40 year old lady learning the violin Options

[katemorrisviolin]

Hello forum, I'm new here and would enjoy hearing from other likeminded adult learners. I've recently changed instrument from classical guitar to violin. I've had a year of violin lessons and am taking grade 3 this term. It's a beast of an instrument, the difference between making a beautiful sound and a noise that makes my thirteen year old son bound up the stairs to shut the door on my practice room, is the tiniest of adjustments. I'm not sure where my playing will lead me, I'm not confident and consistent enough to play with others yet, but I just feel compelled to push on with it.....it is a long term project. How I envy my children, who belong to school orchestras and wind bands and choirs. How I regret not doing the same in my youth. I play a violin that belonged to my grandfather who was a boat builder, and used to play the saw! He was a lovely proud Irishman. He probably called it a fiddle.
Anyone else out there wrestling with the same most difficult of instruments?
Kate
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[Sunrise]

Kate, Welcome! There are plenty of us!! Come across to Viva strings it's where we all hang out, amognst other places...and of course here in Adult learners, look for the practice thread...I have been playing for 32 of my 40 years....with about a 6 year break, and am now taking lessons again to get to the next level.

[janexxx]

Hi Kate - I was older than you when I started, and with no previous musical instrument background. It's the best thing I ever did, and like you, my regret was that I did not start sooner.

I am still having lessons, making slow progress, but progress nonetheless, and play in our local amateur orchestra and chamber music with a group of friends.

Glad to see another adult string learner joining the fold.

[BadStrad]

Hi Kate,

I took am a late starter violinist. Sounds like you are making speedy progress G3 in a year, though I suspect a second instrument is easier as you've already grappled with the sight reading, keeping time etc aspects - still a work in progress here. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) I'm not good enough to join an orchestra or anything yet - but I'm enjoying myself (mostly) and that's great!

Welcome to the forums. I know youll find lots of support and advice here - everyone's friendly.

Cheers.

[katemorrisviolin]

How lovely to hear from people already, thanks for your replies. I feel like a bit of an oddball starting so late with this instrument, but clearly I am not the only one! It is quite frustrating to listen to myself often sounding really clunky and scratchy, when I know I can do a good job on another instrument. I'm not sure where it will lead me. The original intention was to choose an instrument that would enable me to play with others, that is my ultimate goal; to make music with others. There aren't any performing guitar ensembles on Guernsey where I live, and I haven't the time or drive and enthusiasm needed to start one up. It was a big wrench changing instruments but I do enjoy it now it sounds almost tuneful. I have a lovely teacher who is a newly retired secondary school teacher, a very fine viola player actually. I am his only pupil. He's given up planning my lessons because I always turn up with my own agenda of questions and problems!
I would very much like to know what music or books other adult learners use. I'm ploughing through Eta Cohen and the abrsm grade repertoire but need more material to keep things interesting around the grade 3-4 level. I don't know where to start. There are hundreds of pages of music in musicroom.com for violin so where to start!!!

[Sunrise]

Yay, another offshore person! I'm in Gibraltar!!

[Blackbird77]

Hello and a massive welcome to the forums (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I'm a late starter on the flute and violin. I find the violin such a frustrating instrument. One day it can have me floating on air, the next it can have me crying my eyes out but the journey is always interesting (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I think it's wonderful your violin is a family heirloom - that must be so special. I can recommend a book called the Classical Experience. The pieces are around Grade 3-4 and are really nice to play.

Good luck for your Grade 3 exam and your violin journey.

[michael N]

40? Plenty of time! You've 10 years (at least) on me.
I too have pretty much given up Classical Guitar. I found it difficult although I still play a wee bit of renaissance Guitar - it's like a big Ukulele! I've recently switched to Violin and a little Alto recorder. I honestly think my hand is more suited to the Violin than the Guitar. At least I'm making better progress on the Violin than I ever did on the Guitar.
Just keep going. Grade 3 is decent progress. Just remember what Segovia once said: You don't have to be clever to master the Guitar, you just have to be persistent.
Apply that to any instrument you want.

[maggiemay]

No, you are definitely not an oddball, Kate. I 'm not a strings player / teacher, but quite a few of my students start in their forties, fifties and above.

Welcome!

[Misterioso]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.gif) to the forums, Kate.

I am a string (violin) player and teacher, and start adults off at all ages - one only yesterday in her seventies. That gives you loads of time yet! I hope you continue to enjoy your musical journey - and soon you will feel confident enough to play with others.

[Toscaviolin]

Welcome (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.gif)

I too was 40 when I took up the violin, having never played anything or read music before, stick with it, sometimes you will be rewarded with something that sounds tuneful. The fiddle loves Irish music, I treat myself with some Irish jigs and airs when everything else sounds horrid and it spurs me on again.
I can only echo many of the comments others have made, and to add that it is worth keeping your eye on the forums, I have picked up some great tips, especially regarding equipment, shoulder rests, rosin, cases etc
so Enjoy your lovely family instrument (lucky you) but be prepared to work hard. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/violin.gif)

[lottie]

Hi (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I started violin at 39 and a few years down the line with a year off and no regular lessons for another year I am now playing the viola in an orchestra, having regular lessons and loving it all!!!

I'm in no hurry to achieve anything, just enjoying the journey as they say, although I've taken a few of the elementary ABRSM exams and they were actually great fun and the examiners were lovely!!

Sometimes I just play Scottish fiddle music on my violin, the next I'm playing Telemann on my viola!

Have fun - it's a great instrument with an incredible history (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

[katemorrisviolin]

You are all very encouraging, I feel a surge of enthusiasm. Lottie and toscaviolin, I always finish my practice with some irish or scottish fiddle tunes, they are nice and satisfying for beginners, eh. Michael, I found early stages of learning classical guitar easier than I am now doing with violin so was interested to hear your comment. So much more can go wrong with violin! Blackbird 77, thanks for the tip.
kate (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Clarimoo]

Hello Katemorrisviolin,
how lovely to play a family instrument, I'm sure you will do well.
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[jojo]

Hello Kate,

congratulations on making the most clever decision in your life: taking up the violin! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I'm Jo (jojo) and I started at age 37, now 41 (soon 42yrs young), so have been learning 4 years and 9 months exactly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif)

'not sure' the 'exact' stage I am at RIGHT NOW, perhaps around grade 7-ish as I am preparing with my teacher to take the Trinity Advanced Certificate this time next year and that is a performance exam equivalent to grade 8

I loved the grade 3 syllabus as it made me feel so 'grown up' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) it's when you start shifting (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif) I remember learning all the pieces in the current orange ABRSM grade 3 book, that was back when it was came out in 2008 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
My favorites were: Old Joe Clark (I felt like a show off violinist doing the left hand pizzicato (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)) and of course 'Oh mio babbino caro' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I still play all of the grade 3 pieces occasionally, for some reason the hold a dear place in my heart (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (maybe because of the transition to shifting???)
Are you learning any of these pieces by the way?

By the way: yes the violin is terribly hard, but don't worry....IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) I am joking but I am also being serious, BUT in a way, though it gets harder, it also gets 'easier', now I know it sounds like I am not making much sense here..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

as you get into the more advanced stages you will find that it gets more challenging (as the techniques you are learning are more advanced) and you get more critical of yourself (I am talking about the higher grades where I am at now), but you will also have learnt the skills to 'help yourself' more too, and you will have learnt a lot of the 'foundations'/building blocks so in a way it gets easier too....

hope I am making sense now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I could talk violin forever so I'll stop now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

and more importantly than anything else:

WELCOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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