June 5th, 2009 10:55 am
Torean asked:
I really want to learn violin. I just love the sound of it, and I want to be a part of that sound. I’m highly considering purchasing a cheap, beginner violin and giving it a go. There aren’t very many, if any, violin instructors where I live, and if there are, I’m sure I can’t afford it. Is violin really that hard of an instrument to learn on your own? And are there any books for learning that you would recommend?
I really want to learn violin. I just love the sound of it, and I want to be a part of that sound. I’m highly considering purchasing a cheap, beginner violin and giving it a go. There aren’t very many, if any, violin instructors where I live, and if there are, I’m sure I can’t afford it. Is violin really that hard of an instrument to learn on your own? And are there any books for learning that you would recommend?
Thanks!
PS: Any tips would be greatly appreciated! And if someone could explain to me how rosin works.
common folk tales
Tags: Folk Tales, Learn Violin, Love
June 5, 2009 at 5:34 pm
It depends on the talent anyone have , however , in all cases , even a great talented person could reach a performance level of any instrument , he wouldn’t be a good performer unless he is educated with a really good teacher, for providing him with the proper technical principles and music understanding as well.
June 8, 2009 at 10:26 am
Go to Youtube. I’ve seen a number of violin enthusiasts putting up some mini-lessons to teach violin step by step. Just type something like ‘learn violin’, ‘violin lesson’, ‘beginner violin’ etc. You can proceed to buy grade 1 books published by ABRSM, the exam board.
June 9, 2009 at 12:49 am
The great risk that anyone runs, in trying to teach themselves how to play any kind of instrument, is the development of “bad” techniques, performance “habits”.
And the violin, is on of the most difficult instruments to learn.
You don’t state if you’ve had any experience with another musical instrument; if you have had, it would lessen the above referred to risk: but it would still be a strong one.
You also did not state your age: whether or not you’re still in school. Regardless, if I were you, I would check with the music department of any close by college or university; and if there aren’t any, then the/a local high school.
While you’re at it, check into the possibility of available stipends, grants, scholarships(whatever), any possible source of financial aid. You never know, what you might turn up.
If you’re really serious about wanting to learn to play the violin, what you need most at this juncture, is some good, sound counseling from an experienced musician.
Good luck,
Alberich
June 9, 2009 at 9:41 am
Well, violin being a string instrument…yes its very hard.
If you have a good ear, you might be able to. The best thing to do is to go to a music store and talk to the people. play on one and see if you actually have the time and patience to learn.
June 10, 2009 at 5:35 pm
You can do it!
Personally im also learning the violin after watching a show that got me into it. Right now im 20 years old and i’ve been learning on my own because where i live, the only instructors are the ones that are in my college and they only teach for music majors. Its been about a months and i can feel good results coming from my practices. Its recommended to buy a beginning books though such as Suzuki’s Violin Volume 1.
Though one that i would REALLY recommend is Essential Elements For Strings (Volume One) because it teaches you how to:
- Read Music
- Hold the violin
- Learn where the notes are
- Learn how to play different notes
- How to stroke the bow
- Endless exercises
- Helps with techniques
- and alot more
Of course the only bad thing that other people mentioned is that we may pick up bad habits if we dont get them corrected asap. so its better to check up with somebody who knows how to play the violin and ask if there is anything you may need to improve.
Remember that practice makes perfect. I practice about an hour or two everyday and it feels great to get a nice smooth sound practicing from the exercises.
So good luck if your going to through with it and remember to commit to the violin if thats what you truly want to do. ^___^
June 12, 2009 at 10:10 am
It is extremely hard to teach yourself violin. It is also extremely hard to learn violin (even with a good teacher) if you are an adult.
That being said, I’m sure it would be fun…and I’ve always wanted to try it out myself.
June 15, 2009 at 8:24 am
No matter how much of an aptitude you might have for playing the violin, you would be making a huge mistake by trying to teach yourself without the help of a professional teacher. As Alberich has correctly said, you will pick-up many bad habits and these lapses in technique will almost certainly hold your development back. You cold even cause yourself physical damage by doing things wrongly (playing the violin is hardly the most ‘natural’ thing for your body to do). It would be a little bit like trying to teach yourself how to write a novel without first learning the alphabet and how to construct sentences.
I would urge you very strongly no to do it by yourself but to save up for some proper lessons at the very beginning because, once ‘learnt’, bad habits are very difficult to get out of.
June 18, 2009 at 5:23 am
I would not recommend that you teach yourself how to play.
I was taught the viola (similar instrument to violin) for approx. 6 years.
You can’t just pick it up and play, you need someone to show you how hard you run the string across, how to pluck the string, the differences between sharps, flats, naturals, harmonic etc.
Another bad thing is that, if you somehow taught yourself, who is there to mentor your mistakes and pick up the bad habits you create?
Rosin is a material people use on their bows too, i don’t really know why it’s there but if it isn’t on, the friction between the bow and strings come out horrible and screechy.
If you go to school, ask the instrumental teacher to help you find someone that can give you tuition. It usually doesn’t cost too much
June 18, 2009 at 9:16 pm
NO! you can never teach yourself the violin! the violin is played with sound, we need a real teacher to teach you how to hold it, how to play it, how to love it. it does not require much knowledge. we need hands here! and real ones!
okay, not having much money? dont you have any friends who would recommend one? like for yahoo answers, search for the nearest location to you and who can play the violin and who is willing to teach you…
i pay my teacher a dollar for a session!but i live in asia, so…
Suzuki is the best! and Schirmer’s Library of Musical Classics : Franz Wohlfahrt Op. 45: Sixty Studies For the Violin
that book’s great help!
June 20, 2009 at 9:29 am
Please do not attempt to learn on your own. As my grandmother would say, “You could do yourself a mischief.” This is because even educated violinists have given themselves RSI (repetitive stress injury) from bad technique. Violin is one of the most fiendishly difficult instruments to play and bad technique could lead to your not being able to write, type, or be able to participate in a lot of other everyday activities. As for “I’m sure I can’t afford it” many teachers will barter lessons for things like your running their errands or cataloguing their libraries.
Rosin is used on the hairs of the bow to ensure proper friction in order to produce sound. It’s slightly sticky so that the hairs will grab on to the strings to make them vibrate.
You could go the Suzuki route if you wish but if you really want to learn fast go for the exercise books and just power through them (intellectually, not physically).