Hi everyone!

First I would like to introduce myself. I've been playing piano not so seriously for years, but have always been fond of the violin and would love to learn it!

I have several questions-

I emailed several teachers in my area and 2 has replied to me. Is it kosher to take a lesson from each of them to determine which one is best for me? If so, do I tell them upfront? I've always chosen teachers from recommendation (piano), but i don't know anyone who plays the violin or anyone that teaches adults. I don't even know what to look for when I take lessons from them.

Adult learners, what are some of your biggest challenges? If you've played piano in the past, do you think it helped you at all? I've never played a string instrument before, but aside from knowing how o read music, I honestly don't know how it can help at all. Maybe i can identify a note that was played flat or sharped and quickly correct it, but that goes for anyone that listens to alot of music I think.

I pick up a few books from the library and tried playing myself but careful not to play too much (scared about bad habits), and I find my left fingers are really bad. I mean my left hand can fly on the piano, but when I play say the G major scale on the violin, my forth finger is like retarded, my other fingers wants to be lifted and do all sorts of weird thing when one finger is supposed to be on the string, I forsee this will be very difficult for me. Also, I am double jointed, so my fingers tends to collapse alot.

Any pointers!?? I'm gonna start lesson in a few weeks, I would love to hear your advise and what challenges you faced when you started!!

Thanks!

Welcome!

Perfectly kosher, in my opinion, and very sensible. Some teachers are better than others, and some are more suitable than others for particular people (especially adult beginners). With your piano background, you might be able to tell whether a teacher is right for you. I think it would be wise, as well as fair, to tell them upfront that you are trying more than one. That way they will know that the object of the lesson is to help you decide, rather than simply take the first step of many. Some teachers even agree to make the trial lesson free.

You may well find that your hands are more flexible than they would be if you had never played an instrument. And don't underestimate the advantage of knowing how to read music, and understanding some theory. This is a big obstacle for some adult learners.

Maybe your expectations are a bit high, if you've only just started and haven't had any lessons yet. If your left hand can fly on the piano, I bet it will cope just fine with the violin once you have been practising a while; but it does take time. Bowing isn't easy either.

Join us in the strings forum!

Playing the violin is a completely different form of co-ordination to the piano. The actual playing postion is unlike anything else you will meet in life - and it's a position that takes some getting used to.

Please be patient and methodical. There is no substitute for a teacher when taking up the violin. Books can prove useful, but a teacher can demonstrate.

I learnt piano as a child and took up violin as an adult and am loving it. My wrist kept collapsing at first and as for using my fourth finger, it was so weak but with perseverance and practice it gradually gets stronger and is in use more now. I am beginning to learn more of third position so little finger will be used all of the time. As for intonnation you do soon pick up on the fact that a note is either flat or sharp and soon learn to move your finger slightly whilst playing in the right direction to get the note if it is slightly out. I think the bowing is the most difficult to get right and I have had problems with a crooked bow, "bossy elbow" my teacher called it. I am practising hard to get this corrected but it still slips in occasionally when I am concentrating too hard on what the left hand's doing.

I still go through all my piano pieces occasionally but at the moment the violin is calling me more. Am just off to pick it up now...

I better stop playing with it until my first lesson, my wrist collapses too!! I found my wris wresting on the neck of the violin when I was playing the G major scale! I can't wait to my first lesson

Hi Fayewolf

Welcome to the Forums

I started violin as an adult learner 7 months ago and am currently working towards Grade 4. The violin is a real challenge but I love it. The most difficult thing for me is staying relaxed, usually when I come across something difficult, I tense up and then my playing goes out of the window. I almost had a fit when I saw my first Grade 4 piece (having just done Grade 2).

I've just started learning piano and its completely different from violin. You benefit in that you have increased co-ordination but otherwise I'm finding it difficult in switching off from violin mode when I play piano. The best advice I can give is to get yourself a really good teacher. My teacher has had to adapt my bow hold, arm levels etc while I'm building muscle strength and memory and focusing on developing a very strong foundation. Some teachers offer an evaluation lesson, where they can see what level you are and more importantly, whether you'd find them a suitable teacher.

I wish you all the best for your violin lessons - it's a fantastic instrument (as well as the piano, and the flute!!).

7 months and grade 4?? That' amazing!!!!! I'm not even gonna ask my teacher abut taking ABRSM exams because I'm now in the states, worried that she's gonna ask me what it is.

I do find holding the violin a really bizarre position, but I'm sure I'll get use to it.

Thanks!

Hello and welcome! I'm an adult learner who started on piano first and took up violin a year later. It's a great instrument so I'm sure you'll enjoy it!


I've had two violin teachers. What you need is someone who will address the technical aspects right from the start eg how to hold your violin, how to hold your bow, bow control etc etc - it's better to dwell on the basics earlier rather than trying to unpick bad habits at a later stage.


Bowing has been my biggest challenge - it's how you express yourself and there is so much to it! Apart from needing to strengthen my 4th (little) finger, the left hand fingering has not been a major problem and regular playing increases flexibility anyhow. You'll have a fair idea of pitch from having played the piano so you should find left hand fingering more straightforward than if you went into violin 'cold'. That's in first position at least. Then the fun starts!!


It all comes with time - your left hand and fingers are doing things which are completely un-trained. Piano playing, although making the fingers more flexible, bears no relation to violin playing. The only thing that I have been able to translate across from piano to violin is speed of playing but the pitch has to be secure as well. I'm not too worried about my fingers sticking up occasionally - this (I hope!) will improve with time as well.

Good luck!