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age to begin violin
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (1 votes) 
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kylesito

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August 8, 2014 - 5:45 pm
Member Since: April 19, 2014
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I started learning the violin this past spring and while life has kept me from the practice time I wanted I am still eager to continue learning.  One strategy I have is to leave my violin out in my den so I constantly am reminded to practice when I'm in there.

 

But leaving it out has also peaked my 3 year old's curiosity and I've let him play around with it a little.  Since its full size, I typically hold it while he runs the bow across and that's it.  But he always asks to play and I guess I'm just curious from the teachers out there at what age could we think about getting him started.

 

His attention span is only about 10 minutes and I doubt he would "practice" but I'm still curious at what age can they retain more than just screwing around.

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RosinedUp

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August 9, 2014 - 12:33 am
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I saw on youtube an excellent fiddler about nine years old saying that he couldn't remember when he didn't play.

One thing I would make sure of is that the youngster hears good recordings to train the ear.

Our member @HDuaneaz said that his granddaughter heard a lot of good music before she was born, and he said that as an infant she would whimper when he played out of tune.

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pky
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August 9, 2014 - 1:30 am
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I have heard a few cases that children start at age two (most of these children have parents who are professional violinists), but it's also a torture for parents to get them to practice and some of them gave up (or parents gave up). If he/she is interested, I think what you expose your child is enough.

I work with very young children (under two years old). I started out playing for them and when they are a little older, I let them hold the bow, told them the rules - only touch the stick and the frog, then I would do the fingering and I would guide them to play songs like twinkle twinkle, the wheels on the bus, may song, etc (mostly on A and E strings for easy bowing). They enjoy that a lot.

However, I am not suggesting that children "should" start at that age. Learning violin requires a lot from a child - concentration, muscle control, coordination of bow hand and fingerings, etc. Most of all they have to practice everyday. Someone said the rule of thumb is 10 minutes per year, i.e., if the child is 2 years old, he/she needs to practice 20 minutes a day, 30 minutes for three year old and so forth; others said at least practice as long as your lesson time (most lessons for young children are 30-minute long). Young children have short attention span, so you can't expect them to practice it all in one-thirty minute practice. If you break it down to 5 minute for each practice section, for a 30 minutes practice you will be practicing with your preschooler 6 times a day. If you just let your child take lessons and not practicing, that it is not only a waste of money but also a waste of time. I have seen children insisted to have lessons but would not practice and after two years of weekly lessons they have just finished learning twinkle twinkle.

I would say what you did with your child is great and expose her/him with a lot of good music, reconsider it when she/he is four or older. Remember, if you keep doing it, your child will stay interested.

It's just MHO.

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Ferret
Byron Bay Australia
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August 9, 2014 - 2:48 am
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@pky 

That sounds like good advice to me.

You mentioned in your post that, "Learning violin requires a lot from a child – concentration, muscle control, coordination of bow hand and fingerings, etc."

As an adult learner I've found that when you get older, the same applies. rofl

Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of dunno ..... What was I saying???? facepalm

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coolpinkone
California, the place of my heart
August 9, 2014 - 12:51 pm
Member Since: January 11, 2012
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My Grand daughter "plays" with her violin.   She played with my pink violin as soon as she could sit up... just across her legs.  When she was a year and a half she got a violin that was smaller sized.  As far as the violin goes, she has access to play it, but I never get it out for her.  But she comes running to it and begging to play right now.  She is (on her own) picking out the sounds of Twinkle.  She'll sit alone and come running to me.."Nana, I found Twinkle" It is quite cute actually.  I don't think I will ask her if she wants lessons until she is 5 or 6 years old, or sooner if she asks.

about 1.5 years here.

list=UUEBlAX_r5hKX78moP0ZbmhA

 

about 2.5 here:

list=UUEBlAX_r5hKX78moP0ZbmhA

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

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BillyG
Brora, North-east Scotland
August 9, 2014 - 1:56 pm
Member Since: March 22, 2014
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LOL @coolpinkone - love the two-hand-grip - I might need to try that....  you have a budding star gold_star on your hands there !   Nice one !

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - guntohead.JPG

Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

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coolpinkone
California, the place of my heart
August 9, 2014 - 1:59 pm
Member Since: January 11, 2012
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Thanks Bill. She is my girl for sure.  She also plays guitar and piano, keyboard, Uke..   You just can't keep her from playing music and singing.  For me it is just all so much fun.  The little ones, they have no fear.  They learn so quickly and are so pure to repeat stuff.. SPONGES. 

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
August 11, 2014 - 9:15 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

Very cool CPO :)
Love the way she moves the violin as well as the bow.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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pky
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August 16, 2014 - 11:50 am
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I want to add a few more cents:

1. provide your child a violin appropriate for his/her size.

2. it does not harm to show him/her the right way to hold the violin and bow. Good habit starts from the beginning.

When I let the children hold my violin, I always make sure their hands are clean (I got mold on my bow once because one of the kids had snorty hand:)) explain to them why I don't want them to touch the bow hair, or the body of the violin. I want them to respect violin and the proper ways to handle one when they see one or have an opportunity to handle one. To me, there's a difference between a toy and a musical instrument, and children could learn at very young age how to respect a violin.

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KindaScratchy
Massachusetts
September 21, 2014 - 9:34 am
Member Since: March 14, 2012
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Good points,  PKY. And I bet that learned respect for musical instruments carries over into respect for other possessions... belonging to others and their own. 

When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,

I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.

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