Is violin hard to learn to play? Numerous people who are interested in learning how to play the violin wonder if this instrument is really that hard to learn. How difficult can this really be? When you observe a talented violinist playing this instrument, they actually make it look rather easy. However, as most people will soon ascertain, the violin is actually one of the more difficult instruments to learn to play.
Holding The Violin in The Proper Position Makes Playing The
Violin Difficult
Most skilled violinists will point out that the biggest
obstacle keeping students from moving forward is the fact that they need to
overcome the “comfort factor” which is the proper holding and placement of the
violin on the chin and neck.
As beginning students will quickly discover, once this
comfort issue has been resolved, they will quickly move forward with the
learning process. Consequently, it is imperative that students resolve this
comfort issue because there is not time, nor is it appropriate, to continuously
adjust the violin while you are playing.
Thus, to play the violin well, you must take the time to
learn how to wedge the violin between your chin and your chest without
straining your neck. After holding the
violin in the proper position for some time, you may find that you are
straining your neck and you may even develop a temporary mark on your chin and
chest. The importance of this proper technique for holding the violin cannot be
stressed enough.
While you are playing the violin, you will also be holding
the neck of the violin with one hand and a bow in your other hand. Holding the
violin in the proper position between your neck and chest is extremely
important because one hand will be busy moving up and down the neck of the
violin pressing on the appropriate strings. At the same time, the other hand will
be holding the bow and moving back and forth and raising and lowering over the
strings to produce sound.
Before you feel totally defeated about pursuing your
interest in learning to play the violin, remember, this violin placement aspect
can be learned in a very short period of time.
Do not let this issue deter you from following your desire to enjoy and
play this beautiful instrument.
Like most other instruments, one of the first steps you must
accomplish is how to correctly stand and sit while playing the violin. As you
advance in your violin skills, you will certainly be playing in an orchestra as
well as performing individual solo recitals. Usually, it is the performer’s
choice as to whether you will be standing or sitting, but being comfortable
with either position is particularly important.
Whether you sit or stand, correct posture will be required
in order to play the violin with excellence.
If you are reading the music during a concert, you certainly will not
want to be worrying about your posture because that should be second nature.
When presenting an individual performance, the music will definitely have to be
memorized. You surely will not want your
posture to distract from your beautiful music.
Learning How to Hold The Bow Properly For The Right Tone and
Sound
When you first start playing the violin, it is just as
important to learn how to hold the bow properly as it is to learn the proper
technique for holding the violin appropriately. To use the bow correctly, you will grasp the
end that looks something like a handle or the “frog” with your right hand.
Because you will be required to hold the bow with one hand, you will have to
hold it firmly, but yet in a relaxed manner so the sound is not forced or
scratchy.
Once you learn how to hold the bow properly and maneuver it
across the strings, your tone will improve as you practice all of these
techniques. As you move the bow across the strings, you will need to learn the
proper amount of pressure to apply to the strings in order to produce a great
sound. With practice, you will develop the right touch for producing quality
tone.
For each musical note, the bow must be maneuvered in a
certain manner. When moving the bow over the strings, you do not use your
entire right arm or as this might be called “chicken winging”. Only your
forearm is used to move across the strings and your upper arm and elbow remain
stationary. You can always practice this proper bow movement by standing next
to a wall which will stop you from moving your elbow.
Developing Further Playing
Processes
At the same time that you are moving the bow across the
strings, you should not forget to keep a proper hold on your bow. The bow does not always move up and down with
each note. Sometimes the bow may move up when playing four different notes.
This same process applies when moving the bow down the strings. One of the
future learning processes of violin playing is to understand when your bow
needs to move up or down. The type of music or a particular song will have an
impact on how you maneuver the bow for the proper tone and sound. As you learn
how to control the bow, you to also have the ability to play either loud or
soft. All of the methods for playing the
violin will be learned as you progress in your level of playing.
Although this total concept of holding the violin correctly
plus holding the bow correctly seems overwhelming at this time, just remember
you will need to practice this instrument as you would with learning to play
any instrument. With this practice,
comes your proficiency of this instrument and all of these concepts just seem
to fall into place. When first getting started, there are many different
exercised designed to help you learn and improve all of the various techniques
necessary to play the violin.
When first beginning the learning process, the violin may
appear to be a difficult instrument to learn to play. The violin can be a rather challenging
instrument to learn to play initially. However, once you learn the proper
techniques for holding the violin and the bow while standing or sitting, you
will be well on your way to mastering the violin. As you continue with your
regular daily practice sessions, many other techniques are learned naturally as
you develop your violin skills.
Do you have a child who is interested in learning to play
the violin? Do you already know how to play the violin, but you want to improve
your skills. The program “Violin Master Pro’ is specially designed to assist
all violin players regardless of their age or their skill level.
This is a complete online violin program that allows you to
learn to play violin or develop new skills all from the comfort of your own
home. To assist all players regardless of any learning challenges, this step by
step system is filled with informational materials and videos.
This is one of the comments from a prior student:
Thanks for the great
program. As an experienced student, I had come to a crossroads in my violin
performance development. I was searching for a exercise that could stick. After
only two weeks of playing, I have seen tremendous improvements in my playing
and it is definitely, without a doubt, from using the Eric Lewis method.
From Shostakovich to
Beethoven, I have critiqued my playing since working with your program. Great
work and I look forward to the updates. I have to say I have really taken off
with your scale mechanizer and the visual tools. J. Toma, Minneapolis, MN
If you are looking for a source to develop your violin
skills, this just might be your best option.
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Nice lessons, thanks for sharing. Keman Kursu İzmir
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