Violin Lessons?

Question:

Violin Lessons?

I am 20 years old, and I played violin in the 5th grade, but I quit because of lack of encouragement. I am now 20 and I want to learn how to play violin again. I live in the inland empire of California area. Does anyone have any tips on how I could get started again. Am I too old now?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: You are absolutely not too old; there is a local novice orchestra where I live and there are many adult beginners playing in there. What you could do is buy the Essential Elements books 1-2 to sort of refresh yourself, since they are basically like self tutorials. Once you reach a point where you can comfortably read music, you can consider hiring a tutor, or keep on teaching yourself by asking people online what you should play next, or continuing with the Essential Elements series, or progressing to the Suzuki Violin Method book series. They are all pretty much self-explanatory. After you are fairly comfortable with the violin, if you decide not to get a teacher or go with these series, just make sure that your practice is composed of 1. Scales (to as many octaves as you are capable, up to 3 sharps/3 flats) 2. Etudes (Particularly Wohlfahrt's etudeswhen you are at an intermediate stage), and finally your solo piece. Your solo piece is anything for you to work on that showcases your current technical ability. Source(s):
Been playing violin for -quite- a while just go back to some classes... i've been trying to learn for 2 years and its quite hard so... hope its easier for u You're never too old. You could probably build on what you learnt as a kid and teach yourself using the Suzuki method. your not too old violen is for everyone! i play violen also! u could get private lessons and join a class! Violen is so kool! You're certainly not too old to learn.

I took violin for a year in the 5th grade as well -- my 5th grade music class that year was Beginning String Orchestra -- and really enjoyed it, but at the end of the school year, I gave back the school's loaner instrument and didn't touch a violin again until I was in my early 30's.

I got turned on to traditional old-time music (the traditional square-dance music of Appalachia -- think of the soundtracks from the movies "O Brother Where Art Thou?" and "Songcatcher") in my early 30's when I became friends with a woman who played fiddle and who had a lot of old-time musician friends. After a few years of playing rhythm guitar, backing up fiddlers and banjo players and playing for the occasional square dance or contra dance, I started branching out on other instruments. I bought a mandolin and took lessons for a few months; I bought a banjo -- a spur of the moment purchase -- and taught myself to play it, and then about 16 years ago I bought a fiddle and set about teaching myself to play it by ear.

Today, my main instruments are fiddle and banjo, and I love them both. I have a number of friends who play this music, and we get together a few times a month to jam for fun. Occasionally I get asked to play for a dance. I've also joined a bluegrass band a few months ago, and enjoy playing with them too. I go to music festivals every summer where I get to meet, hang out, and jam with other old-time folk musicians from all over the U.S.

I've never played classical violin and have absolutely no desire to do so. Personally, I find folk fiddling to be far more enjoyable and fun than classical music. If you're looking to play fun, danceable music for your own and other people's enjoyment -- play fiddle!!! There are any number of different styles -- Irish, Scottish, bluegrass, old-time, Cajun, klezmer, etc -- listen to them all and find one or more that speak to you.

Look on the Internet for folk music clubs or Irish music clubs, or Bluegrass and Old-time Fiddle Associations in your area to find concerts and open jams in your area where you can listen to the music and meet other fiddlers. Most fiddlers are friendly folks who are more than willing to help newbies get started.

Good luck!