Ever seen a violin player elite or not in full flow enthralling audiences and wondered how long it took them to learn to play like that? Have you ever wondered if it was hard or easy?
Is violin hard to learn? The violin is one of the most complicated instruments to master how to play. The strings, the pegs, and the bow all require the highest level of skill for you to play it perfectly. That, however, doesn’t mean it would take you ages to play the violin perfectly.
Though hard to master to play, the violin won’t resist you if you are ready to put in the hard work. If you want to learn more about how violins are to play, then read on. We have so much to share.
Why is the Violin So Hard to Learn?
The violin is one of the most complex instruments to learn how to play. Why is that? What makes it so hard for most people to grasp how to play it? Well, we can start by saying that the violin is pretty complicated.
Why do we say so?
The violin has several parts, each integral to its proper functioning. To enable someone to use it well, they have to know what each piece does. However, one thing that also makes it difficult is the lack of some parts.
There are parts you will typically find in other instruments. These are the keys, buttons, or frets. They make it easy to use those instruments. However, these parts aren’t on a violin.
Instead, a player merely has to rely on their fingers alone! You have no keys or buttons to help you set the tune and achieve the right consistency of sound and will only rely on your sense of touch.
The violin has relatively shorter strings if you compare them to the cello. That means you have to be exceptionally accurate in positioning the fingers to get the right tune. Any slight miscalculation (even a few inches) and you produce a horrible tune.
Another thing that makes the violin so hard to play is that you will struggle to get the right bow style. The pressure you apply with the bow needs to be neither too much nor too little. Too much on either side, and you are out of tune.
Violins are also quite tricky to tune. When tuning the violin, you have to rotate the pegs to work on the strings to get the proper tension. This, for a beginner, is a nightmare, since you don’t know how to achieve the correct pressure.
So in nutshell,
The Violin Has Short Strings
The violin has relatively shorter strings if you compare them to the cello. That means you have to be exceptionally accurate in positioning the fingers to get the right tune. Any slight miscalculation (even a few inches) and you produce a horrible tune.
Getting the Perfect Bow Style is Hard
Another thing that makes the violin so hard to play is that you will struggle to get the right bow style. The pressure you apply with the bow needs to be neither too much nor too little. Too much on either side, and you are out of tune.
Violins are Hard to Tune
Finally, violins are also quite tricky to tune. When tuning the violin, you have to rotate the pegs to work on the strings to get the proper tension. This, for a beginner, is a nightmare since you don’t know how to achieve the correct pressure.
The Benefits of Playing the Violin
Most people might think that playing the violin only benefits a person by helping them relax. However, some other reasons should make you consider learning how to play the violin.
While the violin is quite hard to learn, it is worth it. Here’s why.
An Improved Brain
Mastering how to play the violin will help reduce the slowing of the brain processes, prevent memory loss, and help the brain develop. That’s because there are many facets of the brain that are involved in playing the violin.
Therefore, learning how to use the violin will enable these parts of the brain to develop. That means you will be less prone to memory loss and a reduction in brain processing speed.
Boosts Children’s Math Skills
If your child is struggling with math, maybe you need to enroll them in a violin class. The violin is one of the many instruments that boost the mathematical ability of children. It appears engaging all those brain muscles, and the fingers will help kids count better.
You Will become More Creative
The brain learns to improvise a lot when you’re playing the violin. That’s part of what most experienced violinists call muscle memory. The memory gets better with each practice session a violin player plays the violin.
That enables the person to be more creative.
It Is an Emotional Outlet
For some people, the connection they feel with their violins is hard to match. The violin then becomes an emotional outlet for them. It is the only way they can express themselves fully.
Boosts Children’s Social Skills
For children that usually experience social anxiety, learning how to play the violin might help reduce that. That’s because the violin gives them something they can socialize about if they love it.
You Will Physically Benefit
Playing the violin requires good posture, steady hands, and a robust upper body. That means over time; you can strengthen your body as you use the violin.
What You Need to Know to Learn How to Play the Violin
You need to know the below things before considering learning how to play the violin.
It will take you some time to get it
This isn’t a matter of someone being a fast learner or not. Violins are pretty challenging to land how to play, and such will take you some time to grasp everything involved. Therefore, when you see it taking time, don’t worry because that’s how it is.
You Won’t Sound Like Movie Violin Players
Ever heard how sweet the violins in moves sound? As you learn how to play, you might want to sound like that. However, that shouldn’t bother you since only the most experienced people can play the violin like that.
Ability Varies and Doesn’t Depend on Age
If you’re learning how to play the violin, you need to know that millions of people in the world are probably better than you. You might even find a four-year-old who can play the violin better than you.
Violin Players are a community
It isn’t only you playing the violin. There are so many other people playing, making a whole community of violin players, so welcome that community.
Learning How to Play the Violin
There are several ways you can learn how to play the violin. The most common is going to a music school where an experienced player will teach you all the basics and help you achieve perfection.
Of course, the best option is to start as soon as possible and when you’re younger. Children have a remarkable ability to grasp new concepts and will catch on faster. That doesn’t mean it will be difficult for an adult to learn how to play the violin.
All you need is to put in the hard work. Learning how to play the violin perfectly will require you to work that hard. The average violin player should have mastered the basics after one year.
Therefore, if you were hoping to learn how to play the violin in six months, that won’t be possible. Unless you have the remarkable ability to grasp all that’s required, it will take you at least one ear to say you are a violin player.
We are in the age of incredible knowledge access. Platforms such as YouTube might offer you a way to teach yourself how to play the violin. However, you will still need someone to take you through the motions. It is possible if you give absolute dedication to learning.
If you’re to get a violin instructor to teach you how to play, you will need to have a considerable amount of money. Most instructors will have their packages charged per session.
The sessions might last an hour, thirty minutes or forty-five minutes. The charges often vary depending on the school or instructor, but will mostly range between $40 and $70 for every session.
Still, some places will cost you much less. I am giving you the best sources I’ve found.
The Best Resources for Learning How to Play the Violin
Learning to play the violin will need you to have several resources that will make it easier. For instance, you could consider several courses to help you learn faster.
Masterclasses By the Itzhak Perlman
One of the best ways is paying for a master class. As we had mentioned earlier, learning from the best is the surest way to learn how to play the violin. Fortunately, there are many experienced violin players offering masterclasses.
Among these is Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and four Emmy Awards Itzhak Perlman, who will only charge you $15 a month for their master class. His masterclasses are pretty concise, so you can be sure that you will learn how to play the piano quickly.
Itzhak is an award-winning violin player that has been playing the violin for years. That’s why we think he should be one of your first options if you want to learn how to play the violin.
Before you sign up, you can view the trailer for the classes and then sign up. He has taught many other violin players, so you will be in excellent hands if you sign up for his masterclass.
Violin Courses on Skillshare
YouTube isn’t the only option if you want to learn how to play the violin online. Skillshare is also another popular resource that could help you learn how to play the violin fast enough. It has a wealth of resources you can learn from.
Skillshare is a good option because it has a pool of different violin teachers. Of course, you need to filter out the best from the mediocre. The best way to do that is by looking at the reviews or what former students are saying about the instructors.
You can access the Skillshare lessons by paying an annual subscription fee of 168$. If you prefer to pay monthly, then it will cost you 32$ only. After that, you can access several classes from the best violin players.
Hire a Personal Teacher Online
It’s the age of the internet, so that means you can get a teacher online and hire them to teach you. For this, you need only to log into the most common freelancing sites, such as Fiverr and Upwork, and search for a teacher. Again, the reviews will be helpful here in helping you select the best option
Last Words
Although learning the violin is hard work, you can still make it if you are willing to put in the work. We hope what we have outlined here helps you learn how to play fast enough. All the best.
