Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.
Private messaging is working again.
Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
(0 votes) 
New member
Offline
Greetings from Massachusetts! My name is Christina and I've been loving music since a very early age. I've always wanted to play the violin, but never had the opportunity growing up. Now past 40, it's about time I tried! I have high hopes to master the instrument and to be able to play beautifully someday.
I picked up my first violin on Thursday (4/24) at a local music shop and it felt wonderful. I'm renting a Strobel, which I hope is a decent violin to get started with. I've learned enough in my life to know that you usually get what you pay for, so renting a new $700 violin seemed a better option than buying a used $150 one. Any feedback on Strobel?
The sound seems decent, although not as warm as I would have hoped. Perhaps replacing the strings will help? I have my first lesson with a live person next week, so I'm sure she can give some guidance in that. For now I'm learning through online tutorials and exercises.
This seems like a fantastic site, and I'll be spending lots of time here, I'm sure.
Cheers!
Regulars
Offline
ok one beginner to another. Don't be in a hurry to change things, get some lessons under your belt so to speak. And its a rental, do you really want to add a set of $40 - $60 strings too your cost? first ask your shop owner if he would recommend new string, put it on his dime. ok that is my humble opinion.
With violins there is no fretting over the music.
Offline
trekkiecapo said
.....This seems like a fantastic site, and I'll be spending lots of time here, I'm sure.....
Welcome Christina - and yes - you'll be hooked.... (just about 5 weeks here myself - and was on holiday for last 5 days - it felt like I had some kind of withdrawal symptoms...)
On another "note" ( haha ) I would tend to agree with OO's comment above - in spite of whatever your initial feelings about the instrument are - I would definitely "work with it" and "get to know it" for a while.... There are so many subtle things that "change" and "settle down" - not just on a new instrument (new strings, possibly a new, not-yet "fully-rosined-in" bow and so on) - but also your playing/bowing technique is going to undergo changes - especially if you are just starting off.... I would be patient, and "explore" the instrument's capabilities and limitations first.
Anyway - Good Luck with it all !
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
Regulars
Offline
welcome aboard !! great folks and plenty to learn here
There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart
Offline
Welcome @trekkiecapo ! Great to have another Bay Stater on board! I live in the eastern part of the Commonwealth.
I'm sure you'll like it here; the folks are friendly and helpful. And, of course, Fiddlerman's resources are great.
By the way, if you're into fiddle music at all, mark Nov. 7-9 on your calendar. Those are the dates of Fiddle Hell 2014, which will be held in Westford. It's a gathering for fiddlers of all levels. I attended last year and learned a lot...and had a lot of fun. Here's more info: http://www.reinerfamilyband.co.....assac.html
-- Diane
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
Hi, Christina, welcome to the forum! =)
Don't forget to tell us about the first lesson.
Offline
Welcome to the forum trekkiecapo,
Hopefully we'll be able to keep you motivated and help steer you in the right direction whenever you have any doubts. 
Congratulations on your new journey and I look forward to hearing about your upcoming lesson and future thoughts......
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Member
Offline
trekkiecapo said
Greetings from Massachusetts! My name is Christina and I've been loving music since a very early age. I've always wanted to play the violin, but never had the opportunity growing up. Now past 40, it's about time I tried! I have high hopes to master the instrument and to be able to play beautifully someday.
This seems like a fantastic site, and I'll be spending lots of time here, I'm sure.
Cheers!
Hello and Welcome to the forum. You are never to old to learn. I'm 39 and started the violin 3 weeks ago. I just joined a few days ago and I can say it is a great community. You can learn a lot and the people here are friendly.
Patience is necessary to learn the violin: But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.-James 1:4
When I get discouraged: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.-Philippians 4:13
Regulars
Offline
@trekkiecapo I just turned 59 and have been playing for a year! One of my first milestones was when my grandson came in to where I was practicing an started dancing!!!
The next one was when my family said - your playing actually sounds like music now!!! LOL!!
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
1 Guest(s)
Mouse
ELCBK
Jols
Strabo
Fiddlerman
