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George Sibajene

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Am just starting a violin what advice do you have for me?

Sirena Huang is really good on violin and I love it.

Am just starting a violin what advice do you have for me?

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    Amirpouya Ghaemiyan 50+

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    Mar 15 2012: Just insist !
    It takes about 1 year till you can practicing without fear of entering an angry-asleep man with a shotgun !
    and before everything make sure you know a whole thing about all kinds of musical instruments.
    I have a passion for playing drums-kit too .......

  • Arlinda Abazi

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    Mar 15 2012: Hello, welcome to my world! I saw someone play the violin on TV when I was 5 and insisted to my parents that I wanted to play one just like it! More than 30 years later, the violin is still very much a part of me, one of my best friends and companions, it provides the soundtrack to my life. You have picked a rather difficult instrument, but a very rewarding one. There are two approaches to this. Do by yourself whatever feels good and hope for the best, but I would not advice you to do it that way and cheat yourself out of a much greater experience. You do need help if you are serious about getting good results, even starting with the right posture which will make it easier to learn - and easier on your body - later. If for whatever reason you can't get regular private or group lessons, I suggest you get in touch with students from a nearby music school, or check out any nearby community centre that might offer music coaching. It will make a great difference both in your advancement and in your motivation and enjoyment. Search on the Net for groups in your area with the same interest and online support communities.

    You also need a lot of patience! Technically speaking, you need separate excercises for your left hand, for you right hand as well as for your pitch, rythm and coordination. Alternate between technical excercises and simple musical pieces that will make the process more pleasant and balanced. For the rythm - and to properly tune your violin that will go out of tune from being played, from changes in temperature/humidity in the environment or even just from sitting there - I would suggest you invest in what is called a metronome. Not expensive, this is a device that will help you stay on rythm. Some of them have also a function that gives you a note (in most cases an 'A' -or a 'la' depending on what system you are working on) that will be your reference to tune the violin.

    Congratulations on your decision! I understand the love and wish you all the best
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    Deborah Zotian

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    Mar 15 2012: Don't give up if you don't become an expert in a month! Keep practicing. If you don't have someone to listen, record yourself playing something. Then listen to a recording by an artist you respect/admire playing the same piece. You will start to see where you are off, or where you are right in your performance. Once you have that down, work on your interpretations.

    Most important - do it because you love it. Don't do it because someone (even you) thinks it would be good for you to do this.
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    Amrut Deshmukh

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    Mar 15 2012: Go ahead !
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    Mireille Chéry

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    Mar 15 2012: Have fun, don't take it for granted, respect your teacher and open your heart to the music!
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    Kriss Clement

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    Mar 11 2012: 1. You can get hints through youtube
    2. You shouldn't be shy about trying to barter some of your skills for lessons from someone. Easiest if you live near a university with a good music programme, but you can always try to find someone to help you out
    3. You will lose your skills faster than you think you will, so don't abandon your instrament for too long. Used to play both trumpet and flute, and I was pretty good, but 'put it down for a few weeks', life got in the way, and now have to learn everything all over again
    4. Learning to play the violin is like learning a new language. Give your muscles and your brain time to learn their job. Be patient with yourself. Understand that just trying and learning a little every day adds up, and is wonderful for building your brain.
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    Robert Winner 50+

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    Mar 10 2012: I love art. When my wife paints people say what beauty, what passion, a great talent. When I paint people say isn't that a tree on the left, is that a horse or cow (it was my dog), and other encouraging things. My point here is that painting is FOR ME. I enjoy it and have excepted my limitations. You listened to Sirena Huang and love it. If that is the level you want to achieve then go for it. However, be ready to accept that you may never reach that level. Rejoyce in your accomplishments and be happy with your passion. Real success is knowing who you are and accepting it. I wish you the very best. Bob

  • George Sibajene

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    Mar 10 2012: Think you so much for the advice.
    I must admit at times i feel like giving up but i still find my self practicing.
    one challenge which i face is that i have no teacher to monitor my progress and materials to use but i do my best and with what you have told me i know it will take me a long way

    THINK YOU

  • George Sibajene

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    Mar 10 2012: i don't know much about my instrument yet. Any techniques which Can help me because i have no teacher or monitor.
    THINK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ADVICE

  • George Sibajene

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    Mar 10 2012: Think you so much for the motivating advice and taking into consideration that you are a professional musician, i wonder how long it toke you to be who you are. but you have really aspirated me.
    i face some problems which are:
    1 i have no teacher or friend who can monitor my progress making it hard for me to know if i play correct things
    2 materials have always been a problem but i manage with what i have
    3 how can i improvising, rhythm, and tone if i don't know much on the violin but am so willing to learn.

    THINK ONCE AGAIN

    I LOVE THE VIOLIN
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    Viet Dung Pham 20+

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    TED Translator
    Mar 10 2012: Find a good teacher or friends who know about guitar and follows this quote: "Practice makes perfect". Good luck !!

  • Rhona Pavis 50+

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    Mar 9 2012: Close your eyes when you play and listen to the sounds you make. If it sounds good to you, it will probably sound good to everyone else who can hear the sounds you make. Thank you for choosing a positive way to spend your time, energy and express your true self. Power to the positive!
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    Simon Tam

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    Mar 9 2012: As a professional musician, I can tell you that the most important thing is to practice often, with regularity.

    - Try and schedule some time each day (at least 30-60 minutes) where you can practice uninterrupted.
    - The basic techniques and ideas are important: things like posture, breathing patterns, basic chords/scales are ideas that have been developed over thousands of years to help you get the best sound from the instrument. These are also the fundamentals where you will grow your other skills so master those concepts as much as you can.
    - It helps to find a friend or mentor to practice with (great for motivation)
    - It also helps to practice to a metronome so you develop solid timing and rhythm.
    - Have fun exercises (such as playing along to the radio) to learn mroe about improvising, rhythm, and tone.
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    Josh Lee

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    Mar 9 2012: My advice to you for starting any instrument is make sure you stick with whatever instrument you have chosen and practice everyday for at least 30 mins.
    For me, the interaction between me and my instrument is very intimate and requires a lot of practice to keep consistency when playing music.
    There are different "techniques" that are specific to each instrument, like how you hold the instrument, etc. just make sure if those techniques don't agree with you, they're just guidelines. Don't be afraid to experiment! After all, fun is the most important part of playing an instrument :)
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    Abhinandan Chatterjee

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    Mar 9 2012: When you play with you heart, and it doesn't sound right - its just the start. Don't give up.
    When its been a while trying but you do not sound great even when you play in tune - know that it takes practice. Don't give up.
    When you play good but not as good as Joshua bell - It took him years. So keep at it.
    Lastly - Know that when Joshua bell played at a metro station for 60 minutes in disguise, nobody really noticed the toughest pieces ever written. So don't give up.

    I am sure he enjoyed it though. He was able to do it because he never gave up. Neither should you. All the best and keep us posted on how the lessons went.
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