Piano, violin or cello?

[Tricolor123]

I’m thinking of taking up a new musical instrument and have always wanted to play the piano when I was younger. I did play the violin for around 8 years and got to grade 4 before giving up (I just spent all my time working towards grades which bored me!) I love the sound of the cello and wondered if I should try that given my background with the violin. I can’t decide between the two, as music theory has never been my strongest point and I think I might struggle with the chords for piano music, (I dabbled with the guitar when I was a teenager and found it really hard to read the music). I even thought about picking up the violin again as I still have my old one in the garage. The main thing I enjoyed when I played the violin was playing in a string group (I joined three different groups and did a lot of performances in and out of school) but when I looked at orchestras to join I need to be grade 8 standard to be able to join one and I don’t think I have the time nor the commitment to get that far! So what are people’s experiences of learning the piano or cello?

[Santaiscovidfree]

Ask your ndn which they would prefer to hear through the walls!!

[Tricolor123]

@Santaiscovidfree Bonus with a piano is I can get an electric one so I can plug ear phones in

[Thimbleberries]

cello!

Much more fun to play with groups. And there will be other groups that aren't just grade 8 level ones - keep looking. The good thing about orchestras or string groups is that if you are a sensitive player, you don't have to be at the same standard as other string players to be able to play in the section (at the back). You just have to be able to play quietly and/or fake the bits you can't play, and don't stand out by playing out of tune or time - and once you're at the stage where you can play in groups, you will be OK on that. Many amateur orchestras have a range of abilities in the strings (less so in the winds/brass as you can hear them more and there are only one on each part!).

Cellos have such lovely lines in orchestras and can do solo and quartet stuff as well, or other styles of music - very versatile. And because they are lower, they sound better in the early stages than violin!

Piano is great, but mostly something you'd do on your own, so not such a social hobby. It does help with understanding theory, though, so always useful to have a keyboard and start learning some of that anyway.

The better quality cello you can afford, the better it will sound in the early stages, but regardless, take it to a good strings shop and have it set up and good strings put on it, as both of those can really improve the sound and make it much more satisfying to learn.

[honkytonkheroe]

Personally I'd go for piano or something complete different like a flute but I do come from a family of piano and woodwind instrument players. I've never been a huge fan of the violin but do know it's v hard to play and so you should find it quite easy in comparison. I also love the piano so would go with that over cello or violin.

[honkytonkheroe]

Cello is pretty cool though.

[Santaiscovidfree]

You could always post notes to ndn saying you take requests on Saturday evenings!!

[fannyFERNACKERPANN]

Harp... failing that piano ;) such a pretty sound and the earphones are a bonus

[Greymalkin12]

Not on your options but have you thought about the viola? I took it up after learning the violin when younger and it's been great for playing in orchestras and smaller string groups. Parts tend to be less virtuosic than the violin parts but get some lovely harmony lines and some flashes of tune. Other than the alto clef it's pretty straightforward to transfer from the violin and has a great warm tone.

[MaMaLa321]

what thimbleberries said above.
The only thing is that it's a big thing to cart around.
Mind you, I spent time playing the cello, but we moved and I couldn't find a group that was the same (lowish) standard for me to play with, so I switched to the xylophone. After a couple of years, for various reasons, I gave up, an now play the trumpet. And I'm also having a go at the piano.
So, in short, give one of them a go, and see how you get on. Have fun.

[kitkat463]

Which do you most Like the sound of? Id go with that. Violin is the cheapest and has most options for playing ( more space in orchestra for violins, 2 in a quarter to one cello etc. )