Hey all,

I've always wanted to play the violin but I was wondering whether it's necessary to have lessons. I'm pretty good in piano already and I have a violin but is it possible to self-teach myself?

I do know a little about violin from my piano theory but what else is there to know? And is it possible to learn any of this by myself?

I'm a self taught vionist, but what i did, its always best to get a private tuition for half a year or so.
After that you should be fine practicing yourself.
This is because piano is very different to the violin, as you get better, you learn various techniques such as vibrato, pizzicato, and shifting.
If you are planning to self teach yourself, then try to ask your teacher about the various techniques you have to learn, ask your teacher how to do it, and so you have an idea after your half a year course, what sort of techniques you have to learn in order to play a certain piece.

Hope this helps,
InfinityEX

ps: Pizzicato and Shifting is the most important techniques you have to learn while playing the violin. Pizzicato is plain easy, but its good to know where you finger should pluck (which is on the finger board) :lol:

If you buy the etude books, you can probably teach yourself.

There's a lot more skills than that Infinity. ;)

I'm working on double stops in and out of lessons right now. It's hard to make two notes sound right every time.

If you buy the etude books, you can probably teach yourself.

There's a lot more skills than that Infinity. ;)

I'm working on double stops in and out of lessons right now. It's hard to make two notes sound right every time.

I was just explaining the common ones.


as you get better, you learn various techniques such as vibrato, pizzicato, and shifting.

If you have to ask, you probably need lessons.

Violin is _hard_.

From my observations, the fraction of students who get good at violin is drastically lower than piano. And even more so at the level of mastery. The only parallel between piano and violin is music theory as with any other instrument. Other than that, they are completely different. Unless you're a prodigy you pretty much need a teacher, at least for a while, if you intend to go far.

The opposite is not true. You _can_ self-learn piano to high levels. So that might be something you want to consider.

I recommend a teacher. When playing the piano u dont have to worry about tuning. On the violin if you move your finger half an inch the note is going to be out of tune, and then there is the fact about having to tune the strings correctly. Im not saying its impossible to teach yourself its just easier to learn from someone else.

I tried teaching myself for awhile but I didn't get very far until I got a teacher - I also play piano...it didn't help :). Also it is important to have someone to play with you so you learn to hear the right notes on the violin. so yeah I would definatly get a teacher.

I recommend a teacher. When playing the piano u dont have to worry about tuning. On the violin if you move your finger half an inch the note is going to be out of tune, and then there is the fact about having to tune the strings correctly. Im not saying its impossible to teach yourself its just easier to learn from someone else.

most agreed. I have studied violin with a teacher for about 11 years. If you get used to playing the wrong notes, it's extremely difficult to change it. Since a teacher shold be more skilled than you, they can give you advice on a lot of things that you can't learn from a book like musicianship,different styles, etc... You also improve a lot faster with a teacher. Also, If you ever need to upgrade your instrument, (getting new strings, violinns, bows, rosin...) a good teacher is more likely to know where to get the best stuff for you usually at a better price.A private teacher also might have books that you can borrow instead of buying. :lol: I have self taught myself on bass and other instruments and it is a lot harder than with a private teacher. As a suggestion... if you live near a college, some graduate students are willing to teach for pretty cheap.