Violin Forum/Message Board

dinga · Junior Member Joined: 02 Jan 2009 Posts: 14 Location: USA

I am an intermediate level (RCM 6) in the classical guitar. I've started learning the violin a couple months ago by sitting and watching at my 6 year old daughter's lesson.
So far, I found that the violin is much easier to start with than the classical guitar. After a couple of months I can play many X-mas tunes, with some off pitch. Certainly, the left hand skills on the classical guitar help me a lot.

As somebody said, what matters is the devotion and love of music to be successful in any musical instrument. Rushing and impatience almost always lead to disappointment and failure.

joet1485 · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: Violin is Impossible

I started playing when I was 45. I had a GOOD teacher. She told me she would give me lessons only as long as I improved. I took lessons for 2 and a half years. But I never found another teacher who could relate to adults! I am 65 today and practice every day. I play old folks homes and practice in parks and malls where there are walkers. They seem to like the way I play but most of them are adults too. People often ask 'why did you pick such a difficult instrument to play? I always say 'it seemed like a good idea at the time and I can't sing so it worked.'

joet1485 · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Violin is Impossible

I started playing when I was 45. I had a GOOD teacher. She told me she would give me lessons only as long as I improved. I took lessons for 2 and a half years. But I never found another teacher who could relate to adults! I am 65 today and practice every day. I play old folks homes and practice in parks and malls where there are walkers. They seem to like the way I play but most of them are adults too. People often ask 'why did you pick such a difficult instrument to play? I always say 'it seemed like a good idea at the time and I can't sing so it worked.'

joet1485 · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 5:55 pm Post subject:

I started playing when I was 45. I had a GOOD teacher. She told me she would give me lessons only as long as I improved. I took lessons for 2 and a half years. But I never found another teacher who could relate to adults! I am 65 today and practice every day. I play old folks homes and practice in parks and malls where there are walkers. They seem to like the way I play but most of them are adults too. People often ask 'why did you pick such a difficult instrument to play? I always say 'it seemed like a good idea at the time and I can't sing so it worked.'

dinga · Junior Member Joined: 02 Jan 2009 Posts: 14 Location: USA

I am 45. I hope I would be good enough to play the violin in friends' house or at the park by the age 65. Smile

You certainly seem to love music.

joet1485 · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:49 pm Post subject:

I started playing when I was 45. I had a GOOD teacher. She told me she would give me lessons only as long as I improved. I took lessons for 2 and a half years. But I never found another teacher who could relate to adults! I am 65 today and practice every day. I play old folks homes and practice in parks and malls where there are walkers. They seem to like the way I play but most of them are adults too. People often ask 'why did you pick such a difficult instrument to play? I always say 'it seemed like a good idea at the time and I can't sing so it worked.'

joet1485 · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject:

I started playing when I was 45. I had a GOOD teacher. She told me she would give me lessons only as long as I improved. I took lessons for 2 and a half years. But I never found another teacher who could relate to adults! I am 65 today and practice every day. I play old folks homes and practice in parks and malls where there are walkers. They seem to like the way I play but most of them are adults too. People often ask 'why did you pick such a difficult instrument to play? I always say 'it seemed like a good idea at the time and I can't sing so it worked.'

Astrobob · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:29 pm Post subject: Newbie & need some help

Hi all. You can call me BOB & I'm new this forum & to the violin.

I have read some of your posts above & i totally agree that age is not a big factor but passion is. I'm 21 yrs old & I need your help in directing me to resources or anything possible to get me started . I already got a cheap violin which seems fine & started learning on my own.

I love "The Seasons" which I hope that I will be able at least partially to play.

thx in advance. : ))))
_________________
Sincerely Yours
--------------------
BOB Merhebi
www.astrobob.tk

Astrobob · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject: Newbie & need some help

Hi all. You can call me BOB & I'm new this forum & to the violin.

I have read some of your posts above & i totally agree that age is not a big factor but passion is. I'm 21 yrs old & I need your help in directing me to resources or anything possible to get me started . I already got a cheap violin which seems fine & started learning on my own.

I love "The Seasons" which I hope that I will be able at least partially to play.

thx in advance. : ))))
_________________
Sincerely Yours
--------------------
BOB Merhebi
www.astrobob.tk

Astrobob · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject: Newbie & need some help

Hi all. You can call me BOB & I'm new this forum & to the violin.

I have read some of your posts above & i totally agree that age is not a big factor but passion is. I'm 21 yrs old & I need your help in directing me to resources or anything possible to get me started . I already got a cheap violin which seems fine & started learning on my own.

I love "The Seasons" which I hope that I will be able at least partially to play.

thx in advance. : ))))
_________________
Sincerely Yours
--------------------
BOB Merhebi
www.astrobob.tk

mecqna · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:24 am Post subject: Re: Violin is Impossible

Fiddler1985 · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:38 am Post subject:

Personally, I think that playing the violin has nothing to do with age but rather personal taste and talent. You might be a virtuoso piano or guitar player and not be able to make a squeak on a violin. If everybody could play the violin well, don't you think a lot more people would? The violin is VERY hard to learn at any age, not just in adulthood. Nothing good comes easy, but some good things come easier than being good at the violin. Very Happy

Good luck!

violinista_blu · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject:

I'm glad this thread was posted! Smile

Hi!!! I am new to the forum and new to the violin.
I'm an old 'beginning student'.

I've had four lessons so far.. and am enjoying the challenge.

This has made for interesting reading.. and after reading the opening thread by Verdi my heart sank! However the following replies have given me hope/inspiration. Very Happy

I do not want to be a soloist virtuoso in anycase and am doing this purely for myself.. i've always wanted to learn/try the violin.. and the opportunity has presented itself to me now (albeit later in life) coupled with the motivation = so i am going for it.

I know full well that it will be hard!
I try looking at all the positives, each small step bringing me further along on the path.

These are some of the positives.. which make learning the violin for me (such as life) worthwhile..

My teacher seems patient and kind and hasn't bashed me over the head with my instrument yet! - this makes me hopeful! Laughing

The neighbours Rottweiler heads for his kennel when i practice - this makes me laugh! Laughing

When i am not making a hideous screeching sound (which is often) and instead feel the vibrations under my chin because on that odd ocassion have hit that sweet spot on the strings - this makes my heart skip a beat. Smile

Please feel free to visit my blog
Donna con il Violino Bluhttp://violinistablu.blogspot.com/
and if the moment takes you
you can leave your thoughts
would love to hear from you.
_________________
i am told 'you're old' to be learning the violin
to my way of thinking only when i am 'gone'
will it be too late 'to learn'
the violin
Donna con il Violino Blu
http://violinistablu.blogspot.com/

John Cadd · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:38 pm Post subject: violin is impossible

One of the problems new players have when starting violin is making a scratchy tone.If you first learn to balance a large coin on the back of your right hand ,the hand will be guided to adjust correctly as you bow.Become aware that the note is made by moving the hair at the right speed across the string.
Pressure on the string is quite gentle.Just use the A string and the D string at first.Your arm and shoulder muscles will learn to co-operate with each other as you practice.
CO- OPERATE--------WORK TOGETHER.
That`s the important first ingredient.
All the activities you have been doing will have tensioned the muscles correctly for those activities.
Have you ever seen an athlete trying a completely unfamiliar sport?
You can help to get a smooth bow arm by getting a long dowel at the right angle and sliding your hand up and down with the coin balanced.
Feel the wrist adjust as the arm moves down.Feel when the elbow gets involved half way down.No noise needed.When you get to the end of the down stroke the elbow locks out and the wrist is at it`s limit.It is a lot to learn but a level wrist ,smooth straight line movement will construct the right combinations.
When you get further into this do some deliberate grating slow bows to understand what the cause of the noise is.