Hey,

I`m a 13 year old teenage boy and I`m in grade 7 for piano, 6 for violin. My schoolwork is taking up most of my free time, so I haven`t been practicing the violin much (the only time I practice is right before my violin lesson =P). But for some reason, I`ve been able to make it up to here. Now, though, the new 6-notes-to-a-bow scales, MUCH more frequent position-jumping (from first to fourth etc.) and extra-fast notes, all at the same time, are quite overwhelming.

I`ve been thinking of stopping violin for quite some time now. Just today, I told my violin teacher that I was going to stop (it sure was hard making that decision; I`ve been learning from her for over six years...; she just said "best of luck" as I walked out of her house for the last time. She`s pretty old now, about 70 I think.) Now, though, I feel kind of empty inside and it`s all very weird. I suddenly feel like I`ve lost something. The thought that I`ll never go to the teachers house for lessons again, as I`ve been doing weekly since I was 5, and that I`ll never finish Grade 8 in violin bothers me a lot now. And now I suddenly have much more free time, but I don`t know what to do with it.

What I need now is your advice. How does it feel to have completed Grade 8? Do you have any feeling of accomplishment? And should I tell the teacher I want to continue with the lessons? Is it worth it?

*Sigh* So many decisions...

Okay...here`s my POV...

...I quit violin when I was 14 (Grade 9)...and took it up again when I was 42 (last year!)...

...I really, really, REALLY wish I had kept playing all along...I really, really, REALLY wish I hadn`t stopped...

...I`m lovin` it now...the lessons, the practice, the performances...but I`m at the the Grade 4-5 level...if I had kept going I`d be so much further ahead now...

...but you know what they say about hindsight...

Good luck with whatever decision you make...

dude don`t quit.
i quit around your age and i`m just starting again at 16. and damn i wish i didn`t QUIT!!!
GO GET YOUR TEACHER BACK.

yes i agree! go get your teacher back! you will severly regret this in the future! but then again. if you quit now....and you start back up in say...20 years...it makes you appreciate it more...and you`ll learn how valuable it was. but if you dont quit...you dont get to know that...you just get good at the violin from the start...which is good right?

*sigh* yes i know the feeling...im in year 10 and have been playing for 6, at one point i really hated it and i thought it was totally boring. but then i found a new love for music and continued playing and now i love every second of it.

so,
TAKE IT UP AGAIN!!!!

seriously youll love it, why don`t you go find another band to play in or something with school? it will be heaps fun

good luck
~scarlett

Now I think about it, that first post up there sounds too emotional =D I better loosen up a bit. *shakes himself up*

Thanks for all the moral support you`re giving me. Everybody on the music forums seem kind, at the very least. Meh, must be the music itself that lightens your hearts =D. I really appreciate all the suggestions.

Yes, I think it`s dawning on me that I really should go and start again. I don`t want to regret quitting for the rest of my life. I just looked at the violin sheet music section, and I`m printing out some now =). I asked my mum about it and she said it`s a pity I`m stopping when I`m so close to finishing Grade 8 (I was hoping to finish both piano and violin before going to college). Add that to your support, and walla- the decision becomes much more easier ^_^. So yes, I`ll tell my teacher that I want to start lessons again.

I just wonder what she`ll think of me wanting to stop so suddenly then wanting to start again so soon XD.

I`ll be sure to post here when I start again =),
Me

Yes go you!!! I`m glad you`ve taken it back up, you won`t regret it



And if you ever feel like you don`t love violin for a while, just let it rest and it will grow back on you later. Just don`t quit, because then you wont be able to pick it up again.

dnt quit!i feel like this sumtimes as i play violin, piano, saxophone and guitar n sumtimes my work suffers.if u quit tho u will seriously regret it wen ur older.make urself a timetable and stick 2it!!just dnt 4get 2 have breaks and time 4 friends as wel coz ur only 13 once!!

dude nice move picking it up again...you won`t regret it. by the way if you have little/no time to practice, try a few minutes in the morning...that short period of intense practice can be as if not more efficient than practicing for hours in the afternoon.

Good for you for pciking it up again, but don`t be afraid to take breaks if you feel like you need to - just don`t quit completely. Sometimes I like to take breaks from my current repertoire and play old music or fun fiddle tunes. Don`t let playing violin become so that it`s not fun anymore.

nooo you shouldent stop! Unless you hate it, or want to stop... But if you like the violin always keep it up even if you dont have alot of time to practice, thats ok. Its not like you have to practice 8 hours a day =)
-Rebecca

Man, thats what I like. I`m glad you are picking it up agian, or at least might. Your teacher is 70? Then she/he has probably had so many students that one quiting wouldn`t make a difference. Well, you can certainly change that. I`m sure she/he (sry I didn`t catch which) will be pleased to see you back. And, why stop at grade 8? Music is a great carrer or hobby, and you can use that skill for the rest of your life, playing in your church choir, playing gigs for fun, playing in your community band, teaching others, and so on.

Ok, sorry about the he/she thing, I just re-read your post. sorry again!

That was odd. huh? was me. I guess my computer switched the things around or something. Thats really weird

Never give up violin!