Is It Hard To Play The Violin?

Summary

Playing the violin can be challenging for beginners, but it becomes easier with patience, practice, and the right guidance, and can be enjoyable at any age.

Abstract

The difficulty of playing the violin varies depending on the individual's commitment and perspective. For a beginner, especially a child, it may initially seem hard, requiring consistency and a clear goal. Having a supportive teacher and environment is crucial, as is the motivation to practice regularly. The author shares personal experiences of starting young and facing challenges, yet they continue to play and enjoy the instrument. While not becoming a professional violinist, the author emphasizes the joy of playing in an orchestra and the personal growth that comes from playing the violin. The article suggests that with dedication, playing the violin can become less difficult and more about the love for the craft and the sense of community it brings.

Opinions

The author believes that starting young can be advantageous for those aiming to become professional violinists.
Consistent practice and a clear goal are important for improvement.
Supportive teaching and a positive environment are key to enjoying and excelling in violin playing.
The author values the experience of playing in an orchestra for the sense of unity and shared passion it provides.
Personal satisfaction and enjoyment are considered more important than professional success in playing the violin.
The author has accepted their role as an amateur violinist and finds fulfillment in this identity.
Motivation and setting goals are seen as essential to overcoming the challenges of learning the violin.
The author suggests that it's never too late to start playing the violin for fun, but becoming a professional after a certain age may be unrealistic.

It depends on what you think is hard.

If you’re just a starter, yes it can be, but that doesn’t apply to someone else. In the beginning, you have to be consisted of playing the violin. You should have in mind what you want to learn. Find the right teacher who is willing to help adults and not only children.

When I started playing the violin at the age of seven, it was hard, but I wanted to play just like my sister. So I was consistent and preserved to what I wanted. I didn’t practice that much when I was a teenager, but I also had school and I played in a lot of orchestras as a teenager. So, practicing during my other time was a thing. As well as one of my parents came into my all the time, without knocking on my door, that I was not playing well, that my notes were out of tune. Every time it came downstairs when one of my parents did the laundry. I didn’t like that at all. It didn’t give me space to learn on my own. And if I said that my teacher differently, one of my parents told the teacher was wrong.

Still, I am playing the violin, I still love what I am doing. Still playing in an orchestra. I love to play together because you feel one whole thing together. You do playing together for fun, you see and hear that when you’re in the audience. That is really a beautiful part of playing a musical instrument.

It doesn’t matter at what age you start playing the violin, because at every age you can have fun playing the violin or any other instrument you like. You never have to be a professional violinist, but having fun is the main thing.

Once I wanted to be a professional. Soon after I spoke about it with my parents, I realized I wasn’t ready to commit to being at the conservatory at the age of 16. I did an audition, but I wasn’t accepted. In the classical music world it is very important you show your talent when you’re about this age.

Somehow, playing the violin has changed me as a person. Now I accepted being a great amateur violinist (as say it myself, which I never dare to say about what I can do), as I am more relaxed while playing the violin and enjoying what I am playing.

To answer your question. Now it isn’t that hard playing the violin unless you have to learn a new piece, but being patient gives you all that you’ve got during playing the violin. Everything you’ve got as a violinist. And as a person too. It will make you the person you are today.

When I don’t have any motivation to play the violin, or anything else in life, it could be hard to play the violin. But when you master the violin the way you can, then it is not hard. Make goals when you start playing the violin. Starting to play the violin can be at any age. If you want to be a professional, the age of 30 will be too late. Starting to play the violin at the age of seven gives you the possibility to be a great professional: you started early.

Make a plan, as said. With or without your teacher. Not matter if you want to be a professional or not. Your teacher will help you.

Originally published at http://quora.com.

Agnes Laurens is a writer. She writes for the local newspaper. Agnes lives in Bunnik, The Netherlands, with her husband and three daughters. Writing is — aside from playing the violin — one of her passions since childhood. She is on Twitter and Instagram.

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