All of my friends think that the violin is a dumb instrument. They haven`t never played it. They say violin players can`t count. What should I say to them?

P.S. Please anwer my other seperate question. It`s name is advice needed. Thanks

Of course violin players can count, we should be excellent at fractions. How old are you? Early teens? I had a similar problem about a year ago, but if you enjoy playing, and you get to quite a high standard it shouldn`t matter what others say because you`ll feel great! I`m nearly 15, and now I`m getting to play more advanced stuff I don`t care how much people diss me, I wouldn`t give up for the world now, just hold on for a few years and ignore them!

On the contrary I feel that the violin is a such a great and sophisticated instrument.
It just looks so cultured and high class to be seen playing the violin. If violin does not have a class of its own, why then would the most expensive violins be much more expensive than other instruments? No other instruments other than the violin(or quite rarely, the cello) can command up to millions of dollars. Why would people be willing to pay so much to buy good violins?
Be proud of yourself and your violin.
In fact i`m so proud of being able to play the violin that i almost look down on people who do not know how to appreciate the music of the violin.

And of course violin players can count. Violins carry the melody in the orchestra, and they often have to play the most complicated rhythms in an orchestra piece compared to other orchestra instruments. You can almost see violinsts` fingers fly about the fingerboard. Many great conductors of orchestra are accomplished violinists themselves. If they can`t count, how are they ever able to conduct an orchestra?

Samantha,

The only thing violinists do is count when they play the violin. How old are you and what grade are you in? From how your friends talk you must not be that old.

Thanx for your advice. I am 13 years old.

What? What morons do u have for friends? Sorry for this rude usage, but I get really pi**ed off from reading this ridiculous comment made by yr friends. Let me assure u 1 thing dear,...String players have the most acute sense of hearing and rhythm...caz they rely on their `feel` alot. And who says that violin is a dumb instrument? If that`s the case, why are the violinists the highest paid in the whole orchestra?

Highest paid in an orchestra eh? That`s a nice thing to know.

Or, look at it from the different angle of traditional music. I am old enough to be your grandfather and have just taken up the violin so that I can play traditional music and I wish I had started 40 years ago (as every adult learner will tell you) but, back to the plot.

On the old sailing ships, there was often a fiddler who gave the rhythms as the crew hoisted the sails or raised the anchor. A good rhythm helped in this hard work and such was his aafect on the morale of the crew that (and here`s the important bit) he was rarely given the hard, unpleasant jobs Then, again, if you had a fiddler in your community he could play at dances and other social gatherings and so grateful were his friends that he would often be rewarded with free drinks throughout the evening

Now, I am not advocating this as a lifestyle but, if you want to avoid hard work and get free drink then carry on learning.

The most complicated rythms?
Rythm isn`t just about speed, it`s a lot of feeling, counting and so on also.
Every musician ought to be good at counting, violinists included. How would they else be able to play together if one can`t count to four and another can` understand how you can play eight tunes in one bar but the beat is 4/4?
I would guess you`re friends only jellous. After all, there isn`t many instruments that can sound as beutiful as a well played violin (but on the other hand, not many instruments that can sound as bad either if you can`t play.)

..."After all, there isn`t many instruments that can sound as beutiful as a well played violin (but on the other hand, not many instruments that can sound as bad either if you can`t play.)..." This I agree totally with u. Ha! What a way to put it!

The reason for this is that other instrument players often have to count up to 20 to 30 bars before playing a note but then this can be very boring so the conductor actually brings them in, you probably have seen them point their baton at a flutist or percussionist for instance. Tell your friends (if they carry on) that other instrument players do not know what "f" and "p" mean especially brass players who can`t do "ppp"

Samantha, what instruments do your friends play? Guitar, drums...oh I know I bet they play that little triangle thingy Maybe they don`t realize that the violin is one of the hardest instruments to become proficient in or maybe they do know and thats why they think it is dumb.

Either way Samantha never let anyone discourage you from doing something that brings you joy. If you love it and it brings you happiness...it cant be all that dumb now can it.

man ur lucky, if im young ill learn everything thing

Violin is the BEST! my friends think its cool that i play the violin. my friends look up to me i play in a band and i am concertmaster of an orchestra. it makes me unique!