Whats the best way to learn the violin?

Question:I have no experience with string instruments. Infact the only musical experience I have is 4 years of piano. But I love the sound of it, and I've always wanted to play. Anyone have any tips for someone just starting off? Whats an average price for a semi decent violin?

Oh and don't tell me its hard, I've heard that pleanty, I know what I'm getting myself into...

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I have no experience with string instruments. Infact the only musical experience I have is 4 years of piano. But I love the sound of it, and I've always wanted to play. Anyone have any tips for someone just starting off? Whats an average price for a semi decent violin?

Oh and don't tell me its hard, I've heard that pleanty, I know what I'm getting myself into...

What kind of music do you want to play on the violin?

If you have your heart set on learning to play classical music, then I'm afraid you WILL need to learn to read music, and lessons with a teacher would be a really good idea as well. Classical music is all about playing it EXACTLY the way Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc, wrote it, and in order to do that you have to be able to read exactly what they wrote. You CAN'T make it up as you go along in classical music the way you've been doing on piano. In addition, the technique required for playing a lot of classical music is pretty tricky, and in order to have any hope of ever being able to acquire the proper technique, you'll need a teacher to get you started on the right way to play so you don't unintentionally pick up any bad habits that will hold you back.

OTOH, if you look beyond classical music, you'll find tons of other great music that you can play on the fiddle. Bluegrass, country, jazz, rock, traditional folk (Irish, Scottish, British, Scandinavian, Eastern European, etc etc), traditional American old-time, Cajun, and more. Most of these styles don't necessarily require you to learn to read music (although if you can read, it will make learning some of them, like jazz, a lot easier) , that will allow you the opportunity to improvise and make it up as you go along (especially bluegrass, country, jazz, and rock), and that doesn't necessarily require a teacher for years of lessons (although taking a few lessons in the style you want to learn would probably shorten the learning curve).

get a teacher

Oh yeah, you must learn how to read music in order to play the violin. Get a teacher. It is hard in the beginning, but very rewarding.

Try finding a Suzuki school....they teach rote first, note second. You do need to learn how to read music, but reading music is not a pre-requisite to learning how to play the violin--they tend to happen concurrently.

I like using the Essential Elements 2000 book w/my beginners. They start out w/the note names on the notes which gradually disappear until you are left w/just the notes w/out names!

Definately get into private lessons
Good luck!

If you're immovably set on not reading music, then at least learn some scales. A teacher would help you a lot, to at least get you playing in the right position. Music is a tool, to give you some practice at skills. I suggest learning SOMETHING, at least, to help you play.

Find a teacher who likes working with adult students. If you want to play classical, you'll have to read music. If not, you might find a teacher more into fiddle.

Regarding instruments, I'd spend some money for something that is going to sound good. Plan on spending +/- $350 for an outfit (violin, bow and case), at least. See:

http://beststudentviolins.com/violins.ht...

u gotta read music

u prbbly suck at piano.

semi decent :4,000 dollhairs.

crappy: 2,000

mine was 10,000.

and i am poor.

we sold our house, cars, and my brother so i could get my violin..

now i play in the streets,

PS- we kept the CPU