How easy is to learn the violin as an adult?

[Standrewsschool]

i’ve been seeing how people have been learning new skills during lockdown. Debating about learning the violin. I’ve never played a string instrument in my life (played the piano as a youngster). I enjoy music, but haven’t got an ear for music. Can you learn from a YouTube?

How easy to learn the violin? Am I being foolish and should try crocheting instead!

Don’t know but recommend viola over violin - lower strings so less squeaky

It would be hard to do over you tube if never played before. I have often thought about picking it up after not playing for some years. (Got to around grade 5 standard.). If you have a musical background that will def help.

I think if you just want to do it for fun there’s no reason to not to. It is very easy to get into bad habits though without a teacher watching over you in terms of bow position and correctly holding the violin under the chin and finger position.

I’d maybe try searching for Suzuki violin lessons which is a Japanese method used with very young children (3+) and centres on imitation, repetition and memorising. It’s based on how we acquire spoken language. It is appropriate for any NT child and doesn’t need any musical ability in order to produce technically competent players. The founder of the method based it on the fact that if children can learn to speak then the same way they learn to do that can be applied to learning an instrument. So I would absolutely go for it.

SIL self taught herself in her 30s. She could play a guitar so wasn't totally ignorant when it came to playing an instrument.

Do you have neighbours in earshot? A beginner’s practising is a bit much to inflict on anyone in lockdown.

I play the violin as my first instrument along with flute and piano. I really think strings are the most challenging and it would be so easy to get into bad habits which you’d really struggle to unlearn. I think it also takes years of consistent practice to get anywhere near playing a piece (not just nursery rhymes and very basics tunes).

Would you consider taking up the piano again instead? Alternatively acoustic guitar can be picked up relatively quickly.

I was wondering about guitar. I always wanted to learn electric guitar.

Vanilla I completely agree about bad habits. My first teacher was a friend of my DBs. She was studying at the Royal Northern College of Music. She was a wonderful player but didn’t pick me up on how I held the violin or the bow. This really held me back as my right wrist was so stiff and badly positioned I couldn’t bow quickly or smoothly and because I never gripped the violin properly with my chin it made it hard to move between positions easily . I never really overcome so many years of poor tuition.

@Dogwithanovenmit that sounds hard. I have poor position with piano and the more you advance, the more it holds you back.

I also think it’s quite hard to get motivated without a teacher when you really aren’t able to play a piece of music or much of a recognisable tune. But maybe that’s just me!

Hello I'm 42 and I've been learning violin for 9 months. I can now play simple pieces like Amazing Grace and Singing in the Rain. I didn't play an instrument for 25 years, previously piano to grade 4 at school. I think you need to be pretty determined and have strong interest in music to keep the violin going. There's been times that I've questioned my choice. It is very hard just to get the basics right. If you like the challenge , enjoy repitition (I could practice two notes over and over again for 15 minutes without even finishing first line of music) then crack on. I somewhat enjoy the punishment of the violin as the end result is wonderful. The struggle I have is getting in the regular practice. I am doing about 30minuted X3 times a week but it's not enough.
If you want a quicker 'fix' id go for the piano.

@BloomedAgain I started learning guitar last year. I've a very long way to go but I've had so much fun so far. I've used YouTube videos and a site called Justin Guitar which is excellent for beginners. DH is a brilliant guitarist so he's been on hand too. Last week I treated myself to the Fender of my dreams! Definitely go for it, you'll be surprised how quickly you can see results. Fender Play are currently offering three months free lessons too.

I fancied learning violin but the idea was too daunting!

Thank you! I'll look into those resources. Your Fender sounds amazing. I was raised in a 'girls don't play guitar' household so need to scratch this decades long itch.

Listening to someone learning to play the violin is torture for neighbours who are stuck in. I remember having glandular fever as a child and my sister's friend came to stay and practised her newly-acquired violin. It was a dreadful experience.