a flute concert, my mum told me i could buy whatever i wanted, so i bought a violin not even intending on learning it properly or anything. since then i've totally fallen in love with it 
I don't find time toooooo much of an issue - and beleive me, i'm a VERY very busy person. 1 thing i'll admit though is that it's extremely frustrating to be able to play other instruments to grade 8 and above standard but not be able to sound so good on violin. obviously, i wouldn't expect to sound as good, but i still want to
Do ittt
I'd defo say go for it
My parents didn't want to me to play violin... partly for the cost (didn't want to dish out for ANOTHER instrument) and 2... cause they didn't want to listen to that x_x But when i got payed £100 for playing in a flute concert, my mum told me i could buy whatever i wanted, so i bought a violin
not even intending on learning it properly or anything. since then i've totally fallen in love with it I don't find time toooooo much of an issue - and beleive me, i'm a VERY very busy person. 1 thing i'll admit though is that it's extremely frustrating to be able to play other instruments to grade 8 and above standard but not be able to sound so good on violin. obviously, i wouldn't expect to sound as good, but i still want to
Do ittt
I would really encourage you to give it a try, but really take proper lessons. I have been playing piano for years, and just a month ago decided that it's the violin that I love. I bought a cheap violin, and started to play with it at home, it was quite hopeless. I searched and found a teacher, that's the best decision i've made!!
Since you are already competent in other instrument, you will be able to pick up violin alot faster than others. Don't let anyone tell you that adults can't learn as fast as kids. We all have our different strengths and weaknesses in learning.
Challenges I've encountered so far:
1. Intonation, i guess this is an area where everyone needs to constantly be aware of and work on. You want to be able to practice and make sure every note is in tune. As one great teacher said, when one's learning, you should be playing slowly and in tune, not quickly and out of tune!
2. Left fingers placement on fingerboard/strings and right bow hand coordination. Even with my piano trained fingers, my left right coordination is not working on the violin. My bow hand is always faster than my left fingers, and therefore produce some "extra notes"
3. Relax. I'm constantly being reminded to relax my shoulders, left hand, bow hand.
And lots more I can't think of right now. But I learn something new everyday I practice. It's a great experience!
Since you are already competent in other instrument, you will be able to pick up violin alot faster than others. Don't let anyone tell you that adults can't learn as fast as kids. We all have our different strengths and weaknesses in learning.
Challenges I've encountered so far:
1. Intonation, i guess this is an area where everyone needs to constantly be aware of and work on. You want to be able to practice and make sure every note is in tune. As one great teacher said, when one's learning, you should be playing slowly and in tune, not quickly and out of tune!
2. Left fingers placement on fingerboard/strings and right bow hand coordination. Even with my piano trained fingers, my left right coordination is not working on the violin. My bow hand is always faster than my left fingers, and therefore produce some "extra notes"
3. Relax. I'm constantly being reminded to relax my shoulders, left hand, bow hand.
And lots more I can't think of right now. But I learn something new everyday I practice. It's a great experience!
QUOTE(Ms.Fiddle @ Jan 27 2008, 08:28 AM) 
Quillion, you'd be much better off not putting tape markers on your fingerboard. As a violininst the ability to fine tune your ear to pick up small discepancies in intonation is a very important skill and one you should begin to develop from the earliest stages of playing. Let your ears guide your fingers, it isn't really that hard and will help your development as a player.
Okay. I just took the tape off and have been trying it out. It's not so bad. Actually, I think I'm playing better because I'm not gauging my finger placement by the tape but just by feel and I think I'm actually more accurate now. Thanks for the advice. The tape served its purpose and it doesn't look like I really need it at this point.
QUOTE(fayewolf @ Jan 27 2008, 05:53 PM)
I would really encourage you to give it a try, but really take proper lessons. I have been playing piano for years, and just a month ago decided that it's the violin that I love. I bought a cheap violin, and started to play with it at home, it was quite hopeless. I searched and found a teacher, that's the best decision i've made!!
Since you are already competent in other instrument, you will be able to pick up violin alot faster than others. Don't let anyone tell you that adults can't learn as fast as kids. We all have our different strengths and weaknesses in learning.
Challenges I've encountered so far:
1. Intonation, i guess this is an area where everyone needs to constantly be aware of and work on. You want to be able to practice and make sure every note is in tune. As one great teacher said, when one's learning, you should be playing slowly and in tune, not quickly and out of tune!
2. Left fingers placement on fingerboard/strings and right bow hand coordination. Even with my piano trained fingers, my left right coordination is not working on the violin. My bow hand is always faster than my left fingers, and therefore produce some "extra notes"
3. Relax. I'm constantly being reminded to relax my shoulders, left hand, bow hand.
And lots more I can't think of right now. But I learn something new everyday I practice. It's a great experience!
Some extra tips:
- let your rigt hand go limp. Fit the bow into it: that's how your hand's supposed to sit on the bow. Place your little finger on top of the bow, but make sure it doesn't lock out: keep it curved...
- Use your left elbow for big string crossings
- Try to keep your bow straight and avoid bowing near the fingerboard in general (holding the violin up more will help): also try not to get stuck at the point all the time
- curve the fingers on your left hand so you play using the fingertips for a clearer sound
- Don't grip with your chin
- Don't screw the bow too tight, make sure you have a comfy shoulder rest, clean the rosin off your strings with a duster....
You probably know all this already...
Good luck!
ok- i have a violin now (picked it up on wednesday ) ive practiced a few things on it, mainly mini tunes from my very old flute books, and ive just about got the hang of an extremely slow g major scale- yey! cant do a lot more than that at the moment though, cos i need to get a couple of new strings first, and maybe find a teacher, since its sounding a lot like "a strangled cat" as my dad would say
) ive practiced a few things on it, mainly mini tunes from my very old flute books, and ive just about got the hang of an extremely slow g major scale- yey! cant do a lot more than that at the moment though, cos i need to get a couple of new strings first, and maybe find a teacher, since its sounding a lot like "a strangled cat" as my dad would say
QUOTE(Aleeece @ Feb 2 2008, 08:31 PM)
and maybe find a teacher, since its sounding a lot like "a strangled cat" as my dad would say
Yes do get a teacher. You need to be sure you have the hold and posture absolutely right otherwise you can do yourself some serious damage.
So even if you feel you can teach yourself quite a bit, do get these things checked and correct before you do any real practice.
Oh...and enjoy the violin. I'm sure you will it is addictive
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