Hello everyone. I am a new member. When I was 12 I had got up to Grade II on the violin, and then quit due to lack of enthusiasm and not liking my teacher. I deeply regret this now.

A year ago I bought a violin and found I could no longer play it at all. Not even twinkle twinkle little star, or the scales. Just sounded like I was doing something horrid to the family pet. So 10 weeks ago I began taking lessons and I absolutely love it. I reckon I am about up to grade I now, although my bow control is still a bit of a problem. I practice constantly but I haven't quite got the knack of it yet.

Funny how some things came back to me quickly, and other things I don't even remember ever learning them in the first place.

I would love to hear from anyone else who is learning the violin, particularly if they are beginners and particularly if they are near Norfolk. But anyone, actually.

Welcome to the forums

Yes, I'm learning the violin - started from scratch three years ago.

No, I'm not anywhere near Norfolk.

Have a good look round - you'll find there are quite a few older string players who hang out on the Viva Strings board and the Adult Learner board.

Cheers

Katyjay

Hello! I'm from Norfolk, but I don't play the violin

Car Expert

Hello! I play the violin, but I'm not from Norfolk! Must be rather tough criteria...

Hello! I play the viola, and used to live in Norfolk. Do I count?

Hi I'm Liz I started playing the violin this year.
Also not in Norfolk though lol

Hello

I played the violin for about 3 weeks when I was at school, and I once went on holiday to Norfolk

I love my lessons too, so at least we have that in common!

Welcome to the forums, hope you enjoy being here

skylark

to the forums Catherine!

Do, as katyjay has said, look in the Adult Learner's thread for some inspiring stories, and, though there's nothing planned for Norfolk at the moment, do keep an eye on the forum event sub-forum for events you may be interested in (it's a link off the General Music Forum).

Hmmm. Obviously I should have left the bit about Norfolk.

Those people that are learning, or re-learning to play a violin (wherever you live). How easy have you found it to progress through the early grades? It seems from old paperwork I have dug out of the attic that I took lessons for a couple of years as a child, and just about scraped through grade II. But then again I was a child and didn't exactly give it my full attention.

It's a bit difficult when it's in your username! Don't mind us though, it's just our way of making you welcome



A lot of people don't look at the New Members threads, partly because they're not as visible with being in a sub-forum. You might get more responses if you start a separate thread either in the Strings forum or the Adult Learner forum if you're wanting advice rather than just introduce yourself. Look forward to seeing you around

I found that coming to terms initially with the co-ordination needed to do two utterly different things with my hands was a big challenge.

I also found the challenge of playing in tune drove me crackers. Hearing one is out of tune and being able to do something about it are two very different problems.....

But, having said that, I enjoyed the violin thoroughly from the word go, and have made some reasonable progress on it I took grade 1 two terms after starting lessons and got a high distinction. Three years after starting I've added a grade 5 merit to that.

It probably helped that it was my fourth instrument, although I'd never played a string instrument before. And, as you've noticed, motivation to work on something tends to be present in adult learner musicians a lot more than some of their junior counterparts....

I am in Norfolk and should like to meet violins in Norfolk. I know an orchestra that would like violins... get in touch

Not at all easy, is the honest answer: I've seriously considered giving up more than once. But someone suggested recently (can't remember where) that one grade every two terms is a reasonable/average rate of progress, and, though they were probably talking about children rather than adults, that more or less tallies with my experience. I've been playing (viola) for just on two years, having no previous experience of any stringed instrument, and I'm now around grade 3 standard. You will probably progress slightly faster on account of your muscles faintly remembering how it's done. You will progress a lot faster if you can find a good teacher (not just any old teacher). Let us know how you get on, and join us in the Viva Strings forum.

I do miss Norfolk, though.

I'm more like one grade every 2 years

But I am making progress even if it is a bit slow ( I should practise more!!)

I would say one grade a year is a more "average" rate to aim for

Welcome!

I play the Violin but I'm from cornwall

Many thanks to everyone who has replied to me. I am taking the good advice given to me and moving on to the adult learners section. I have even less experience with forums than I do with violin playing so it will take a while for me to get the hang of this. Cheers!

I don't play violin and I am not from Norfolk, but I think it is great that you are starting to make music again.

Always nice to welcome another adult learner.

Regards, Peter.