Hi all,

I'm new to this section of the forums, I shall be getting a violin soon, and wondered what to start to learn first? Has anyone got any advice? I do play piano, flute, guitar and clarinet, so this is my first bowed strings instrument! Any advice would be much appreciated.

Joy

I used to play the violin years ago - I think I started off by practicing bowing on open strings, to get used to the bow.

Are you going to teach yourself? Have you got a tutor book to start with? It''s such fun to start learning a new instrument - good luck!

Hey joyjoy! You sound just like me! I too play the piano, flute, guitar and clarinet and have just bought a violin!

I was going to teach myself (I'm a piano/keyboard/voice/guitar teacher) but now I think I'll go to lessons.

I bought these books.
A Tune A Day by C. Herfurth
THe Little Sevcik published by Bosworth
Violion Method, Student's Book 1, by Eta Cohen
Suzuki violin School, Volume 1.

They've all been great because they go about things a little differently. So far I've found the most useful book to be A Tune A Day, although the photos in Eta Cohen's book are brilliant.

For the most part (except the Suzuki) they encourage bowing on each of the separate strings first - teaching up bow and down bow, and then of course, doing this to semibreves, minims and crotchets.

So far, I'm only concentrating on getting a smooth tone and flowing bow action. BUT! I think investing in a teacher is my best bet (even though I've self taught my other instruments).

Carys, yes I am going to be teaching myself the violin, I have taught myself the other intrumnets apart for piano which I had lessons for up to grade 8.

Minsmusic - we do have a lot in common with our instruments! What grades have you done in those instruments? I have 8 in piano, and am hoping to do grade 3 flute soon, have only started clarinet, at Christmas, but am suprised at how striaght forward it has been to pick up. Did you find that?

On the guitar I know a lot of chords compared to the actual individual notes. I have a couple of books with tab but haven't tried it yet, been too busy with my other instruments!

What theory grades do you have? I am also teaching myself Grade VI theory at the moment, it's quite hard but I think i've mastered the figured basses and harmonisising, its the other questions that are mroe challenging, I need to read up on my music history first!

For my violin, I have ordered an Antoni Outfit. It was recommended to me on here, by someone who bought one for their son, and she said it was good value for money, so I've got one too! I'm excited about getting it throught delivered in the next couple of days or so!

Also, I too have the Tune A Day Book. I will have to invest in some more books to help me practice.

Joy

Thats great Joyjoy !

You liked the look of that violin then ?

As Minsmusic (?) said, make sure you put plenty of rosin on the bow to start with.

I tried my sons when it first came. Doesn't make a sound until there's plenty of rosin on the bow.

I have read somewhere on here about scratching the rosin which I haven't done before and other people thought was strange too.

I think if it is scratched at the very begining, it just helps to get it going. I've never done this though.

The rosin that comes with the Antoni doesn't seem that great, but maybe because it's a new block. I used my old block which was fine.
It may just need to be scratched to get it going. I shall try that later.

Also, don't worry about it going out of tune easily to start with.
This is common with new violins/strings.

They just need a good playing. My sons is still in tune after a few days sat in the case. Normally, it's gone out of tune but it must be wearing in now.

Let me know when it comes what you think of it.

Fiona

Hi Fiona

Yes I've ordered one, I ordered it good friday though so it may not be here until end of this week, but I am looking forward to it very much, it's strange but since I've ordered it I've been practicing so much on my other instruments! More than normal, I think it's because I'm excited to learn a new instrument but subconsciously don't want to neglect the others or something, which I won't do! Strange how it works, but the more practice I do the better I feel! The rosin with the violin... you say it's not too good? If mine is not up to standard do music shops sell them? To be honest I've never even seen a violin properly so don't really know how all the rosin works etc. but I'm willing to learn, so I have to start from somewhere!

Thanks for recommending that site, I still can't believe how cheap the violin was.

Joy

I'm not sure if it just needs to be started off.

I read on the forum that people sometimes scrath a new block of rosin to get it going.

You can certainly buy blocks of rosin quite cheaply though under £5 I think.

I've just stopped in mid post and tried the rosin

I have scratched it a little and tried to put some on the bow. It's much better.

It should be ok now it's going on. See what you think when you get yours.

FIona

I shall let you know when I have it!Can't wait to get the violin!

I need to invest in some more violin books. Any suggestions? I have A Tune A Day by Herfurth already

Joy

I asked this question just recently.
The replies are on viva violin on 'Beginners books'

Some suggestions were the Fiddle time series.
I bought the first one for my son.
Eta Cohen

For myself, as I am starting again after a long break, (I learnt violin music by finger no's - hence starting again learning note names)I have only got one which is Belwin string builder book 1

This isn't bad. It starts basic giving the note names and introducing fingers at different stages.
You still get chance to play some basic tunes as you are moving through the book.

I've just finished it so I too am looking for more books.

I shall let you know what I find.

Fiona

Thanks for that Fiona

I shall let you know what i think of my violin when i receive it!

Joy

Learn to hold the violin properly ( you must be able to balance it with your chin w/o any other support except that neck/shoulder thingy beneath it. But my german teacher said w/o anything at all can be done too)

Then how you hold the bow.

Then learn to get use to the angle your arm is supposed to be at.

And the angle to hit the notes just nicely.

I think these are the fundamentals of violin playing.

Any others?

I have no idea, but as far as I remembered, I was taught this on my first lesson.

I meant "hit the strings nicely" ( no screeching ! ) of course I did get lotsa screeching too. even now hahahah

Thanks for your replies everyone. I have been looking at Sevcik books (hope I've spelt it right) on Music Room, but not sure if they are any good, there seems to be loads of them, has anyone had them before? and would recommend them and what one to start with?

Thanks Joy

Hi joyjoy,

I would suggest that you get a good violin teacher for the beginning of your violin learning, at least for a few months, so that you can develop a good position and bowing techniques, after that, you can go on by your own.

This is what i experience: i learnt piano for 9 years before, got an associate diploma, then only then i started to learn violin.i got half a year's coach from a teacher, then i started learning myself all the studies and pieces for few years till now. Once you get use to a wrong habit, it is not easy to change, so better learn a correct habit first

As for the rosin, i just helped my students buy 2 violins, and i find their rosin has no effect, but after scratching with a sand paper, it indeed helps, i think there is something on it before the rosin is really usable.

Happy learning

if i remember correctly, the lady at the violin shop chipped off a lil' part of the rosin first before it could work on the bow itself when i first got my violin.

and its still with me now.

Thanks for all your advice! I stil havent got my violin! Never mind I'll have it soon fingers crossed! Can't wait to get started!

I'm sure I'll be back on here soon for some more advice when I get my violin!

Cheers everyone

Joy

Finally got my violin couple of days ago and have only realy seriously started to have a go today! It's great fun, I think I know about 10 notes already including the open strings of course. (it's not much but its a start!)

I love playing my violin, it has such a lovely sound and is very relaxing to play!

Joy

to keep your bow clean, you need to scratch the top off the rosin every so often otherwise the dirt and dust from the rosin will end up on the bow and youl hafta get it cleaned. congrats with the notes!itl be more fun when you know all the notes in first position and can play loads of tunes! keep it up!the violins great!!

Kat

Thanks for that advice about the rosin! I am loving the violin, been playing some quavers today, it's not as hard as I thought it would be.

Joy