I want to beging learning how to play the violin, but I am not sure if I should start learning from a teacher now, or if I should buy a book, and only go to a teacher once I have the basics down? Which one is better in the long run?
I don`t want to form bad habbits learning on my own, but would it be a waste to get a teacher now, when I don`t know anything about it?

Junius

A teacher is the best choice. See, the first couple of lessons shouldn`t involve any playing anyway. A teacher can teach you how to have correct position, something a book can try to do. Learning from a book (I did), will lead to bad habits. Period. You will have to re-learn something. Study great violinists and their form...let a violinist teach you good form. It is so important. There are little things that are organic...that a book can never teach. Experience is key. Go for the teacher! (And I promise, it has nothing to do with the fact that I used to be one! lol...well, maybe a little bias on my part!) I learned from a book, or was "orchestra-taught", all the way until college. And, I did well, I got I ratings at state, I played 1st violin, etc...but, when I got a teacher in college, I found out that I taught myself wrong...some of my technique and form was off. It made it very difficult and frustrating to learn advanced technique. Believe it or not, I relearned Mary had a little lamb and basic scales, when I was ready to learn Bach Partitas...lol. I needed that good techique to pull it off. See, I got the sound right, but not the fingering and things. I took short cuts, I didn`t get the little tricks and things that teachers have...so I missed out. It`s just better to have a teacher show you the ropes. Good Luck!!!!

Thank you very much for the information. I think i will go the teacher route.

Are there any specific books anyone recommends that are good for a beginner?

Junius

You might wait for the teacher to assign a book. they may have a specific idea of what they think a good book is. There are lots of good starters out there. I`ve seen All for Strings...Suzuki...etc...There are many. The teacher will give you some suggestions. Usually, they like to teach from a certain book anyway, so you might want to wait to buy books until they tell you which ones. You could save some money that way, not buying the wrong book and all. Also, seldom, but sometimes...a teacher can get a deal on lots of books at once...and they can give you a little deal if you buy one from them. It`s rare...but you never know.

Ok, thanks a lot for your help.
Now comes the hard part of begging!
I just hope it doesn`t sound like im slowly killing the cat for too long!