I'm in need of quite a lot of help and am hoping that somebody out there will be kind enough to give it to me!

I'm 21 years old with no musical background whatsoever (other than the recorder during primary school)! I would like a new adventure and hobby and want to learn an instrument! The question is, which one?!? I've always liked the idea of the violion, but I've heard it's quite hard to learn for people who aren't children. I've also considered flute or clarinet? My final question is, if I was to take up piano would a keyboard be suitable to practise on?

All of these instruments appeal to me but I'm just thinking what would be the best route to take as a complete beginner until i've got to grips with music a little more than I already don't know!

Please help, it would be appreciated massively!

Hello Confusedandlost, and welcome to the Forums, also welcome to the world of music-making.


If violin is the instrument you want to play, go for it. 21 is not so very old, you know. I started the violin at the age of 38, so you've got a LOT of years headstart on me!

Every instrument has its tricky issues in learning. But if you want to go for it, then a bit of perserverance gets you through those.


Best of luck in your musical journey

Yes, choose the instrument you really want to play.
Don't choose by supposed difficulties. All instruments have their challenges and until you you don't know, you may well have a particular aptitude for the violin.

I second that...I teach violin to a couple of adult learners and they love it. You have to pick the instrument that you want to play, that is the most important. Have fun!!

I'm took up the violin at twice your age and the only thing that holds me back is believing those people who told me I was too old and it was too hard. I'm getting over that now and loving it.

Follow your dream.

This website has a nice summary of the main pros and cons of different instruments:

paythepiper.co.uk

PS They're all hard! Go for the one that speaks to your soul.

Hello and welcome Listen to some recordings of each instrument but the best advice I can give is go with what your heart is telling you and on your journey, play from the heart and you won't go far wrong (especially if you can find a fantastic teacher).

You're never too old to learn an instrument, age is just a number, it's never a limiting factor.

It is also possible to learn 2 instruments at once - I couldn't decide between flute and violin so I'm learning both - double the work, but double the fun (and double the expense but hey ho I'm only here once)

Do keep us updated on your progress and good luck.

I've had a look at this and whilst the general information about advantages/disadvantages of instruments is reasonably okay, you need to take anything more detailed with a pinch of salt as some of the information is incorrect.

Lostandconfused: Think carefully about which instrument you like the sound of best and also what you want to do with your playing. If you are interested in playing with other people then your opportunities for this are likely to be more limmited on flute. An orchestra typically needs around 40 violins compared to 2-4 flutes, and the instruments are now equally popular which means that orchestral flute places are extremely competetive. There is also more chamber music for violin if you are interested in playing in a small group. It is worth having a look at the opportunities in your area - some places do for example have a flute choir which would often take more players.

It might be worth finding a teacher before you actually buy an instrument. You don't want to buy a particular instrument and then find that none of the teachers in your area have any free spaces. Whatever instrument you chose to play it is very important to have a teacher.

I've just realised noone has answered your final question. No, a keyboard is not enough to practice on past the first few months. You need an acoustic piano or digital if you fancy learning that.

Good luck in your decision!

YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD TO START LEARNING THE VIOLIN, IT IS ALL A MYTH THAT YOU CANNOT LEARN IT WELL IF YOU ARE AN ADULT


GET IT????



I started age 37, now at 41 am probably approximately at grade 7 if that means anything to you and I have never played an instrument in my life, just like you, the recorder for maybe 2 months age 6 years old at school and maybe only blew in it without making any sense!!

The violin gives you entry to many sorts of music, but not quite all. There are more than twice as many of them in an orchestra as of any other instrument; they also play in many sorts of string and mixed chamber music. There are, of course, both large and small groups that have only wind instruments, but the violin has by far the largest number of high quality compositions.

I was nearly twice your age too when I started violin. I started with an inexpensive beginners instrument and a few lessons.

I've now switched to viola and play in the local orchestra and am having loads of fun with it. I took some time off to finish my degree (in a different subject), I've spent half my playing time without a teacher at all and I certainly don't practice religiously

But I'm making slow and steady progress and play duets with a friend and really enjoy the orchestra! I've made lots of new friends and it's a great hobby (I won't be giving up my day-job).

Where do you live ? i.e. in what sort of place ? What are your neighbours like ? What about your 'partner'/flatmate ? And what are your working (student?) hours ?

I only say this because although, in theory, I agree that you should choose the instrument close to your heart, if you live in flat or terraced place with thin walls and/or can only practise quite late at night and have 'difficult' people around, you're going to find it very difficult to successfully learn an acoustic instrument, especailly the violin. A digital piano would be a lot better (and a keyboard, although not ideal, can suffice for quite a reasonable time if you absolutely have to).

However, if it's not the case, I think there's a lot to be said for a 'portable' insrtument and, if you're really pretty neutral, I'd put in a good word for the clarinet - quite easy to get going on (did you enjoy the recorder ? don;t take up clarinet if you hated recorder, it's not a million miles off), far easier to get a nice tone with than a violin, very versatile for jazz and classical, nice small carrying case - a very good choice (unless you've got major problems with your teeth/talk with a lisp etc. - which doesn;t make it impossible, just a lot harder).

Good luck !

There is a lot of nonsense talked about talent, prodigies, the need to start young, and worse a lot of it is believed by performers, teachers, critics ...

The truth is that at 21 you are still young, and assuming you don't have some physical or mental handicap or dysfunction then you still have PLENTY of time to become outstandingly good at just about any new activity that you choose to take up.

The most that can be said is that you are not likely to become a classical soloist performing at venues like Carnegie Hall, the Albert Hall, and the Concertegebouw, and you are never likely to be as good as someone that at your age has been studying violin for 15 years or more, and continues to work at it just as hard.

As for piano (a far more sensible choice I mjust say ... from my very biassed position ) it is much easier for a beginner in the early stages (the notes are all there just waiting to be played) but you do not have to go so very far in your studies before its unique difficulties become apparent.

If you want to play the PIANO then a keyboard is completely inadequate ... you need a traditional acoustic piano (ideally a grand) or a good electronic piano, or both.

But if you have no ambitions of becoming a pianist then a keyboard is a useful aid to studying harmony and other aspects of musical theory [EDIT: And a lot of fun to play about with].

to the forums.

Would agree with all the above people who suggested you take up the instrument you want to, regardless of perceived difficulty and suchlike. Whether it be violin, piano, clarinet, whatever. You'll always have the 'what if' in the back of your mind otherwise.

Re. the 'pay the piper' website : I've just spent 15 minutes or so pulling apart the clarinet section...

Some excellent advice already here. for example...



Excellent advice from sbhoa. Listen to your heart, they are all a challenge, they just have different difficulties at different stages. If your heart is in it then you will relish the challenges.



And this also is most excellent advice. The violin (and viola) offer far more opportunity to play with other people, the piano can be a very solitary instrument, and places for wind instruments in groups is very competitive.



Yes, reiterating the above, and also considering the repertoire of the instrument. What music do you like? What do you listen to the most?

For me violin was my choice (again at over twice your age) as my heart said this. I wanted more than anything to play chamber music, and I now play regular in a (amateur) quartet, and local community orchestra. There are also lots of ad hoc events for string players, such as string orchestra days, and chamber music days you can get involved in, if this is what you want to do. Later I got a piano, and have actually done my grade one, but this has completely fallen by the wayside as it just does not inspire me in the same way.

Good luck in your choice and musical journey, and do keep posting here, there is so much support

Hehe...ditto the violin section....whoever said it was a cheap option? (Tho I guess music is never a cheap hobby) and I love the quote "The viola is simply a large violin" I'm sure there are plenty of folks on here would argue that point!

I know I am just re-iterating what everybody else has said, but definitely definitely simply choose the instrument you like the sound of. They all have difficulties, some might seem easy to start but get more difficult later on, while others are harder to start.
For example, you can make a noise on a recorder straight away, so long as you put the right end in your mouth; but there are people on this forum who will tell you that it took them many lessons to even get a sound out of a flute. Is the flute 'harder'? Depends on what you are trying to do - if you want a big dynamic range (loud louds and quiet quiets), flute will ultimately do that more easily than a recorder (not saying it's easy on flute; just less hard!)

The other thing that you may want to consider is the type of music that most appeals to you. If you are an absolute baroque nut and that's the music you really really want to play, then as much as you might love the sound of the saxophone, it isn't necessarily the best instrument to go for. Similarly, you don't find all that many jazz harpsichordists around

Considering the implications of teeth being involved and having one reed which will last several months......

I would say that piano is the easiest instrument to learn up to a certain point, but after a while the difficulty of the repertoire compensates, probably evening out by grade 8 or so. When I was 7 years old with no musical training I could spend ages making pleasing sounds out of my toy keyboard (playing well-known melodies from ear, etc.) - I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to do the same if I had been given a small violin to play with! An acoustic piano or very good digital does add subtlety, but it's still more or less about pushing buttons, and regardless of what you do you won't make scratchy, squeaky, or out-of-tune noises like beginner and sometimes even advanced students of string or wind instruments do Of course, the important drawback is that space and money is required for a decent electronic instrument, let alone an acoustic one!

Of the instruments listed by the Original Poster, piano and violin would be best if noise is an issue. Violins can be muted, and whilst it isn't a good idea to do this for every practice session, I have found it to be a good way of increasing practice time (I live in a flat with people above me and so need to be careful).

In terms of whether a keyboard is appropriate to start with, it depends on what the OP is calling a 'keyboard'. A stage piano (which is what I have) is okay to start with. It has full-size weighted keys and a decent piano sound. The only difference from a digital piano is that it sits on a keyboard stand or on a table rather than having piano-like casing. This is different to a keyboard, which has lots of different sounds and electronic effects available but doesn't play like a digital piano. It is essential to have full-sized, fully weighted keys and even if space is tight you need to make sure that the instrument has an absolute minimum of 5 octaves (preferably at least 6).

*tears hair out while quietly gnashing teeth in a corner..*

How did I miss that?! *joins lottie in her corner*

OK so you've got listed as possibles:

Piano
Violin
Flute
Clarinet

I think the majority has already been said, you must like the instrument enough in the first place to want to play it. I've got some sort of experience with all of the above instruments except for violin (I have had some experience with a viola though). I'm not going to talk about "difficulties" because each instrument presents it's OWN difficulties and individuals don't always get on with all instruments in the same way.

Piano is very versitile and you can use it to play lots of different styles of music. You CAN play with others - accompanying other musicians. Piano has such a wonderfully vast repertoire. A decent piano isn't particularly cheap to buy but you will easily find lots of piano teachers locally.

Violin is also very versitile and can be used to play many different styles of music. Lots and lots of opportunities to play with others in both large and small groups. Very vast repertoire. I believe you can get a violin that sounds nice and will last a fair amount of time for about ?500?? Waits for the violin specialists to tell me wrong! Teachers should be easily available but not as easy to find as piano teachers.

Flute is an instrument that many people think of as being "easy" but it infact takes alot of mastering to get a beautiful tone. Flute has a very vast repertoire spanning from Baroque to 20th/1st century music. There are lots of opportunities to play with others but there is little opportunity to play in a traditional orchestra. You can get a decent student flute (Yamaha 211 or Trevor James TJ10X for example) from ?200 refurbished or from about ?350 new, so it is quite cheap to get started with a nice instrument. Teachers are easily found.

Clarinet is again an instrument many people think of as being "easy" and similarly to the flute it is probably not as easy and first thought if you want to get a really nice sound from it. The clarinet has many works written for it spanning from the Classical era right up to present day. It has more of a jazz presence than the other instruments (except piano) if this is important to you. Playing opportunities are the same as flute. You can get a decet student clarinet (Buffet B12 / Yamaha 250) from about ?175 refurbished or about ?350 new, very simular prices to student flutes. Upgrade & professional level clarinets are generally a little cheaper than flutes are. Teachers are easily found.

Hello Lost and Confused,

I'm wondering what kind of keyboard you have too. I actually think you can get a fair way with a keyboard- provided your teacher knows that you only have a keyboard. You can even get keyboard lessons instead of piano lessons. Certainly don't go out and buy a digital piano before you have a go at it anyway.

It is not too late to learn to play keyboard/piano. I have beginners of all ages. Age only makes a difference if you are someone who has begun to develop arthritis or where there is a great amount of stiffness in the hands. Certainly not the case at 21.

A plus point for the keyboard is that you can have so much fun on your own! It always sounds like a lot of music going on. You can sing as well, and accompany yourself. I always found practising the trumpet a little more arduous than the piano, and only really enjoyed it when I was at orchestra. So for me, that would be my advice. I'm not biased - honestly!

Definitely listen to some instruments. Go to a music shop and examine a few - you can tell them that you are trying to decide what instrument to learn - they won't snatch them off you if you admit to being a novice.

Just one last thing. When you are doing your Grade 8, in a few years time, and giving others advice, that Forum name is going to look very strange.

I have to agree. You're NEVER too old to learn an instrument. I'm 35 and have just started learning to play the flute. I'm really enjoying myself, especially as I've recently switched to a really good teacher.

I also have no musical background apart from a year's worth of piano lessons at the age of 10.

Good luck!

The orchestral strings are sometimes called "the violin family" and Louis XIV had his "Vingt-quatre Violons du Roy", which were of five different sizes; the largest was a 'cello of about the same size as modern ones but tuned a tone lower..

Just to add my twopennorth of encouragement; I started violin at forty something and a half and have just passed grade 8. It's not easy, but more satisfying for being a massive challenge, and although I have played other instruments before this is the most pleasing. I'd also say that piano is really useful and fun if you are keen enough to take on two projects at once .

The viola is not just a large violin (!) I do play both to some extent and they are more different than for example, a descant and treble recorder. It is very lovely to play, and you have a possible advantage in that they are sometimes more in demand for local groups than violins.

Good luck in your endeavours!

I started Guitar at 16. Took around 12 Violin lessons at the age of 30. I played for 14 months before injury (as in musicians injury) forced me to quit. At the ripe old age of 50 I'm back on the Violin but using a different technique. I'm convinced I have an aptitude for Violin but I'm hopeless on Guitar. After all these years of playing I doubt that I'm grade 4. I'm convinced I can reach Grade 8 on the Violin within 3 years or less - and that's me virtually starting from scratch again. The point I'm making is that you never know your instrument until you actually try it. You have to start somewhere, may as well be the one that you like the sound of.
In terms of Classical music, 21 is considered too old to become a concert soloist. Having said that it is quite possible for you to attain Performance Diploma well before you are thirty. On Violin (and at grade 8) you are starting to play Bach solo works. That's some pretty serious music. Just make your pieces sound 'musical' and I guarantee that it will make up for your comparatively late start. At the end of the day the folk that listen to your playing aren't really interested in the 'level' of your playing. They are much more interested in beautiful sounds.
Go for it. You have nothing to lose save some money - and I wouldn't put too much faith in that stuff securing you happiness.

Wow, so many words of encouragement and helpful advice! I will definitely be going for either the violin or flute as I have always wanted to do (along with many other instruments) and was always extremely jealous of school friends who took lessons! Now it's just finding the right one that I'll be able to afford on a student budget!

For the next year or so it will just be a 'hobby' and a spare time thing with a lesson maybe once a fortnight as a 'stress relief' until I finish my final year of uni, then I intend to take it more seriously and hopefully get somewhere with it!

Thank you to everyone for your help and I now know my age is nothing compared to some of the other adult learners who have replied

I'm surprised no-one else has chimed in with this, but I would also put in a word for the recorder. It is very difficult to play well (and that's why you rarely hear it being played well, because so few do), but it can be beautiful. It comes in many sizes, down to truly gigantic, and there is a whole recorder world out there of people and groups who would welcome you with open arms. In terms of what music you can play on it - it's very versatile, and there is lots of music available from medieval to written-last-week. My wife and I were keen saxophone players until we discovered the recorder, but now the sax is a sideline for us - we spend most of our time playing with all sorts of recorder groups.

True. I used to play duets with a Soprano/Alto Recorder player. Great instrument when played well. Unfortunately many people just view it as a child's toy. When you listen to players as good as Petri or Bruggen you realise it's as difficult as any other instrument.

As you are a student I'm not so sure to advise to start piano right now, as the instrument is rather large and you need some space for it. Unless you can practise at your university?

Flute or violin sound ideal

By all means go for flute or violin if they're your favorites, but I personally think being a student is great for a pianist - I've definitely played on at least 10 pianos of varying but decent quality at university between the various practice rooms/classrooms/other random places. When else are you going to get access to that many pianos for free? I actually think that's part of the reason I did better on DipABRSM the second time around

Hi there
First of all welcome to the forum! I just want to say go for whatever instrument you feel the most desire to play! Like you I had no musical background whatsoever and I started to learn to play the violin at 44 years of age and a year on I passed my grade 1 and I am now working towards my Grade 2 and just love it!!!
If you end up trying an instrument and realise it's not for you - move on to the next one that takes your interest but make sure you give it a worthwhile try! Age is no boundary to learning and you have enthusiasm and youth on your side. Be happy and enjoy!

I've been playing the violin for only a year and I'm 40. I'm loving every moment of it. You can start any instrument at any age! Invest in a good teacher from the start so you don't have to un-learn bad habits or poor technique when you progress. Go for it!