Thursday, December 11, 2008

Learn To Play Violin For Beginners

Learning how to play violin for beginners can be a daunting task. But it can also be fun, and extremely fulfilling. If you are just starting out in the world of music, choosing a stringed instrument, in particularly the violin, can only be praised as making the right choice. It also shows how learned you are as a budding musician, as it is not often mentioned enough that the violin can be one of the most entertaining instruments anyone, and not just a beginner, can pick up.

So how can one learn how to play the violin? Do you need any musical background or experience prior to understanding and mastering the instrument? Even the musical geniuses started out from ground zero. It would help if you knew musical theory or have previous knowledge of another musical instrument. But it will not hurt if you have never even held a recorder. Trying to master the violin can be a lifelong process, but the stress should be on the fun of learning and playing the stringed instrument itself.

And it is certainly not a boring instrument! In case you have never heard or seen the electric violin, it probably means that you've been stuck out in the woods for too long...

Getting over the fear of zilch musical background, the next most important thing on an aspiring violinist's agenda will be to get hold of a violin itself. No one would start with an electric violin, unless he or she wanted to be in a rock band. But trying to figure out which violin model to buy and what accessories to get along with it must be thought over properly. Even knowing what violin strings to use can be an artform in itself. This whole process will be spoken about in due process and further detail later on.

Skip forward a few steps and assuming you now have a violin both for having hours of fun with as well as actually trying to figure out how to play a song on it. How can you do that? How does one even start taking the first few strokes and bows of the violin and becoming a musical maestro?

What should one do to start playing the violin. Well, if you are one of the more adventurous types, there is always the first option of being self-taught. Wait a minute, didn't I just say that the violin is one of the most difficult instruments to learn? How can anyone then learn how to play it without proper or professional instruction? Can it be mastered without a violin teacher? If you're dead broke and cannot afford violin lessons, then teaching yourself will have to be the best and only option.

So how can one learn how to play the violin yourself, without a teacher, lessons and no money? There are of course hundreds of violin lessons that are online which provide some good instruction and tips. While these online violin lessons can offer adequate starting points for beginners, it might not be sufficient for everyone. Especially the curious ones. It will also be good to keep an eye out for the best online violin lessons that are reviewed to be great for beginners, since they will teach a lot of the basics and fundamentals that must be mastered from the start or many bad habits will develop. There are also many violin instructional software programs that can be used and are quite good, and do not cost too much. Certainly not more than engaging a teacher or taking up proper lessons.

Consider looking for one of the many how to play violin dvd beginner that is available for students of the instrument. These new media instructional material are very good in guiding anyone interested in learning a new musical instrument, be it the guitar, violin or even drums. They provide both visual and audio aids which are crucial in providing the maximum benefits in an environment that promotes knowledge gathering.

In case anyone thinks that beginners will never be able to learn how to play the violin properly by themselves, they only need to look at the thousands and millions of self-taught guitarists worldwide. If any individual applies the same dedication and discipline as these guitarists, there can certainly be just as many violinists all across the world who have managed to teach themselves the instrument for a large part of their education.

The numerous online tools for violinists can also be used for such purposes. They will even enhance the learning experience and perhaps more innovation could result. Online resources for violins and their practitioners are also plentiful, from violin fingering charts, to finding cheap violin accessories ranging from violin strings, bows to the shoulder rest which is so crucial to providing proper posture and comfort. The convenience provided by such resources often outweigh even the benefits of violin DVD lessons.

At the end of the day, everything will also come down to the beginning violinist's commitment and dedication to his or her art and music. Discipline is of utmost importance. Spending hours practising the violin is essential, and learning more about the instrument, the various methods of playing it, and the background and musical history of the instrument and major music compositions that feature the violin. These will all add up and come together to make one master, cherish and learn more about the violin over the years.

3 comments:

  1. After visiting a lot of webs where they absolutely discourages self-learning to play violin I am happy to find people who thinks that it is possible.
    I have no time (and no money) to take lessons from a teacher. I think, of course, that having a personal teacher will be the best way to learn. Nevertheless I don't want to play in an orchestra but only play because a love music and the violin.
    It will be a great aid if you can point some good material to start (preferable online videos and lessons)

    Thank you.

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  2. Thanks for the information. I have been wanting to play violin for years but really don't like the idea of getting lessons. I am thinking of buying a (very) cheap violin to have a go learning. Is it okay to but a dirt cheap violin to learn the fundamentals or do I need to spend more money for a quality instrument?

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  3. Aaron, it would be more ideal to spend a little more on a quality instrument to begin with. A cheaper violin might save you some money, but in the long run you might outgrow the instrument and find it insufficient for your needs, and even damaging to your progress as a violinist. Violins are seldom cheap, but set yourself a budget and then go to a reliable dealer for advice on which one to pick. Check up on reviews prior to your purchase as well to know what you are getting.

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