Hi everyone -
Just got my first violin (from Elidatrading - thanks for the recommendation AmandaL and Rosfrog BTW!)
Am going to look for a teacher but in the meantime does anyone have any recommendations for any good tutor books/websites that might be good to teach me some basics?
Thanks!
Full Version: Good Tutor Books For Violin
Congratulations on your purchase! I'm sure you can't wait to get started.
The absolute best thing you could do is organise a lesson as soon as possible - even if it's just to be shown how to hold the instrument, bow and how to place the left hand. Things like this are really important at the very beginning because you can easily slip into bad habits that are hard to undo later. Nonetheless, to get you going I would heartily recommend the simply strings series (three books, I think) which cover up to about grade 5/6 in difficulty yet start with very basic rhythm exercises and some information on how to hold the instrument and bow.
Also, check out www.violinmasterclass.com - there's a section for kids which shows them how to make their first steps with the violin - it may be way too young for you, but at least you'll have a laugh! You can also check out the following link to the University of Vermont's string pedagogy site - it explains all kinds of things, frequently with video, from how to put your left hand on the instrument, how to hold it as well as some intermediate and advanced skills too.
At the risk of repeating myself, though, make sure you get a teacher as soon as possible - even if it's just for a couple of months (I don't believe that everyone needs a teacher full time if they are serious about violin - sure it's easier and better with one, but many people have successfully self taught with occasional reference to a teacher) - a good teacher, especially at the beginning, will be worth a thousand tutor books and websites. There's also the consideration that teachers frequently have a preferred method for teaching and, if you stock up on books before getting to see one, they may ask you to buy a whole other set of books (not frequent, but it happened to me!).
The most important thing is HAVE FUN! You've picked a great instrument to play.
Allan
The absolute best thing you could do is organise a lesson as soon as possible - even if it's just to be shown how to hold the instrument, bow and how to place the left hand. Things like this are really important at the very beginning because you can easily slip into bad habits that are hard to undo later. Nonetheless, to get you going I would heartily recommend the simply strings series (three books, I think) which cover up to about grade 5/6 in difficulty yet start with very basic rhythm exercises and some information on how to hold the instrument and bow.
Also, check out www.violinmasterclass.com - there's a section for kids which shows them how to make their first steps with the violin - it may be way too young for you, but at least you'll have a laugh! You can also check out the following link to the University of Vermont's string pedagogy site - it explains all kinds of things, frequently with video, from how to put your left hand on the instrument, how to hold it as well as some intermediate and advanced skills too.
At the risk of repeating myself, though, make sure you get a teacher as soon as possible - even if it's just for a couple of months (I don't believe that everyone needs a teacher full time if they are serious about violin - sure it's easier and better with one, but many people have successfully self taught with occasional reference to a teacher) - a good teacher, especially at the beginning, will be worth a thousand tutor books and websites. There's also the consideration that teachers frequently have a preferred method for teaching and, if you stock up on books before getting to see one, they may ask you to buy a whole other set of books (not frequent, but it happened to me!).
The most important thing is HAVE FUN! You've picked a great instrument to play.
Allan
Hey
Good site recommendation Allan. I've never been to violinmasterclass before but it looks pretty good.
I'm just getting back into playing the violin. I haven't played for about 20 years... I was actually shocked at just how much I remembered. I guess I never stopped playing and writing, just on instruments other than the violin. I have to say I'm loving it!
Cheers
John.
Good site recommendation Allan. I've never been to violinmasterclass before but it looks pretty good.
I'm just getting back into playing the violin. I haven't played for about 20 years... I was actually shocked at just how much I remembered. I guess I never stopped playing and writing, just on instruments other than the violin. I have to say I'm loving it!
Cheers
John.
QUOTE(JohnMoxey @ Mar 17 2006, 11:46 PM) 
Hey
Good site recommendation Allan. I've never been to violinmasterclass before but it looks pretty good.
I'm just getting back into playing the violin. I haven't played for about 20 years... I was actually shocked at just how much I remembered. I guess I never stopped playing and writing, just on instruments other than the violin. I have to say I'm loving it!
Cheers
John.
It is a great site, isn't it (although all those freakishly talented children terrify the life out ofme
) - it helped me loads when I was between teachers.Welcome back to the violin, John!
Allan
The children terrify me too
Thanks for the link - looks like exactly what I need! We have a music forum on our company intranet so I'll ask there about getting a one off lesson - I know there are a few violinists on there.... good tip about waiting to buy books as well.
- in the meantime I have bought an electric tuner to start with as I've got a terrible ear (got the violin to help me develop it!) - question - when I tune the strings up to the right note I feel like I'm pulling the strings too tight... is it possible that they're a whole octave higher than they should be?! Or should the strings be really taut? To give a rough idea, once they're tuned, it's a little difficult to stop them in first position, but not impossible... any ideas?
- in the meantime I have bought an electric tuner to start with as I've got a terrible ear (got the violin to help me develop it!) - question - when I tune the strings up to the right note I feel like I'm pulling the strings too tight... is it possible that they're a whole octave higher than they should be?! Or should the strings be really taut? To give a rough idea, once they're tuned, it's a little difficult to stop them in first position, but not impossible... any ideas?
The A string should be at 440 if that helps at all? Depends on your tuner.
It shouldn't be really hard to stop the strings, but you would expect some resistence. I would think you'd find it really hard to tune them an octave high, not sure but can't imagine it would be easy to do
I *think* the strings would snap before you got that high. Your violin may have a high nut (go here the parts of the instrument are labeled - the bit at the top of the fingerboard) which would make the strings harder to stop.
It shouldn't be really hard to stop the strings, but you would expect some resistence. I would think you'd find it really hard to tune them an octave high, not sure but can't imagine it would be easy to do
I *think* the strings would snap before you got that high. Your violin may have a high nut (go here the parts of the instrument are labeled - the bit at the top of the fingerboard) which would make the strings harder to stop.
I would recommend the 'Fiddle Time' books, they're what i used. Start with fiddle time starters, then joggers, then runners, and finally sprinters.
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