After much thought and reading about the violin I have decided I really want to learn. My grandparents just so happen to have an old violin under their bed, so I am going over to see what it is like tomorrow (want to see if it's 4/4 or not). I'm a little worried about what my 16 month old daughter will try to do to it but am looking forward to having a go on my own. I started looking for a teacher but it's tough buisness. They either don't pick up the phone or they are booked out. I am currently waiting to hear back from the local music school as one of their teachers may have a vaccency *fingers crossed*
Do any of you remember your first lesson?

Hi Terra and to the forum.

I had my first violin lesson 2 days ago. I play the flute as my main instrument, plus piccolo, clarinet and recorder. I did cello at school, but that was rather a long time ago now.

I'd recommend taking the old violin to a luthier to get it checked over, even if it feels playable to you.

If you're happy to say roughly what area you're in then people might have suggestions for teachers and luthiers. I only know about the North East...

If you store your violin in its case and keep it on a shelf or somewhere then your daughter is unlikely to be able to do anything to it.

Hi Flossie,
Thanks ^^ I'm probably about grade 3 standard clarinet but I self teach now and just restarted. I've played guitar, drums, piano & voice. I really like stringed instriments so I am hoping I'll really enjoy it. I'm in Berkshire RG. So I've only found about 3 or 4 teachers in my area. I've tried contacting 1 and I am waiting to hear back about a tuesday vaccency from another. I'm scared of taking it to a luthiers because if I do they will probably tell me it needs x,y and z done >.> It's an old teaching violin I have no idea if it's full size or anything because I haven't even seen it yet. The other thing my husband and I talked about is renting to buy if the one I'm going to see tomorrow is no good. Mainly because we can't aford the initial payment and paying over time would be easier.
I think my little girl will be thrilled with the violin being in the house. If she wasn't so little I might let her play. But she's a bit too young to start. She loves instriments and attacks my clarinet when I'm trying to play. How was your first lesson? Was it fun?

It was everything I thought it would be and then some. Only down side was the time just flew by. So now speaking with my teacher i'll start taking 2 lessons a week. :-))))))))))))))

Rachel

Sounds like you're really enjoying yourself

Keep us all informed of your progress, and keep an eye on the forum event calendar if you fancy coming to perform in what I think is the nicest environment possible. The calendar lives in the forum events sub-forum, which can be accessed via the General Music Forum

Good Luck, I started last October and am enjoying it.

Thanks I've been self teaching for the while being. I'm working on bowing and playing a few tunes while pratacing keeping the bow inbetween the bridge and fingerboard.

Hi
I am new to the forum but started to learn violin as a "late" adult starter a few years ago, I too am in the RG area Berkshire and was lucky enough to find a teacher I liked and had good rapport with and am still with her 8 years later. I learn for my own fun and don't sit the exams although the last couple of years I have been working through the ABRSM syllabus in order to maintain some structure. It does mean I can learn other stuff too so jump around a bit.
I do find it difficult, I did not play any other instrument and did not read music so literally started from scratch, but I would not give it up for anything. I simply wanted to play the violin and as time has gone on I have become completely immersed in music, all types especially classic, folk and shows tunes.
Good luck to you, hope you enjoy it even on those days when everything aches including your brain!
Lee

I had to wait nearly four months for a vacancy

But it was worth it, as I really feel comfortable with my teacher