I recently purchased a violin, i was wondering if someone could help me get started on it.....the only thhing i can play so far is Mary had a little lamb, :cry:

lol dude have you looked at any of the posts here?:lol: i would suggest private lessons with a suzuki teacher. That is how i did it.

I'll try that.......yeah this is the hardest instrument ive ever tryed to learn how to play....

First you need to learn how to hold it and then play if you hold it wrong and get used to that you probably can't reach and/or be uncomfortable if you are serious about it? How old are you, most violinists start out at 3-4 years old.

Oh yes, the violin is actually very easy compared to other instuments, such as the French Horn or Bass. It's clef is very easy to read!^^

^I've heard that the violin, is at some times, hard to keep in tune :\ .

First you need to learn how to hold it and then play if you hold it wrong and get used to that you probably can't reach and/or be uncomfortable if you are serious about it? How old are you, most violinists start out at 3-4 years old.

Oh yes, the violin is actually very easy compared to other instuments, such as the French Horn or Bass. It's clef is very easy to read!^^

personally, i think it is much harder to play compared to like the bass and trombone. Yeah i started violin when i was four or five. It is hard to keep in tune due to it being made of wood. Humidity and temperature take a big role in changing the tone.

The first song I taught myself to play was Taps and then the 'dead theme.' Anyways, find a teacher.

i agree. It is possible to self-teach but you just don't get a lot from it (like bow styles, good fingerings etc...) so just get a teacher lol.

personally, i think it is much harder to play compared to like the bass and trombone. Yeah i started violin when i was five. It is hard to keep in tune due to it being made of wood. Humidity and temperature take a big role in changing the tone.


I know! Once I paid ￥60,000 for repairs in the winter! I hate winter because it really damages you're instrument! And once when I was 10 I was playing a recital and my E string went out of tune on stage! Now that I'm more advanced and play really loud and passionately sometimes my strings pop off when I play and I have to borrow violins from my fellow violinists or have an extra string really. The violin is a very portable instrument unlike the Piano but the Piano only gets tuned 1 time every 5-8 years!(Unless it's a professional pianist that gets it tuned before every performance)

Well i tried to teach myself and all i learned was 2 more songs, Bittersweet Symphony & The intro to Days

Well i tried to teach myself and all i learned was 2 more songs, Bittersweet Symphony & The intro to Days+

.0Can you read notes? That would help a lot. The lines are EGBDF and sapces are FACE.

Yah but i read the tabs to learn these

if you can read notes you don't need to teach yourself! You can already play! Go and buy some sheet music and you can play it! That's what playing the violin is. But if you show true emotion(Vibrato) it would really help because you are more determined.

I know! Once I paid ￥60,000 for repairs in the winter! I hate winter because it really damages you're instrument! And once when I was 10 I was playing a recital and my E string went out of tune on stage! Now that I'm more advanced and play really loud and passionately sometimes my strings pop off when I play and I have to borrow violins from my fellow violinists or have an extra string really. The violin is a very portable instrument unlike the Piano but the Piano only gets tuned 1 time every 5-8 years!(Unless it's a professional pianist that gets it tuned before every performance)

Yeah once my string popped in the middle of a concert and i had to attempt playing like Paginini (only 3 strings) I have seen a violinist let go of his bow in the middle of a performance as well. i always bring a couple of extra strings on stage just in case.

+

.0Can you read notes? That would help a lot. The lines are EGBDF and sapces are FACE.

In a standard treble staff. There's also Bass, Alto, and Tenor staves. We also can't forget that we can move clefs (e.g: G on the third line, a on the third space, etc.)

In a standard treble staff. There's also Bass, Alto, and Tenor staves. We also can't forget that we can move clefs (e.g: G on the third line, a on the third space, etc.)

...The violin rarely changes...That is for piano.

Yeah. and even in piano music it's usually just written in Treble and Bass clef. Alto clef is usually used for violists.

Yeah. and even in piano music it's usually just written in Treble and Bass clef. Alto clef is usually used for violists.

So true. In piano it might change for a little portion of a song (not duet) but Alto is not used that often. I tried playing the viola in 6th grade and I was so used to the violin it seemed sooo heavy.

Anyways... get a private teacher. That's the best method. Learn for a few years and then join an orchestra even if it is not very good. IMPORTANT thing is never give up no matter how hard it seems. Also PRACTICE. No matter how hard or easy it is, practice. When practicing, try to find a room that has nothing to distract you like windows, fish, pets, or television (i know people who watch tv while practicing!) and just concentrate on the music. The first years are the hardest but the rewards are awesome. I almost quit playing 5 years ago but now looking back i am glad i didn't. If I could start over i wish i could have practiced a lot more and better.

Violin is about passion, emotion and music. If you play for the music, the mind, and the soul you will truly be one of the greatest if you play for fame,glory, and selfishness you are nothing but an egotist. Practice,Practice,Practice means everything.

YEah really

I don't play violin (I play cello) but I may be able to help you. ^^

I would suggest getting a private teacher, but its best not to use the suzuki method, since its designed for little kids learning an instrument. I would still buy the books so you have things to perform at a recital though, since it is a LOT cheaper to buy music this way, (each book has about 7 or 8 pieces, but book 10 only has an entire concerto in it) rather than buying originals every time you need music for a performance.

You also want a scale book, because you learn the 'geography' of the fingerboard with scales. Some of them are really high, so it's important to have this so you don't get lost.

i'd post something being a fellow violininst but it's already been said X]...
if something means enough to you, such as violin or whatever, all it takes is the determination to do it and give the time necessary, same in life
just practice, and if you devote enough time and effort you wil be surprised at the results

I don't play violin (I play cello) but I may be able to help you. ^^

I would suggest getting a private teacher, but don't use the suzuki method, since its designed for little kids learning an instrument. I would still buy the books so you have things to perform at a recital though, since it is a LOT cheaper to buy music this way, (each book has about 7 or 8 pieces, but book 10 only has an entire concerto in it) rather than buying originals every time you need music for a performance.

You also want a scale book, because you learn the 'geography' of the fingerboard with scales. Some of them are really high, so it's important to have this so you don't get lost.

i could beg to differ but it is really yyour choice. I know plenty of adults who are starting violin and are using suzuki.

Suzuki is a very good method. The only problem is that it doesn't teach you how to do vibrato or read notes until book 4. Book 1,2, and 3 are easy. But when you get to Book 4 It gets a little bit harder. Book 10 is a very long Mozart Concerto.(When I played that song perfectly for the first tiem without stopping my arm was sore forever!)

Suzuki is a very good method. The only problem is that it doesn't teach you how to do vibrato or read notes until book 4. Book 1,2, and 3 are easy. But when you get to Book 4 It gets a little bit harder. Book 10 is a very long Mozart Concerto.(When I played that song perfectly for the first tiem without stopping my arm was sore forever!)

I kind of knew how to read music when I started Suzuki 8 years ago...My little sister started playing not to long ago, and our teacher helps her read music, kind of...it really just depends on the teacher...

Yeah, it took me 2 years to pass book 4...the last pieces had more shifting than I was used to, plus I was learning vibrato for the first time (took me almost a year to get it down...). But I thought book 5 was pretty easy...only 2 songs I found hard (The Vivaldi Concerto in G minor and the Veracini Gigue). I'm on book 6 now, and it's harder (La Folia gave me really bad hand cramps...all the double stops at the end...took me 3 months to learn)

Corelli's La Folia is one of my favorite peices! it's worth it because it's such good music!!!

i could beg to differ but it is really yyour choice. I know plenty of adults who are starting violin and are using suzuki.

Maybe adults can use suzuki too (i really don't know any people my age or adults that use suzuki) , but I was just saying its not a good idea just because its designed for the kiddies. :lol:

I thought it was designed for beginners but it doesn't matter. Its all personal preference.

Corelli's La Folia is one of my favorite peices! it's worth it because it's such good music!!!

It's a pretty piece, but once you play it over and over again...>_<

Yes, Corelli was a good composer.

It's a pretty piece, but once you play it over and over again...>_<

Yes, Corelli was a good composer.

I also like Vivaldi,Monti,Tartini, and Paganini!

I LOVE Vivaldi! Especially the Four Seasons!

yeah that is a great song.

personally, i think it is much harder to play compared to like the bass and trombone. Yeah i started violin when i was four or five. It is hard to keep in tune due to it being made of wood. Humidity and temperature take a big role in changing the tone.

The trombone was very easy to learn for me... I am looking to play the violin, but I've never played one, and I heard that it's essential to start when you're really young. No school in my area has an orchestra, just symphonic bands, so I feel very deprived of that experience. :cry: Is it a good idea to try and learn to play violin at my age? (I'm 14 going on 15.) If not, then I'll move onto something like baritone or tuba. ^.^

I feel your pain!! I live in a very small town that has no orchestra either so I understand.

I started playing violin when I was 9 or 10. I personally don't think you HAVE to learn when you are 3 or 4 years old .I mean it sure would have been cool to learn that young because I think of how good I could be now but I think you can learn at any age. (My mom is learning to play the violin right now and also my 17 year old friend is learning viola now if that helps any.) If that is the only thing holding you back I would go for it! The first couple of years of a squeaky violin may be frustrating but you just have to practice LOTS and it will be rewarding in the end I promise!

Lightning Gem
BMW

Thanks a lot for restoring my hope lightning gem! :lol:

Now the only things I need to do are, get a violin, (I already have planned teachers,) and then when I'm fairly good, find an orchestra to play in. If I'm special enough, then maybe I could create an orchestra program at the high-school I'm going in to! I already practice tons on my current instrument, so hopefully I'll be ready to handle two...

Strings are so left out where I live. -_-

Thanks a lot for restoring my hope lightning gem! :lol:

Now the only things I need to do are, get a violin, (I already have planned teachers,) and then when I'm fairly good, find an orchestra to play in. If I'm special enough, then maybe I could create an orchestra program at the high-school I'm going in to! I already practice tons on my current instrument, so hopefully I'll be ready to handle two...

Strings are so left out where I live. -_-

Well....Are there any colleges where you live? I would ask the one of the music professors to help or teach you. They are the best teachers.

you will still need to practice hard on both instruments remember that. :heh:

Well....Are there any colleges where you live? I would ask the one of the music professors to help or teach you. They are the best teachers.

I'd have to travel a while to get to any colleges... And my parents wouldn't be too fond of driving me. However, I have a friend who plays violin, and she was willing to teach me. I've also heard of an orchestra program in my area specifically for middle school and high school students whos' schools didn't have orchestras. I'll definitely have to look into that.

After I do look into coleges, how would I go about asking for lessons from a music professor? unless they're offering then it just seems unrealistic to me... :\


you will still need to practice hard on both instruments remember that. :heh:

Oh, don't worry about that! I love the trombone with all my heart, and I don't know if I can go a day without practicing at this point! :lol: In fact, I'm going to do that right now, though, I was deep in The Sound of Music. *sigh*

Thanks a lot for restoring my hope lightning gem! :lol:

Now the only things I need to do are, get a violin, (I already have planned teachers,) and then when I'm fairly good, find an orchestra to play in. If I'm special enough, then maybe I could create an orchestra program at the high-school I'm going in to! I already practice tons on my current instrument, so hopefully I'll be ready to handle two...

Strings are so left out where I live. -_-

Your welcome!

Yeah I have been thinking about someday making a orchestra program where I live because there is none. I think it would be really fun too. (I am only 15 now so that may have to wait awhile though)
I'm sure you will do just fine with two instruments. I play piano and violin.
(although I guess I do have advantages being homeschooled and all) but anyways I'm sure you can handle it. What kind of violin are you looking at getting?

Lightning Gem
BMW