I'm not sure what I should do. Whenever I practice and I play something hard, keeping trying, but still can't get it, I just get depressed and feel like a failure of a violinist. I started playing later than most kids, when I was 12 (I'm 17 now). It sucks to be sitting next to some prodigy kid who is better or sit next to another teenager who is amazingly good. I STILL can't spicatto or do fast string crossings properly and I've been playing for five years.

When I can't play something that I have for orchestra after trying for days, I just get so mad and sad and stop practicing. If I can't work through major difficulties on my instrument, should I even bother playing anymore? Or maybe I never had the ability to play music... I love violin, but...I don't know what to do.

Do you enjoy music? Do you love playing every time?

Don't play if you don't truly love it. But if you do, continue. Music should come to you no matter how good you play. Yeah it takes work. But you'll truly feel happy after you accomplish something.

You have a teacher, correct? I would ask him/her to help you with this. I have the same kind of situation. I have been playing the piano since I was 13 (and I, too, am 17 now) and have progressed very quickly. I am currently working on becoming the best pianist and artist I can be, and trying to build connections to (ultimately) have a career as a concert pianist.

Although, it isn't all 100% uphill. It isn't even always 30%. You have to keep in mind that you cannot always improve, and you can't always improve when you want to. We're all going to have times when we have plateaus. I have been going through one the past couple of months, and it's really hard to get technical things down and I'm always seeming to push my technique to my absolute limit--and it's very stressful, both physically (hey, it's to my limit!) and emotionally, because I'm not comfortable at all. The worst thing you can do, though, is to envy and compare yourself to others. I have tried to stop doing that, and I slip every once-in-a-while, but it isn't healthy to do so. Focus on yourself, and always ask for help when you need it. You've already accomplished step one by coming here.

I really would like to help you more, but I need to know some more things (teacher, music you love, etc.). I hope I WILL be able to help, musician to musician.

Mazeppa

I'm not sure what I should do. Whenever I practice and I play something hard, keeping trying, but still can't get it, I just get depressed and feel like a failure of a violinist. I started playing later than most kids, when I was 12 (I'm 17 now). It sucks to be sitting next to some prodigy kid who is better or sit next to another teenager who is amazingly good. I STILL can't spicatto or do fast string crossings properly and I've been playing for five years.

When I can't play something that I have for orchestra after trying for days, I just get so mad and sad and stop practicing. If I can't work through major difficulties on my instrument, should I even bother playing anymore? Or maybe I never had the ability to play music... I love violin, but...I don't know what to do.

You're in the exact same position as me (age and everything). My advice is just go with the flow, I'll improve in time if I continue to play and enjoy both easy and a bit more complicated music everyday.

If you want to enjoy playing the violin, you must play something you enjoy listening to, so sometimes you gotta transcribe. That's where I come in, I apparently helped many violinists continue playing the violin, simply just by playing the music they love. If you want to play anything in particular, hit me up ;)

ps: Don't keep playing that music, I know I'd go insane if i tried - keep your sheets to a variety and go back and try it again after 1 week for example.~

I love violin, but...I don't know what to do.

That's all you need to keep playing. Do you have a teacher? Having a teacher may help or improve your rate of improvement but not always nessecary. Don't get depressed if u have played for 5 years and still can't do spiccato or fast string crossings. Some people are naturally good at it while it feels really uncomfortable to others (like my friend) Don't worry about those child prodigies. Ive come to learn that there's always somebody better. If you have any technical difficulties, just post them up on this thread or create a new thread and i can try to help you. The most important part is that you love the violin and that's all the more reason to keep playing.

What you should do is make sure you practice RIGHT before you go to bed, even in bed if you have to. Something to do with this (pshycologically) helps things sink in and helps improve a lot. I do it all the time with the piano. If I can't play a song or something one night, the next morning I can play it heaps better.
Also, if you don't have a teacher, you will need one. If you do, ask them what you're doing wrong or what they recommend you to do to help you improve (other than practice).
And if you really love the violin, why are you considering quitting? If you truely don't like it, don't force yourself to continue... Otherwise, it's pretty obvious you should give things another shot.

You can do it. You can play FUN pieces. Then you start playing harder. You have a teacher. Use him/her.
And try to listen to Youtube videos of the song. Who cares about prodigies? It's just you. I play violin b/c i think its awesome (piano and violin are my choices). You shouldn't quit b/c you cant play a song. You quit because you dont like playing with that instrument or thing. KEEP PLAYING. There is no such thing as no musical talent. You have musical talent if you listen to music.
As i said before, KEEP PLAYING. Play cool and talk to your friends and tcher. XD

You should quit. Music is not your thing.

You should quit. Music is not your thing.

Don't listen. He/she obviously doesn't realize that most musicians go through this at some point and feel that they're not getting any better. If you love the instrument keep playing...that's all there is to it. Here's a question though: How are you practicing? Usually if you take the part that you find hard at an obnoxiously slow pace and learn it, you can take it up to tempo and play it. I found this was my problem when I wasn't learning quickly. I'd just struggle through the hard parts at full tempo...it didn't work so well :heh:. I think you should keep playing your violin. After all if you quit you'll never know how great you'll become^^

I went through that stage during my days with learning the piano. Heck, I go through that phase with anything that requires a little practice.

I'm a violinist too. I've started much later than you...i've only started at the end of last year when i'm 16. but i'm glad that i did...think of why you even started to learn/play the violin

sounds just like me. i started later than you tho. 15 or 16 i think. violin's beautiful. dont quit! you've just make your point. you love music! DONT QUIT. you might regret if you quit. it all depends on you. people around you gives you advice but you still have to make your own decision. i know it's really hard and you'll get stressed out. im still stressing out here pal!

If you like playing violin, you shouldn't quit. Just like some people here I also started later than you. I'm 16 years now and I've been playing the violin half a year. I'm progressing fast but there are things where I'm stuck at and hard to do. It takes time to learn some techniques. And you know what, I'm taking violin lessons together with a 32 year old guy who played the violin for only a year. And also, I've also performed together with little kids, so I know how you feel but don't quit playing if you truly like violin.

I'll tell the opposite side...

Quit if your going to be in public with little kids who are better than you (I get hugely bashed and flamed by teachers and friends alike when a kid plays better than me), but if your not around them and solo, then no comparison!

guys, lets let the old thread die eh?

I say you just have to have paitience for this kind of things. Maybe a break in between practices can help.

...or not.