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King
Regulars
Personally, I don't think the "craze", to play violin has changed over the last several decades'. I just think it's due to the fact that we have more access to finding out these stat's, via the internet and that we are more aware something that was of no interest before, but are now, because we have just taken on a something new. Therefore we become more curious and want to know everything about playing and technique.
Example: Buy and new car. You don't realize how many there on the road that are identical until you own one. Your attention has been drawn by being aware of it.
New member
HI everyone, New to the violin, new to the forum. I'm a piano teacher. I've had one successful adult student. The others have dropped. Why this one is succeeding. She is having fun and not condemning herself with negative self talk. So, I wanna play the fiddle. And the violin. I want to carry it into the woods and sit, no, make that stand, and play my heart out. I plan to NOT use written music but play what I hear. I also plan to take it to church and play there, light streaming through stained glass windows. I'll make mistakes along the way and learn from them. And yes, maybe even play for my family....I'll make them listen, I'm old, they'll have to be polite. And maybe, just maybe, they'll be inspired. Ok, for my next birthday, (eleven months from now) I give a private concert. hip hip hooray
Pro advisor
Regulars
Member
Just starting at 58. Played guitar for decades and now in semi-retirement I am indulging myself. Already got clawhammer banjo down pretty well. Did some piano but hit a wall so slowed that down. Noticed that all the local jams include everyone but fiddlers. So....squeak...squawk...squeal...onward toward fiddledom!
Regulars
I hear ya on that > I also played guitar for years. Been thinking about getting back out there and jamming again > only this time I'm a gonna bring the fiddle along with me. Well, after I can play a few notes on it. Its a very interesting instrument.
New member
New member. I love the site. Fiddler man, you are the man!
I just passed my 70th birthday, and never held a violin until age 65. My granddaughter expressed an interest while in jr. High, so I bought one and gave her lessons. She soon lost interest. The instrument lay in the corner.
Throughout my life I have attempted to experience many new things. After all, there's only one bite at the apple before we become cosmic dust again.
I picked up the fiddle at age 65 and have made noise with it nearly every day since. Taught myself to read music, got lots of books and videos, watched hours of YouTube. I am living proof it is never too late. Very hard! But, never too late.
I have never played outside my home, or in the presence of anyone but family. I have many hobbies(boat building, clock work, motorcycles, ham radio, computers,etc). I only mention these to reveal my insatiable thirst for new knowledge and experiences.
I love playing and struggle daily to improve. Maybe, one day when I feel ready, I will post a video.
Member
Hi folks, another new member here. First off thanks to Fiddlerman and others here. Great site chock full of help.
I am 49+ and just picking up the violin. Believe it or not my Doctor recommended it. I have bad tendinitis in my right elbow area and he thinks the bowing motion with wrist movements will help strengthen the tendons.
Seems strange but it seems to help. I will admit I do enjoy a well played violin anyway. Now I just have to try and get to were I can stand to listen to myself playing. How do people deal with old worn out eyes? I have been near sighted for decades and know am also going far sighted. Just my luck the fingerboard area is the area I have a hard time seeing. Even with my expensive progressive lenses. Working on memorizing the note positions but it helps to able to see them also.
Once again thanks for the great site and help.
Honorary advisor
Regulars
Oh, and btw, the great Giuseppe Tartini also started at a late age, here's an info via wikipedia:
"It appears Tartini's parents intended him to become a Franciscan friar and, in this way, he received basic musical training. He studied law at the University of Padua, where he became skilled at fencing. After his father's death in 1710, he married Elisabetta Premazone, a woman his father would have disapproved of because of her lower social class and age difference. Unfortunately, Elisabetta was a favorite of the powerful Cardinal Giorgio Cornaro, who promptly charged Tartini with abduction. Tartini fled Padua to go to the monastery of St. Francis in Assisi, where he could escape prosecution. While there, Tartini took up playing the violin."
There, he learned the violin after he was married, about ca. 1710....and he was born in 1692, he was like 18 years old at that time....
cheers! - ⁰ℨ
Regulars
Regulars
Welcome aboard all, sadly I didn't see this post till just now. Sorry for the late welcome, but nevertheless it's great to see more new people here to interact with!
Iaen - Have you tried putting tapes in the positions your fingers need to hit? That could make it easier to see the positions referencing the color of the tape rather than the strings and fingerboard. Could be worth a try at least .
In some cases starting at a late age can be really beneficial, more ability to understand some of the advanced aspects of an instrument that may be harder to attain as a child. Seen all the 'negativity' on articles about adults not being able to learn as fast but times are changing a bit... People are going to school in their 40's and if ya can do that you can learn Violin. My personal belief is that if someone has the drive, dedication and are willing to put their mind to it they can learn any instrument proficiently. I've seen it done many times and as Oz was cool to point out Tartini is a perfect example . Fiddle on, with our arthritis and other wonderful ailments that can't keep us all totally down haha!
Member
Thanks all for the welcome and advice. I have been browsing here for a couple of weeks or so and have found it to be a cornucopia of information.
Kindascratchy, not really sure if being almost 50 is great but I do have fun.
Oz, thanks for history lesson. Learned something new today, always a good thing. Tartini learning to play at 18 is definitely different than at 49 but is still something to look at and go dang. Fortunately there are others here in person or in stories told that show it really doesn't matter at what age you try to learn something new as long as you try.
Stonedog, learning to use my ear is something I am working on. Learning to break the habit of using my eyes to watch my hands will just take awhile. If I can do it on this keyboard I am sure I can do it on the violin. Just going to take a bit of time.
FiddleDetroit, on a media like this I don't honestly think there is such a thing as a late welcome. I have only had my violin for about 3 weeks and just after I got I caught one of the nastiest head colds I have had in my life. Didn't want to do anything except curl up on the couch. Just received and put on a "Fretless Finger Guide" a couple of days ago and I will see if that helps any. If it does great, if not I am out a few bucks. Motivation and dedication can be my greatest problems. I leave notes around the house and sticky notes on my pc screen to remind me to do things. Kinda of a personal kick in the butt. Best I can do is keep plugging away at it. Nice to know that I have a place like this to come with a question or some help if needed. Thanks all.
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