Hello,

Ah, I love the sound of the violin! I`ve always dreamed of playing the violin, but everyone in my family keeps telling me that it`s: "Too hard, too expensive, too screechy," and that I`m `too old to play it` and that `it will give me a goiter on my neck`. Lovely!

They`ve tried to get me to play the piano and the guitar, but I never was all that interested. I did learn to play a few songs, though, but I was never really that good at either.

I have some slight medical problems with my neck and spine (something I was born with). If I play violin, will it really bother me? Because I would think that laying your head to the side all the time would make your neck stiff and sore. Is this true? Or can you play it differently, without it bothering your neck? If some sort of comfort for this problem could be arranged, I`d like to seriously learn to play it. And I don`t think I`m too old. I`m only 20!

How difficult is it to play? I heard that it is most difficult of all instruments. But people say the same thing about learning certain languages, and I`ve done pretty well with learning some of the most `difficult` languages (such as Japanese). Of course, the `language` of music is a bit more foreign to me since I have never really learned to read notes (only guitar tabs and such).

I thought about playing viola since I wouldn`t have to put it up on my shoulder, but I heard that violists get lame parts in the orchestra. Sigh!

What to do? Have any answers to my questions?

~ STRAVINSKYSAURUS

you know what? you dont lay your head to the side. its a very slight tilt with little or no discomfort to your neck. so i really encourage you to play. Picking up the violin was one of the best decision i ever made in my life- i can`t imagine life without music. i wont lie though- its definately not easy. and in the beginning, you WILL screech. but its really not so bad. However, if money is an issue, its really not. you can get a reasonable violin for a beginner for less than 100 dollars on ebay- they`re everywhere. violins dont have to be expensive? can they be? yeah. but they really dont have to be. I`ve been playing for 8 years and I really must say that i love it with all my heart. I have 3 violins, and i just recently purchased a 4th off of ebay, and i`m really not that wealthy or anything. they really dont have to be that expensive. And even though playing violin is hard, its really not impossible at all. its harder than many things in life, but i wouldnt say it was excruciatingly difficult:-p I say you at least give it a try and see how you like it- and if you don`t, and your concerns about your neck, etc are valid, then you can stop! no big deal. i definately say you go for it.
-Sara
btw, how old are you? nobody`s ever too old for music, of course, and if you`re still taking that much advice from your family you can`t be that old:-p I`m 16 and have been playing for 8 years, but i know many people my age who haven`t been playing for half as long. like i said, give it a shot or you`ll always wonder...

oops. you`re 20. guess i missed that part. lol. and you definately have to put a viola on your shoulder when playing- definately, lol. but yeah(between you and me, i mean, i might be a little biased, but at the starting stages, violas really do get lame parts:-p i mean, they can get better ones in later levels of difficulty but you`ll start out with really small parts. i suggest you get a private tutor, since being 20 i dont suppose there`s much opportunity to like, join a school group or anything. but like i said, defiantely go for it!

Sara -

I still DO go to college, but I was told that our `intro to music` classes aren`t really for `beginners`. It`s more like for people who have already played an instrument in high school. Eh! Rats!

Ho, hum! Sorry I said that the viola isn`t played on the shoulder. It is but I just forgot. I was trying to remember how they were played last time I saw the orchestra play. I was wrong. Oops!

~ Stravinskysaurus

Why did it read `4` replies on this post when there were only 2? Oookey! That makes no sense.

~ Stravinskysaurus

Eh! The viola players sure seem to get a lot of flak. I was reading some jokes about violists and some are pretty harsh. Here are some of the (ahem, `less crude`?) examples:

Q: How do you keep your violin from getting stolen?
A: Put it in a viola case.

Q: How do you make a violin sound like a viola?
A: Sit in the back and don`t play.

Q: What is the difference between a violin and a viola?
A: A viola burns longer.

Q: Why does a viola burn longer than a violin?
A: It is usually still in the case.

Q: What do a viola and a lawsuit have in common?
A: Everyone is happy when the case is closed.

Q: Why are violinist jokes so short?
A: So violists can remember them.

And here`s one about the cello:

Q: How do you make a cello sound beautiful?
A: Sell it and buy a violin

Heheheh. Oh, boy.

But seriously, I think that to each person, should they work with the best of thier ability. It`s when all the musicians work together as one, in harmony with one another, is when music truly becomes so much richer and sweeter. If one person plays well, and another doesn`t seem to care whether or not they are in tune, it can ruin the entire song. That`s why everyone playing symphony has to work together in cooperation with thier fellow musicians.

By the way, Anyone else have comment as to the violin being bad for one`s neck or not?

Could you help me out here?

~ Stravinskysaurus

lol, what i meant. college music is probably like 100000 times harder than high school music- and even high school music classes werent made for true beginners. so i figured it wouldnt be right for you. and maybe the violas were pizzicatoing(plucking) something and their director didnt make them play in proper position..? seems unlikely, but its possible. well, good luck, in any case

Hi Strav,

without knowing the specific details of your neck & spinal problems, it`s hard to say whether in the long term playing is going to bother you.

Certainly playing the violin is physically stressful and awkward at first, but like any activity you build the necessary muscles to adapt, and before long you can play for a couple of hours without any problems. Initially practise in short bursts, increasing the length as you gain confidence.

At 20 you`re certainly not too old to start - my Aunat started playing at 60, and enjoys herself, and her playing is giving pleasure to others. It`s all a matter of practise.

If you start violin and find it too uncomfortable, amybe celoo would be your instrument - no need to balance that under your chin.

Well i can only say that after learning the violin about two years ago, then i begin to realise how much i have lost before in life by not learning it earlier. I`m 25 now, sigh. I used to play the piano and guitar, and even learnt the flute. But after learning violin, i gave up everything else and decided to focus only on the violin. The violin and its repertoire is just so addictive and expressive that i feel that no other instruments can come on par with it.

It sounds really great! I`m such a classical music fan! I also like Celtic and Asian (Chinese/ Japanese) music (especially Celtic). The violin should be able to play all of those styles of music (and then some).

Now, the only issue for me would really be having enough $$$! I heard that buying a violin doesn`t have to be costly, but when you count all the other accessories: chin rest, tuner (I`m horrible with tuning!), songbooks, lessons . . . It can all add up to be pretty expensive! For some reason, I doubt I`m going to get a violin for Christmas . . . but I put it on my list anyway.

If that doesn`t work, I guess I shall have to get saving what little money I have.

~ Stravinskysaurus

i`m glad u decided u wanted to play, violin is awesome to play. the accessories aren`t to expensive. get them from sharmusic.com, best prices in my opinion. a shoulder rest would jus cost about 10 bucks, if u get a teacher then thye should tune the violin fer u to start out w/ b/c u h`ve to be very careful. er else u`ll end up breakin strings like i do, lol, i h`ve quite not the light touch when it comes to th`t, to much piano playing. u can get a nice yamaha tuner fer bout 35 bucks maybe find some cheaper. the cost isn`t to bad, jus get everythin in stages.

I started the violin 1 1/2 years ago, I`m 16, and I LOVE it!!! I actually just went to a Cremona Violin Exhibit today and it was amazing playing a $110,000 violin. The most expensive ones (around $150,000) I didn`t like, I actually liked the $6000 ones more than those, but then the guy looked at all the ones I liked, and picked out this $110,000 250 year old instrument and the sound came out sooo easy and my 2nd Mvmt G minor Concerto sounded sooooo much better!

Eventually, you will be able to tune, don`t worry, I thought the same thing at first, and I can now. I would suggest getting a teacher b/c they will point out problems that you won`t even notice. I hope you get your violin for Christmas!

-Tim

Hello,

I don`t know about the neck problems, but I can tell you about my experience in starting the violin.

I decided 5 months ago, at 34, to give it a try, and haven`t regretted a second! I put if off for several years, hearing as you have that is is so difficult, yet loving the sound. Well it certainly isn`t always easy, but it really doesn`t feel as hard as what people make out! And the pleasure of being able to play some maybe simple but nice pieces is wonderful.

I gave myself a chance to see what it was like with a private teacher, who lent me a violin for the first lesson. I enjoyed it so much that I bought my own the very next day!! She also played me a few pieces to show me what I would probably be able to play at the end of the first year. I have been having lessons since, and am progressing well. I definately recommend taking lessons, as there are many things to correct that are really important, and can change the sound you are getting completely!

I think that chosing your own instrument is something important in the results you get. I played the clarinet a little when I was younger, which although nice was not really my own choice. The violin was entirely my choice and it seems to suit me better.

I got a Stentor violin: they are not very expensive, and I really enjoy the sound mine has. I also bought a tuner some time after, which helps a lot, not only in making sure that your violin is tuned, but also when you want to check if you are getting the note right.

I do hope you give it a try! Let us know how you get on.

Brigitte