Over 1/2 term, I've borrowed my friends full size violin, & have been attempting to learn it. I'm going through the abbracadra violin, & bought the grade one book yesterday, which isn't that hard. I already play clarinet, sax,. piano & keyboard, so know enough about music, but a bowed string instrument is a bit harder!
have you guys got any tips/hints. Also, I can't seem to keep very good control of the bow, and can't play the 4th finger? ANY TIPS!!!!

Hmmmm all sounds very familiar.

Best to get a teacher! If you are serious of learning violin you need to know how to to hold the bow properly as unlearning a bad bow hold can take ages.

Don't worry about 4th finger for a start, play the scales with open strings. In fact for a start just bow open strings until you get a good tone before you start trying to play any music at all. The technique is all in the right hand and arm. Only the notes are in the left.

Good Luck

Jane

If you do a search for "violin" or "beginner violin" some of us discussed these issues in-depth a few months ago.

e.g.

Violin Grade 1 Exam topic

How do you practice your violin? topic


Gae