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Hello... I am Toni from California.
I am 46 and I am a complete brand new violinist. I have only had my violin for three weeks. I am looking for an instructor. No luck so far.
I really adore this website, the videos and all.
I am so excited to learn...I am ready to do the work. I practice every day. I am quite terrible. I have learned the first octave in c major scale. I have zero music back ground. I am learning to read music.
So far it has been awesome. I have a tuner coming in the mail today. I hope that helps.
I just printed Fiddlerman's fingering chart.
Thanks for having me.
Toni aka coolpinkone
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Your enthusiasm is inspiring and will probably serve you well as you learn. Believe it or not, learning the violin and attitude go together.
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Hey Toni, Welcome. Just wanted you to know you are not alone here. I am 44 and also have no music background. I did have a teacher a while back and it turned out to be not a good fit, but I am determined like it sounds you are.
I have only been seriously practicing for about 2 and half months now and feel good about scales and a couple songs.
I have to say, I owe it all to the folks here, who are always supportive. I have not seen one comment about anyone who has posted an MP3 or video that was anything but positive and gave constructive feedback. So if you get a chance to post a video of yourself playing. I highly recommend it. Even just doing scales. Folks here can help you avoid what could become bad habits early and also help you progress much faster.
Good luck and welcome.
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Welcome Toni,
What part of California do you live in? We have quite a few members from California. Someone here might be able to recommend a teacher in your area. Also, many people do without a teacher and do just fine here. Could be good to take a few check up lessons from time to time though. There is nothing that can completely replace a person to person lesson.
Happy to have you here.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Honorary tenured advisor
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Good onya Toni, most of us are in the same boat as you, and have benefited greatly from being on this site.
I wish you well, it's like learning a new language, if you can persevere, it'll be easier as time goes by. I'm older than you and have been learning for about a year and I love my violin (even when it doesn't love me).
If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right.
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You are all so kind and welcoming ...thank you so much.
I am from Roseville California. I have a few teacher prospects, but honestly I have not discussed this many teachers that seem to be as enthusiastic and in love with the violin like the fine folks here. I have a few more prospects.... But will continue learning here.
Thank you again.
Toni
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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It's not a must. You can even post your progress here and get good constructive criticism from our members.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Welcome Toni aka coolpinkone 
I just started playing this summer and I'm 48. There's lots of people around your age at a beginner level here. You're not alone...
I'm in CA too but way south of you in Laguna Beach. I will be doing a California tour with a band the month of March 2012. We will be in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. Isn't Roseville close to Lake Tahoe? Hope you stick around here!
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Welcome aboard Toni, you are definintly not alone I'm 51 and am also a beginnerthat sounds like you will fit right in here. We all have a passion for playing no matter what level we are at.
coolpinkone said
...I have zero music back ground. I am learning to read music...
Same thing! Learn to play violin 9 months and still reading music seems impossible to me LOL! It's much easier for me to learn the piece and play concentrating on other things than to look at the sheet music 
My teacher asked me if i will feel better on stage if there will be a music stand with notes 
I haven't answer - she looked at me and said theat she forgot how i'm bad in reading music (but that fact never disturbs her or me LOL!!!)
Welcome, coolpinkone! 
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Hey Toni,
Welcome, this seems like a great site, I'm a recent addition after watching some of Fiddlermans excellent tutorials!
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
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Hello everyone...
@ FM, I hope to post a video on a week or so after I figure out c major scale to my satisfaction... and I have to get over a bit of camera shyness.
@ MGN, Roseville is Northern CA about 1.45 hours from Lake Tahoe.
@ Paul, your newbie status and interest is very inspiring for me. Thank you!
@ Mad W. I am new at learning music, but I am not that bad at it. But actually playing and reading might prove to be a different case altogether. I have not tried it.
@Terry, thank you and welcome to.
Thanks everyone, you all know how to really make a new member feel welcome and comfortable.
I will be home alone with my violin, my Basset Hound and chihuahua's this afternoon... I will be bowing away!!!!
Toni
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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coolpinkone said
I will be home alone with my violin, my Basset Hound and chihuahua's this afternoon... I will be bowing away!!!!
Sounds like fun. Enjoy
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Honorary advisor
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Hi, Toni! Welcome to the site. I'm in Southern California. I'm getting a late start my self. I started last month at age 60. It's never too late to learn. I did a quick search on Roseviille. The William Jessup University is forming a community string orchestra. Maybe there's a starving student who plays violin well enough to get you started and is willing to tutor you. You could try it. Contact the musical instructor at the university to see if he can recommend anyone. Meanwhile, enjoy the videos on this site. They'll inspire you!
I've learned so much from my mistakes that I've decided to make some more.
Honorary tenured advisor
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Middle to late forties is the perfect time to start playing the violin. Unless of course you were able to start earlier. Point is Never to late always the right time.
Good luck and welcome!
No matter where you go, there you are!
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63 and ditto, we are all learning, and scratching and screeching away at it. Then before you know it, Twinkle Twinkle, Mary had a little lamb, you can read the notes, and know what they mean. Then Ode to Joy, and beyond!
I echo, what all the others have said, you can learn here, get support from an occasional lesson, and so on and so on.
Welcome Toni and good playing!
Shalom Shalom 
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