Anyone play the violin? I need some tips.

DH went to a yard sale this morning.  He told me that someone had a few violins for sale. The funny thing: since January, I thought about trying to learn to play, but never told anyone. He said he had also wanted to learn! Needless, to say, we are now the proud owners of a 3/4 violin.

I must add that neither he nor I have ever played a musical instrument, apart from messing about on a piano that MIL gave us years ago. 

There are lots of self-instruction sites and youtube videos, but could someone give me a few bits of advice on how to learn? I don't anticipate becoming concert standard, but I've always wanted to play an instrument since I was a kid, but my parents would never allow that, and it would be a fun accomplishment, since I do enjoy singing and music in general. I'm leaning more toward country-style/Irish music more than classical, though I suppose I should start with the classical music (?).

Thanks.

First of all, for playing a violin, viola, or cello you need to be able to hear when a note is just a few cycles per second off. Without that ability, any instruction is worth very little. That's why they start children playing at 4 or 5 years old.

I would believe the country/Irish music would be easier to learn, due to the rapid fingering of classical music. Listen to Vivaldi's Four Seasons and try not to let your jaw drop on the solo about 2 minutes into the first movement.  And remember, there are no frets on a violin.

I am not trying to discourage you, if you choose to learn, you have my undying admiration.  I don't have the patience to try.

You don't have to start at 4 or 5.  Both of my kids started strings (1 violin and 1 viola) in 5th grade.  It was that or recorder/ chorus.  The kids HATED the chorus teacher in the elementary school.  My oldest was doing nothing in terms of an extracurricular (not that we tried- she tried gymnastics, dance, girl scouts etc and nothing "fit" her)  Little did I know when I signed the permission slip and rented that first violin that I'd be in it for the next 7+ years

The violinist  just finished her freshman year in college as a music ed major concentrating in strings (her love for the violin lasted all through high school- thanks to a wonderful orchestra teacher).  The violist will be finishing her sophomore year in high school.  She made Govenor's school for viola next year.  She wants performance, I am trying to talk her into doing something else along with it, I can't see going into mountains of debt for a job she might make 20,000/ year at. 

Make sure the 3/4 fits you.  That's kind of small- my oldest is 5 ft tall and plays a 4/4 one. 

If you want to learn yourself- the Suzuki books are really good.  That's where both of mine started with. 

It's not an easy instrument to learn.  None of the strings are.  But they sound so pretty. 

Cheryl

I have never play an musical instrument but I would love to learn how to play a piano.

Sneakymom said:

You don't have to start at 4 or 5.  Both of my kids started strings (1 violin and 1 viola) in 5th grade.  It was that or recorder/ chorus.  The kids HATED the chorus teacher in the elementary school.  My oldest was doing nothing in terms of an extracurricular (not that we tried- she tried gymnastics, dance, girl scouts etc and nothing "fit" her)  Little did I know when I signed the permission slip and rented that first violin that I'd be in it for the next 7+ years

The violinist  just finished her freshman year in college as a music ed major concentrating in strings (her love for the violin lasted all through high school- thanks to a wonderful orchestra teacher).  The violist will be finishing her sophomore year in high school.  She made Govenor's school for viola next year.  She wants performance, I am trying to talk her into doing something else along with it, I can't see going into mountains of debt for a job she might make 20,000/ year at. 

Make sure the 3/4 fits you.  That's kind of small- my oldest is 5 ft tall and plays a 4/4 one. 

If you want to learn yourself- the Suzuki books are really good.  That's where both of mine started with. 

It's not an easy instrument to learn.  None of the strings are.  But they sound so pretty. 

Cheryl

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I am very happy for your violinist, and your violist. You must be proud to have such talented children.

Sneakymom said:

You don't have to start at 4 or 5.  Both of my kids started strings (1 violin and 1 viola) in 5th grade.  It was that or recorder/ chorus.  The kids HATED the chorus teacher in the elementary school.  My oldest was doing nothing in terms of an extracurricular (not that we tried- she tried gymnastics, dance, girl scouts etc and nothing "fit" her)  Little did I know when I signed the permission slip and rented that first violin that I'd be in it for the next 7+ years

The violinist  just finished her freshman year in college as a music ed major concentrating in strings (her love for the violin lasted all through high school- thanks to a wonderful orchestra teacher).  The violist will be finishing her sophomore year in high school.  She made Govenor's school for viola next year.  She wants performance, I am trying to talk her into doing something else along with it, I can't see going into mountains of debt for a job she might make 20,000/ year at. 

Make sure the 3/4 fits you.  That's kind of small- my oldest is 5 ft tall and plays a 4/4 one. 

If you want to learn yourself- the Suzuki books are really good.  That's where both of mine started with. 

It's not an easy instrument to learn.  None of the strings are.  But they sound so pretty. 

Cheryl

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Wow, Cheryl, kudos to both your kids!

dejolane said:

I have never play an musical instrument but I would love to learn how to play a piano.

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I started taking piano lessons when I was 4 years old. Came home from kindergarten and there was a piano (and a teacher) in the living room. I was not amused. My parents made me practice one hour every single night and it was terrible. But I kept at it for 14 years. At 18, when I finally said "Enough!" I was married with a 2-year old son. And yet, my parents made me continue to take lessons until I finally got brave enough to tell them no more.

Maybe a piano could just be for looks and then if a child decides to play that would be their choice.

The bad  news is, my bil that is a studio musician in Austin TX (pedal steel guitar, dobro, banjo, fiddle) and he says the violin is an extremely difficult instrument to play. He kinda did it backward and learned to play steel guitar first, but he got a guitar and off he went. His point is, if you learn to play another stringed instrument, the easier other instruments will come. All the other stuff he plays, he now wants to play piano. Or if you don't 'mind pming me with your location' he might know someone in your are that gives good lessons.

Either way, I hope you can make what the ones of us that get together and play and sing " a joyful noise."

<<I started taking piano lessons when I was 4 years old. Came home from kindergarten and there was a piano (and a teacher) in the living room. I was not amused. My parents made me practice one hour every single night and it was terrible. But I kept at it for 14 years. At 18, when I finally said "Enough!" I was married with a 2-year old son. And yet, my parents made me continue to take lessons until I finally got brave enough to tell them no more>>

Winchester- I have a problem with that.  I can't tell you how many parents I've met who make their kids do music, dance, etc, etc even though they HATE it. 

The girls both played in this community orchestra.  200+ kids from a 50 mile radius.  Oldest was recognized as a graduate last year.  I was kind of hoping the youngest would "stick it out" for another 2 years and graduate.  But she's not having fun at it anymore.  The same kids get principal of their section over, and over and over again.  The same kids get picked to do the concerto competition.  There's kids there that could care less about being there and are just obnoxious through rehersal.  And- it's a 30 minute drive 1 way on a Monday night (I'm over it too ) It's also $400/year plus another $70 for concert tickets (yes I have to pay to see my kid play b/c it's a community orchestra running on a shoestring budget).

Dd said after the concert in January that she was done.  Thought about it a bit- and if it's no more fun for her, what is the point.  Made her stick it out through the rest of the year (the season wrapped up last Tuesday).  Kind of sad, but it's ok. 

Cheryl

Believe me, I had a problem with it. It was terrible. I was four years old and had to sit at that piano every night for one hour. My father sat at the chair next to the piano and he would actually time the hour. If we went away one night and I couldn't get my hour in, I had to practice for two hours the next night. By the time I was 8 or 9, I was having horrid stomach cramps after supper. They took me to the doctor and there were several tests run.....nothing was wrong, other than the fact that I was so tired of that piano. Still couldn't stop. My hands were so small that I couldn't reach some of the chords in the music. My teacher rewrote some of the notes in the chords of the music so that I could reach the new chords.

My parents both worked full time. When we had off for school holidays I was supposed to practice during the day. I didn't. Little did I know that my mother had gone to the next-door neighbors and told them I was supposed to practice. When they didn't hear the piano (and believe me, you could hear that piano all over the neighborhood sometimes!), they ratted me out. My dad spanked the heck out of me for that one. I learned that, even if I was home alone, I had to practice because I never knew who was listening.

I would spend the summers with my grandmother. That was ok with my parents....with the understanding that I still had to practice on my cousin's piano. My teacher didn't take the summers off, so I had to continue with the lessons throughout the summer. Believe me when I tell you that I hated that piano.

My sister took lessons for maybe five years or so. Then she outright quit. She said life was too short to deal with it. My mom wanted my brother to take lessons, too, but my dad wouldn't let him. He didn't want to anyway, so it didn't matter. But I never had a choice. I came home that day, there it was, there was the teacher and I started. My grandmother had paid for the piano and that's just the way it was.

You know, I was good. I really was. If that sounds like bragging, well, maybe it is. But I was good. And maybe had my parents chosen another way of getting me to enjoy the lessons, the music would have taken me somewhere. We'll never know.

When our son was born, my mom said they'd pay for piano lessons for him. I put my foot down and we had WW III. But I was determined that they were not going to do that to my son. No way.

I have the piano in my living room. I wanted to have it tuned up and I was going to start taking lessons again....there's a teacher right down the road from the house and I could walk there for my lessons. But you know what? My heart just isn't in it. Sometimes I think I'd rather take that thing to the landfill.

Ugh, parents can be so abusive without even meaning to sometimes. . .I'm sure they mean well but what were they thinking? Maybe they don't realize how their actions will affect their child his/her entire life. Terrible how we can treat those who are dependent on us.

I bought a violin a few years ago, and got to the point that I could play the Suziki Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, but I haven't done anything for a while. It's probably all out of tune now and I don't even know how to tune the thing. . .:tongue2:.

I played the violin in school I hated it, its difficult to learn something that you cant stand.  The only reason I played it as long as I did was because my mam and dad bought me one for christmas one year.

I think its something you want to have to learn to do and then yuo have half of the battle won there next is learning it, as its not just learning where to put your fingers its then learning all the techniques with the bow

Good luck and have fun