Aspiring To Play Violin

Omnipharious · #1 10-13-2010, 10:25 PM

For anyone who plays violin, viola, cello, or anything as such: is it an instrument that be self-taught? I've been playing bass for about 10 months, guitar for about 2 months, and I'm learning to play keyboard a bit; I've never had any real lesson of any kind, and everyone says I just have great musicality, and an affinity for music.

I was wondering if violin could maybe work the same for me, because I saw a great deal (http://band-orchestra.musiciansfrien...fit?sku=470000), and it's an instrument I've always wanted to learn to play. It seems more like a classical instrument that you have to be taught.

Nappa · #2 10-13-2010, 10:27 PM

Rondo.com has some violins.

Simo98 · #3 10-14-2010, 12:48 AM

I'll be doing it soon when I have money to spend on instruments again. I have some pedals on my list first though, as i'll be getting a cheap ebay electric violin to learn with.

That way its not painfully annoying when learning as they are pretty much silent unplugged, and also, a violin through a Fuzzface has got to be pretty awesome

Omnipharious · #4 10-14-2010, 03:35 AM

Okay thanks for the off-topic comments, guys. I was more wondering how hard it is to learn to play violin, or if it can be self-taught, but this literally being the "off topic" section, I guess I can't complain.

Qvist · #5 10-14-2010, 03:46 AM

I used to play violin when I was 6-8 years old, but gave up on it. Began playing bass when I was 16, now I'm 19 and want to return to violin again! (Still play bass of course). I think it will be a bit difficult, since I've heard that violins tunes after 4th's? I'm not too good on theory. I thought it might be possible to tune it after 5ths like on the bass and guitar. (Correct me if I'm wrong). Sorry I couldn't be of more help, I'm as curious as you Omnipharious =P

Simo98 · #6 10-14-2010, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omnipharious

Okay thanks for the off-topic comments, guys. I was more wondering how hard it is to learn to play violin, or if it can be self-taught, but this literally being the "off topic" section, I guess I can't complain.

My comment was hardly off topic, I am in pretty much exactly the same situation as you having played bass and guitar for some time, meddled with keys, and now planning to get a Violin.

I meant to say that I plan on self teaching myself, however was at work and got sidetracked by something (or rather, back on track).

I also mentioned my plan to get an electric violin to learn with as it would be more convenient, and thought the suggestion may help you in deciding to go about it.

but oh well.

Hoover · #7 10-14-2010, 04:58 AM

Many many years ago I took a one semester college course in Beginning Violin. I figured I'd be a natural: I was an educated musician (this was during my senior year at undergrad while earning my Bachelors Of Music degree), I'd been playing bass for7 years at the time (including one year of orchestral DB), guitar for 9 years, drums for somewhere between 9 & 15 years, I'd played flute in concert band for 4 or 5 years, I could read bass & treble clef, knew a ton of theory blah blah blah...

Didn't help: I sucked at violin! That is one hard instrument to play adequately, much less play well. In order to successfully teach yourself violin you'll not only have to be extremely dedicated and persistant, you'll also have to have a very high tolerance for pain: You think a beginning bassist is hard to listen to? Beginning violinists are excruciating to listen to! Your neighbors will hate you.

At the very least I'd strongly advocate taking a lesson or two just to get some tips on bowing technique.

Omnipharious · #8 10-14-2010, 12:10 PM

Thanks, guys.

I'll consider that, Hoover.

OldHack · #9 10-14-2010, 12:26 PM

I'm a classically trained violinist. Had an invite to audition for the local philharmonic orchestra but was gigging full time by then. Toured Europe with the Youth Orchestra. It's not a trivial undertaking by any means unless you are thinking more "fiddling" type playing. But if you want to play Beethoven Concertos and Bach Partitas and such, you have a long haul ahead of you. If you're serious about learning how to play properly, you'll definitely need an excellent teacher as proper technique is absolutely critical. You'll also have to have a fair bit of dedication as it's a long learning curve. It's one of the most difficult instruments to play well. You could check into local Suzuki method classes for a quicker start. Good luck with it, though!

Stick_Player · #10 10-14-2010, 12:32 PM

Quote:

For anyone who plays violin, viola, cello, or anything as such: is it an instrument that be self-taught?

No.

Way, way, way too much of playing violin depends on bow control.

After observing the development of my 10 year-old son playing violin - he started when he was 4 1/2 - and comparing that to his playing the electric bass (he started at age 7), there is NO comparison to the 'ease' of getting started 'properly' on the violin v. other instruments.

I am NOT suggesting that the electric bass, overtime, is less difficult to master than the violin. But getting started, there is no comparison. The technique of playing the violin is FAR more critical in the beginning.

This would apply to the rest of the string family.

It's ALL about the bow.

If one starts at an early age on the violin, everything else comes much easier.

If you just want to play "fiddle", you can probably learn and scratch through a few tunes in a few months. But your tone will suffer and you will become discouraged.

The ability to create a sound from the musician's hands seems to elude most people who think just having the 'right' gear will make it happen - there are an overwhelming amount of posts on this forum that support this observation.

Omnipharious · #11 10-14-2010, 01:01 PM

That's pretty much what I figured. Thanks for your input. It's a good deal for $100, and my brother wants to learn to play, so I'll most likely get it, and if I do get too frustrated with it, and still sound like a dying cat after a month or two, I'll just give it to him, as he did for me with his guitar.

MonetBass · #12 10-14-2010, 01:18 PM

You should have posted this on the DB side. You would've gotten a much quicker "GET A TEACHER!" response.

Seriously, as Stick_Player said, learning any of the string family of instruments is about bowing and bow control. That and learning where the notes are on the fingerboard necessitates a proper instructor.

jollygiantchris · #13 06-03-2011, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stick_Player

The ability to create a sound from the musician's hands seems to elude most people who think just having the 'right' gear will make it happen - there are an overwhelming amount of posts on this forum that support this observation.

^^^^
Great quote.

Lessons will always be a better choice then self teaching on certain instruments. Particularly at the beginning to learn basic technique. Just look at someone playing the violin you can tell technique is extremely important particularly with note articulation on a fretless instrument no less. Add bowing and you're talking about a radically different right and left hand technique then what you are used to.

Learning more instruments and self teaching are great things and that level of dedication is great. But you will see bigger gains by taking lessons. In addition I can imagine that poor technique on violin can cause injury (just like it can on almost every instrument).

avvie · #14 06-03-2011, 11:02 AM

I understand that playing the violin requires a bout of encephalitis.