Would someone share some of their knowledge of virtuosos and at what age they have started playing? or perhaps an inspiriation story? that would help a lot, i guess.

Joshua Bell`s mother bought him a 1/16 violin at age 4 when she found him constructing and tuning a violin out of rubber bands in his bedroom.

Most other virtuosos seem to have spent their childhoods having their backsides kicked round the carpathian mountains by vicious monks (I exaggerate - but Yehudi Menuhin tells the story of being made to play the Chaconne 3 times end to end when he was 11 in order to teach him a lesson about stamina).

Vanessa-Mae hasn`t always been a violinist...when she was 4, she was playing the piano, and she started the violin at a later age. Apparently she cahnged because of the feel and shape of the violin, and how it`s more `intimate` than the piano.

I dunno...start off as a pianist, and end up with a Guadanini from 1761 thats worth about £200,000!

To be a "true virtuoso" u need to start early in your childhood, if not, nothing stops you enjoying what you play, but hey thats the most important thing.

James
Administrator
http://soloviolin.com - Website for Violinists

virtusos....... aren`y those like the whacked out musicians who like when come out of their mother`s womb automatically have like a violin and bow in their hands?

virtusosos....... aren`y those like the whacked out musicians who like when come out of their mother`s womb automatically have like a violin and bow in their hands?

some guy hit the mark.

Whoa whoa whoa sweet child o` mine !!!!

"To be a "true virtuoso" u need to start early in your childhood"

I think you guys are getting "virtuoso" mixed up with "prodigy". A virtuoso is a highly talented performer. Why does this mean you have to start young, or even have your talent from a young age? A "prodigy" is used to describe a child with exeptional talent (but does not necessarily have to be a child).

Amen to that! I think a lot of people are put off from learning an instrument (not just violin) cos they didnt start from when they were little. When I was thinking about learning the violin I asked a local teacher and he said I was far too old to start learning (19 at the time) so I found another teacher and I wouldnt say I`m anywhere near a virtuoso, but I progressed pretty fast - faster than she expected and I learnt something that I`ve always wanted to do. I think there`s far too much emphasis on how good you are at it, if you`re happy doing what you`re doing whether you`re good or bad it doesnt matter.
Ok so kind of went off the virtuoso mark, but I think whether you start at 4 or 40, anyone is capable if they have the drive to do it.