Hey guys, I was looking to see if I could get a little help.

When I was in Elementery school, I played violin. Only for a year, but I loved it. I had to give it up due to lack of money to continue to rent/buy a violin. Now that I am 18 yrs old, I have finally gotten a violin of my very own. Trouble is, I don't know a thing about it. Playing, tuning, maintinance, it's all greek to me. I've played guitar for the past 2 years, and, violin being a stringed instrument, I figured tuning would be somewhat similar. I was wrong. I have an electric tuner, Full Size keyboard and 2 guitars at my disposal to aid in my tuning. Problem is that when went to do my relative tuning on my violin, i failed to realize that the tensel streingth of a violin string in no way compares to that of a guitar string. In less than 6 hours of having a violin in my possesion, I am out one G string.

So I was curious if anyone could pass some advice my way on how to begin playing. exercises, beginning songs, technique, and basically any other free information that would be helpful for a second time beginning violinist. Because not only am I completely void of violin know-how (I have a good ear, but that means nothing when you don't know what it's supposed to sound like in the fisrt place), but because i am also one of the poorest people you could hope to meat.

Any Tips, Excercises, hints on technique, or references would be much appreciated.
Thanks Everybody.

tune according by using a piano.most of the time it is accurate on condition u have a tuner to work on it every year.u might want to tune it at your school.i think most school have a piano in the school hall.

Seriously, if you aren't in a position to get a teacher, I really wouldn't recommend taking up the violin without one. So many things can go wrong with posture, with the risk of RSI, muscle problems etc etc that it just isn't worth the risk. And if nothing goes wrong with your muscles, you would be very likely to pick up bad habits that, once acquired, are very difficult to fix.

However, as you play guitar, there's a solution out there! Find yourself a violin teacher who wants to learn guitar and ask them if they'd like to do a 'skills exchange'. Alternatively, if there's anything else they'd like you to do in exchange for violin lessons, like gardening for example - or painting and decorating...

I dare say if anybody asked me to give them a series of violin lessons in exchange for sorting out my jungle, or my house for that matter - I'd jump at it!

If you just can't find anyone willing to 'play ball', another option is to get a violin tuition video - there are plenty of them out there. At least with one of those you can closely watch the way the teacher is doing things; however, you still have the disadvantage that they're not on hand to point out the subtle things that can go wrong, and it's often the subtlest things that make all the difference.

If you still feel you have no option but to do things completely on your own, my best advice to you is:

Always do relaxation exercises before starting out.

Keep your playing sessions to 10 minutes at first. Stop immediately at the slightest sign of any pain or tension, and analyse where the problem is coming from. Then completely relax that area.

Both your hands should take the exact same position they take when you dangle your arms by your side. Read a post I wrote last week about bowing hand position.

There are lots of good beginner books: Eta Cohen, Mary Cohen, anything by Sheila Nelson, Hugh Colledge.

Keeping feet a comfortable distance apart and not 'locking your knees', aim the button next to the chin-rest at your adam's apple. Then tilt your head slightly so your jaw line makes contact with the chin-rest, but keeping your head free to move around, and without lifting your shoulder. Support the violin near where the neck joins it, with your left hand (you're not going to be using your left hand for a while).

Check my last post for right hand technique.

Establish a totally relaxed but alert bow-hold before even thinking of bowing. You want the bow to feel like an extension of your arm, no more no less. Spend a couple of weeks playing around with the bow-hold till you have achieved this.

It's often best to start by bowing open strings and getting a good relaxed bowing arm and nice tone. Bow each string in turn till you get a nice, even, warm, rich sound out of each. You'll need more arm weight when playing at the point end than the heel end. Play long slow bows, looking for an even tone all the way down the bow.

Make sure you don't 'bow round the corner' as you get to the point of the bow. The movement of your right arm should come from the forearm until you get to the heel and then your elbow moves forward - the idea is to keep the bow parallel to the bridge.

Left arm - keep a straight line from your main little finger knuckle to your left elbow. (Avoid 'pizza wrist' syndrome.)

Play all the open string pieces in your beginner book. Don't attempt any left hand till you can play all sorts of rhythms and bow styles - the left hand is the easy bit! (Eta Cohen introduces left hand first but does spend a lot of time on which parts of the bow to use).

If you can manage all the above without a teacher you're doing well, but I still wouldn't recommend it!!!

Best of luck finding a teacher who can do a 'skills exchange' with you.

Violinia

Yep! I haven't used one but they must be a lot of help compared with not having a teacher at all.



Thats really important. You can't have a proper bow hold without relaxation; your little finger should be relaxed on the end of the bow- bent when your at the heel, but it should straighten out when you get to the tip of the bow. Oh, and your thumb should be bent to allow you to get into the heel!

If it is really your desire to start up the violin, I would suggest that you go for a 3-month long or even up till 6-month long lessons with a good teacher first, of course you need money for that. After that you can practise on your own and have lessons only from time to time, like having lessons once in a month if you can't really afford it. Good playing technique and position is very important for you to progress further, and it is hard to change a bad habit once you get used to it. I just started learning at the age of 17. So, it is not late for you as well! All the best in your violin learning. Tell us how you get on with it.

Try www.violinmasterclass.com. Amazing teaching videos about all sorts of stuff, from basic techniques and how to hold the violin to awesome performances.

I would tend to agree with Violinia and get a teacher if you can. Once you have got a firm grip of the basic techniques, then you can teach yourself pieces by merely applying the techniques which you have learnt. But until then, I would highly recommend obatining the services of a violin teacher, it makes it a lot easier to learn and less frustrating as you'll corrected if you go wrong.

Thanks alot everyone.

Violinia: i found a beginners violoin instructional book that comes with a dvd and an audio cd. As well, A friend gave me another instructional dvd. Thus far things have been going good. I only have the a scale and twinkle twinkle under my belt, but i'm loving it none the less.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all your help. I look forward to learning what i can from you.

I've visited that website too! It's really good! Well, I just took up violin again and I'm 18. I've forgotten most of the stuff I've learnt (I think) so my teacher, who happens to be my brother's colleague is teaching me everything from the beginning from Suzuki Book 1. Haha...