Violin/Fiddle: On Learning to Play

Subject: Violin Question
Date: Mon, 10 May 2004 20:52:29 -0400

Hello,
My Name is Nathan. I am 16 and I play a variety of intruments: piano for ~10 1/2 yrs., Alto Sax for ~1 1/2 yrs., and have recently picked up the oboe. I was wondering if knowing previous intruments before starting from scratch on the violin would it help learn the violin fast and easier. Seeing that you would already know the musical part, would your main focus be on the technique part?

Thanks, Nathan

Greetings Nathan,

Yes, having previous experience with other instruments will facilitate the learning process on violin...music fundamentals themselves remain static no matter what instrument you're studying or playing...so with the theory established alone, other instruments become easier to pick up. Now, dexterity is another facet to consider...when playing a string instrument such as mandolin or guitar, some of the mechanics cross over to violin/fiddle...whereas, the mechanics from Alto Sax to violin would be entirely non-relative to the violin physically...even so, remember, the music fundamental remain the same...and your other edge is the ear you've already developed on these instruments will assist you immensely in attuning to the violin.

Hope this helps, Mickey

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2004 08:45:17 -0800 (PST)
Subject: fiddles

Sir,

Greetings Jeremy,

Wow!! What a wealth of information is on your site. I'm sure it's an amazing help to a lot of folks out there, and I want to say thank you from all of us.

You're most welcome...thanks for the inspiring accolades...

I'm 25, love a variety of music, and have been thinking of trying to learn the fiddle for about a year. I simply love listening to the instrument in traditional bluegrass and country tunes. However, I got kinda scared by some of the talk on the site about how difficult the instrument is to play (the only instrument I play is the trumpet, which is obviously a far cry from a fiddle). I've got no illusions of playing well in a quick time frame, but was wondering what kind of time commitment it takes to learn the instrument fairly well...not to the point where I'd win competitions, but just so I could enjoy the music and not send the family running for cover when I opened the case.

I can understand your apprehensions...and, there is no doubt that the fiddle can be quite difficult to learn...however, it's also quite rewarding to learn...and, if you have a passion to learn the fiddle, this is most of the battle during the learning process. Many take up the fiddle with less desire to learn than others...and it reflects in how fast they do learn...or even how far they take their skills on the violin/fiddle.

There are tools to minimize the noise such as a violin mute...which allows you to practice quietly without the normal harshness of volume a student violinist/fiddler normally contends with...

Finally, do all fiddles from your site come with a chin rest?

Yes, all of our violins/fiddles come with a chin rest...

Thanks again for creating such a wonderful site.

You're most welcome...and please stay tuned with us...

If you have further questions, you're welcome to call our in-house violin expert Tradd @ 888-209-8434...

Keep on Bowin', Mickey

Jeremy