Learning To Play The Violin

Hi Daniele... Even if the message is a bit "old", I'll try to give you an answer. I should preface that I have never played the violin myself either... However, my middle school music teacher is a certified violinist, so occasionally he told us something about this instrument.

So. I am almost certain that it is very difficult to learn an instrument like the violin by oneself, which, unfortunately, presents quite a few technical difficulties and more. As you well know, the greatest difficulty in the violin is the fact that on the neck and therefore on its fingerboard there are no "frets", excuse the pun. Let me explain: for example, on a guitar we have metal frets along the neck. In other words, provided the guitar is tuned, we won't have intermediate notes, for example between an A and an A sharp. Just like on the piano.

The violin, however, does not have these frets; therefore, the execution of an "exact" A is not determined by a fret, but by the violinist's skill in "finding" the exact point where the length of the string is such that it produces an A. Obviously, the fact that there are "intermediate notes" is sometimes "exploited", but when it comes to playing exact notes, it becomes rather annoying to hear, for example in a scale, some notes that are slightly flat or slightly sharp. This is the first difficulty.

Secondly, one must take into account that the violin requires a particular preparation, which even I wouldn't know exactly what it is, but which is nonetheless necessary to approach study correctly.

As for purchasing a violin, I wouldn't know how to tell you... In any case, if you want, I will arrange to find out more from my teacher. If you have any particular questions...

See you soon!

Hi Daniele,

I just read your message. I am a violinist and I will try to help you (as much as I can).

To learn how to play the violin, it is essential to start with a teacher, and one who is also a good teacher....it is not possible on your own. In addition to the technical difficulty of the instrument, the physical posture must be correct. One studies standing upright and we must initially learn to hold the instrument correctly between the chin and the left shoulder in such a way that it is not supported by the left arm (which instead must be kept relaxed to be able to execute the notes without stiffening) but only supported by the chin and the shoulder. It is an important technique that must be taught so as not to adopt wrong physical habits. After this, we begin with the left hand which is placed on the fingerboard in 1st position (the simplest one). As mentioned by the friend who replied to you before me, the violin has a fingerboard that is, let's say, approximate; it does not have frets, we must create the notes ourselves with the help of an ear that I wouldn't call perfect, but almost. Violinists must have a very refined ear, otherwise they will not be able to achieve that intonation necessary for a good performance. To facilitate this difficulty, there are many positions that help the violinist have hypothetical reference points on the fingerboard. The 1st position is the lowest and closest to the nut; as you go up, the positions increase: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, etc. The higher you go, the closer the interval between one tone and another becomes. Therefore, 1 tone and 1 semitone are not always equal. We must also know how to hold the bow well. For this too, there is a particular technique, both for holding it and for using it. The bow is extremely important; it is through the bow that we manage to make the sound come out of the violin by rubbing it against the string. The bow consists of a calibrated wooden stick to which horsehair is placed, which is tightened via a screw. We must rub rosin on the hair, which is needed to create the necessary friction that allows the string to vibrate. There is also a specific technique for the bow. In the beginning, it's a bit dramatic because the first sound will be a croak that has nothing to do with music, and this is due to the fact that we must learn how to use the bow on the violin. To learn the violin, we must love this instrument very much because the beginning is very ugly and often many people get discouraged in the face of difficulty, but if you find a good teacher and don't give up, it is beautiful later on. You start to find a dignified sound after quite some time of studying. Then, as you progress, you will continue to improve more and more. The important thing is not to get discouraged and to persist. To start, you can buy a commercial violin that you can find in any music store. However, if you like it and want to go further, it is necessary to purchase a better or antique violin that you can find from luthiers. There are currently many antique violins available at good prices even on the internet. You just have to try them to understand if they are worth it or not. A good violin must have a beautiful, powerful voice on all 4 strings. Unlike the piano, which sounds better when it is new, the violin's voice becomes more beautiful the more mature it gets. It also depends on the luthier who built it. There are also highly regarded contemporary luthiers who make excellent instruments. I could continue talking to you about the violin for hours, but it seems to me that I have generally told you what is most important to know to begin. I wish you all the best and say goodbye.

Gilda

Thank you very much for the response to both...!

Anyway, I started (on January 3rd) taking weekly lessons from a friend of mine who has been studying violin at the conservatory for 5 years.

I learned the posture and now I am perfecting the bowing and the string crossing, I haven't put my left hand finger on the keyboard yet... there is still a long way to go... but I like it and I don't want to give up...........thank you anyway for your suggestions which are always very useful...! 😃 :D