Crysfel Villa Feb 19, 2024beginner,learning
How hard is it to learn violin?
Learning to play the violin can be challenging, especially in the early stages. Every instrument is hard to master and is a never ending task, I can play a few instrument at an intermedium/basic level but in my opinion the violin is a very challenging instrument.
Holding the violin and bow
It requires a significant amount of time and dedication, as well as good motor skills and a keen ear for music, I’ve seen young kids having a very challenging time trying to learn the instrument. In my experience kids spend more time learning to hold the instrument than adults, this is because as an adult you have mastered your fine motors skills. However, with consistent practice and a good teacher, it is entirely possible for anyone to learn to play the violin.
In my opinion, the violin is a very hard instrument, in the beginning it’s so difficult to hold the instrument and bow correctly, your body gets really tense, your fingers don’t get the right pose and it’s really hard to tell by yourself if you are doing it right or not.
I still remember my first teacher telling me that to master the bow takes years, the bow is an instrument in itself! At the time I didn’t comprehended what he meant by that, but now I do, after a couple of years into the instrument I still have trouble with the bow and need to keep working on it.
The sound
If the posture is hard, don’t get me started on the sound! producing a clear and accurate sound is really really hard. Other instruments, such as the piano for example, you don’t need to worry about the sound in the beginning, it just sounds good every time you press any key, but in the violin you are going to sound awful for the first few months and bad for the following. Until you start getting a better sound, or I’d say not a terrible sound.
Additionally, mastering the correct finger positioning on the violin's fretless fingerboard can be tricky, specially because there are not any marks or reference you can use to position your fingers, it’s all about muscle memory that you get with practice and time.
Moreover, the difficulty of learning to play the violin can also depend on your previous musical experience. If you already know how to read music or play another instrument, you may find it easier to pick up the violin. But even if you're a complete beginner, don't be discouraged. The violin is a beautiful instrument that offers a rewarding learning experience, regardless of your musical background.
In conclusion, while learning to play the violin may seem daunting at first, with patience, perseverance, and the right guidance, you can certainly master this instrument. I’m not writing this article to discourage people, on the contrary I’m sharing my experience so you have a reference, don’t think that is easy for everyone else but you! keep practicing and you are going to get there!
Happy Practicing!
