Would appreciate any advice from musicians

[WallyParticipant]

For the longest time I have had the desire to learn to play the violin and the time in my life is right, but don’t have any idea where to start. I looked at pricing for violins $ 400-2000 seemed to be the general price, any particular brand better than others? Looked at lessons online or would it be better to get it in person by a local?

"what a waste of a life, to marry, give up your freedom, just for the hope of not dying alone. Don't get married Son."

[SandalsParticipant 4254]

Start with a used violin, such as from craigslist, for a couple hundred bucks. Pay the money, and don’t be a cheapskate about it. Make sure it’s a 4/4 violin size (full size). Make sure it is set correctly.

any particular brand better than others?

Don’t get a VSO (Violin-shaped-object)

Eastman violins are good. But every violin is different. You don’t have to worry about that now, but don’t buy one from Amazon – they do not hold their tuning and are impossible to play, literally. They are VSOs. Begin with Essential Elements book I, and don’t skip a single page. Read every single word. Go through the first three essential elements books with your teacher. Use your metronome religiously. Each book will take you one year. Don’t start Suzuki until you finished the third Essential Elements book (after year three).

You cannot learn violin online, period. You must have a good teacher, and that will cost you money. Just pay it. Don’t play from loose sheets your teacher gives you. Just follow the Essential Elements method exactly, and don’t skip any exercise. Begin with Pizzicato – just follow the book. You shouldn’t use the bow until about a month or two into your lessons. Start off holding it in guitar position, just like the book says. Follow the book.

In about three or four years, you can pick up great pro tips from online videos, such as from that smokin’ hot chick in her 50s who tells you exactly how she plays cannon in D, but not in the beginning.

It will take you six months to get comfortable holding the bow. Don’t even try to feel comfortable holding it. It will feel awkward as hell, and there’s nothing you can do about it, so just move on. But hold it correctly, though. Just don’t expect it to feel normal for a long while. A year or two from now holding the bow will feel incredible – it’s a fcuking mind trick.

Use the metronome for EVERY exercise. This is absolutely necessary.

Do not use any book other than Essential Elements. If you teacher wants you to use another book, fcuk ’em. Get a new teacher. And as goes without saying, learn from a man, always.

Best of luck. In a few years you can serenade your lesbian sister’s third divorce with your violin.

I take that back – don’t have any contact with women… even your sister.

[WallyParticipant]

That was fantastic, just what I was looking for! I looked at those Amazon violins and was thinking the same, much appreciated Sandals!

"what a waste of a life, to marry, give up your freedom, just for the hope of not dying alone. Don't get married Son."

[StealthParticipant 5388]

Hey.
I know this stuff.
Don’t run out and buy a cheap violin.
Find a local teacher and ask them what to get… They will likely know of instruments for sale locally, or a surplus of student violins they have in the closet, or can send you to a good value luthier, etc. They’ll be happy to help you find a good instrument.

DON’T BUY A CHEAP ONE OFF THE INTERNET.
There has been a massive influx of what violinists call “violin-shaped objects” that are not really violins, from China, pakistan, wherever.
It’s not like a drumhead where you beat it and it makes a sound. A violin has to be assembled so as to resonate when you bow the strings, and if it’s not in tune with itself, what you have is a paperweight or decorative furniture item. 99.99999% of cheap ones you’ll find online are these “violin-shaped objects.” They are so-called because they look like a violin, smell like a violin, but don’t play like one. They’re dead weight, and very expensive dead weight at that. The teachers I’ve known have all told their students they need to get a new instrument after their parents find these inexpensive ones online, and you end up buying twice. (And guess where the lemon violin-shaped object ends up? As a cheap violin on Craigslist…)

It’s easy… Just dial the number of a local teacher and let them know you need a place to start, and go from there. Trust me.

"Once you’ve taken care of the basics, there’s very little in this world for which your life is worth deferring." -David Hansson. "It’s not when women are mean or nasty that anything is out of the ordinary. It’s when they are NICE to you that you have to be on high alert..." -Jackinov.

[ZarathustraParticipant 2246]

I don’t know anything about violins but I will say….

As everyone has already said if you are serious about learning an instrument make sure you get a quality instrument. If you buy it on Craigslist or whatever, you may save some cash, but make sure its good. One of my biggest regrets is I waited almost 20 years to buy a good quality guitar. I didn’t think I was a very good player so I had a hard time justifying the expense. When I got a decent instrument I realised it wasn’t my lack of talent holding me back all these years it was the crap guitars I was playing. I bought a used guitar on Craigslist which is easily worth $2,500 but the guy only wanted $600! (I found Christmas time is a great time to buy used instruments online lots of guys need cash at x-mas for the little cupcake and rug rats and they cannot wait to sell at full price.)

[WallyParticipant]

Stealth wrote:

Hey.I know this stuff.Don’t run out and buy a cheap violin.Find a local teacher and ask them what to get… They will likely know of instruments for sale locally, or a surplus of student violins they have in the closet, or can send you to a good value luthier, etc. They’ll be happy to help you find a good instrument.
DON’T BUY A CHEAP ONE OFF THE INTERNET.There has been a massive influx of what violinists call “violin-shaped objects” that are not really violins, from China, pakistan, wherever.It’s not like a drumhead where you beat it and it makes a sound. A violin has to be assembled so as to resonate when you bow the strings, and if it’s not in tune with itself, what you have is a paperweight or decorative furniture item. 99.99999% of cheap ones you’ll find online are these “violin-shaped objects.” They are so-called because they look like a violin, smell like a violin, but don’t play like one. They’re dead weight, and very expensive dead weight at that. The teachers I’ve known have all told their students they need to get a new instrument after their parents find these inexpensive ones online, and you end up buying twice. (And guess where the lemon violin-shaped object ends up? As a cheap violin on Craigslist…)
It’s easy… Just dial the number of a local teacher and let them know you need a place to start, and go from there. Trust me.

Excellent advice, the poor man always pays twice, I’ll talk to a local teacher and see if I can find a proper violin. Thanks Stealth

"what a waste of a life, to marry, give up your freedom, just for the hope of not dying alone. Don't get married Son."

[743 roadmasterParticipant]

Don’t know anything about violins, but a quote from a recent Arnold video is relevant. It went along the lines of “Just think of what you will be able to do with one hour practice a day for a year. 365 hours”

From my own learning exp on strings, The short term daily can be depressing and slow. Think of it after a years worth of practice.

mgtow is its own worst enemy- https://www.campusreform.org/

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