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Hello,
my name is Nathalie and I am a 25-year old girl from Germany. Playing the violin has always been my dream since I was a kid but my parents couldn't afford the lessons, let alone a violin. So here I am; a bit old for learning an instrument but really wanting to do so (even if it's just short pieces :)). I have started in September and am seeing a teacher every two weeks. In the time between lessons, I would like to learn as much as possible on my own. At the moment, I am playing on a rented violin (a German Stradivarius copy from 1941) I call Josephina :D. Since I am currently writing my Master's thesis, I am very stressed but I found out that practicing in the evening when I get home really relaxes me (even though I sound horrible...). I somehow have taken it into my head to be able to play Memory from the musical Cats. So I am currently practicing it every day....sadly scaring away my landlady's cats in the progress 
Uhm...I am really bad at introductions...
Best wishes,
Nathalie
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Welcome @Mailprion ! Hia Nathalie ! The introduction was fine, thanks for saying hello!
I have to say, I disagree with you though - you are never too old to learn an instrument and enjoy playing. Heck - I started a couple of years back at 62 although, admittedly I do have quite a number of years messing with other instruments !
Good luck with your studies and thesis, and awesome that you find playing a nice form of escape from the pressures ! Check out all the great tutorials and general advice in the forum, and you'll make rapid progress ! 
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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Thank you! 
I am glad to learn that other people started as adults as well. I was concerned because most people here start playing around the age of five and even the book that my tutor usues to teach me, is aimed at young children...so I am usually playing 'All my ducklings', 'Old McDonald had a farm' and various German children songs in class
Aye, I shall
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Excellent !
Yes..... I know, there are all sorts of stories about "having to start as a child if you want to play violin". That may be the case if you are gonna make it a career - and - at the age of 5 or 6 - unless you happen to be hugely gifted with natural talent- I would put money on the fact that many really-young starters often give it up by the time they become teenagers ROFL !
We play, as adults, simply because it gives us pleasure, we have nothing to prove to anyone, just to ourselves !!!!
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
Regulars
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@Mailprion Welcome! I started playing violin this June at age 65 after 45 years of not playing (played in school but after graduation didn't have violin to play anymore) so it's never too late! Enjoy the journey!!
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Wilkommen, Nathalie! I agree with everyone here - there is no age when it comes to appreciating music and learning how to play.
I know how you feel about the violin helping you relax. After a stressful day at work, practicing with my violin always helps calm me down (I can't speak for my neighbors though, haha!)
I just started learning this year too. This forum has been a great place for me to learn more and share my experiences with fellow voilin players.
So, have fun with learning and please do share your journey with us
-Jols
I'm an adult violin learner just coming out of a 4-year hiatus!
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I disagree with you Nathalie,
That was a great introduction.
Look forward to hearing more!
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Thank you all very much for the welcome! I am very happy that so many people replied
@Jols Heh, yeah...I guess, my landlady is also not very thrilled about my playing. I usually try to only play when she's not around so she won't have to endure my screeching but sometimes it can't be helped. So far, she's been quite stoic though and I always close my door and my window before I start playing.
I also bought a mute but neither my teacher nor I have a clue how to assemble it. It looks like this and is supposed to somehow work with a magnet.
Today, I also managed to play Old McDonald almost without screeching though I was still a bit off on some notes. A few days ago, I tried recording myself for the first time because my parents did not really believe me when I told them that I started playing the violin. In the end, they told me that my version of Memory does not sound as horrible as they expected...so I guess this is a good thing
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One I don't recognize - the upper pic appears to be a tourte mute- designed for a single string ( sometimes used - so I am told but cannot confirm - to perhaps deaden unusual, or unexpected responses from a certain string) .... many folks CHOOSE to mix strings from different makers for lots of reasons - and sometimes a "specific string - different from the rest of the set" may have a nice sound that matches the instrument - but may be"too bright" - well - that could be nonsense - but it is what I've read - my ear is not good enough to really tell... just what I've read..
I rarely use a mute - but when I do it's a full-on bridge-dampener mute - mine is a soft rubber compound - you also get hard-plastic and also metal versions with greater dampening quality - kind of like this one- it fits over the bridge - and deadens EVERYTHING.... ( also sounds a bit strange under the ear as you might imagine... but then again, it does what it does... )
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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Thank you very much for the explanation! Then I guess, the guy at the music store gave me something wrong again
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@Mailprion Welcome to the forum...
Never too young to start...Never to old to start.
Enjoy your instrument...good luck on playing and your masters thesis.
Enjoy and have fun.
What a great and fun piece you are learning.
Bravo!
CPO/ Toni
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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Mailprion said
Thank you all very much for the welcome! I am very happy that so many people replied@Jols Heh, yeah...I guess, my landlady is also not very thrilled about my playing. I usually try to only play when she's not around so she won't have to endure my screeching but sometimes it can't be helped. So far, she's been quite stoic though and I always close my door and my window before I start playing.
I also bought a mute but neither my teacher nor I have a clue how to assemble it. It looks like this and is supposed to somehow work with a magnet.
Welcome to the forum, @Mailprion! In my opinion, seeing as I took up the violin at about twice your age, you're starting early, not late.
That's a cool mute. Never saw that one before so I googled it. Apparently, the little clip goes on the tailpiece and holds the mute itself (the bigger round piece) with the magnet when not in use, for quick access. When in use, the mute goes on the bridge, in the center over the A and D strings. Here's a photo:
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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@coolpinkone Thank you! I absolutely love musicals and would have loved to see Cats but sadly we never had the time and now it's not on stage anymore
@KindaScratchy Ah, thanks a lot! Yeah, I thought it looked cool as well and the magnet aspect is very interesting
When I go home for Christmas and take Josie with me (when I visit my parents just for a weekend, I don't do that since it's so much luggage), I will probably have to get one that covers all strings since we live in an apartment building with lots of elderly people.
Hi, and welcome. For a mute, I just use two spring clothes pins and it does a good job for me (I have reversed the wood parts).
The tune Memory is a beautiful song. To see Cats you might be able to see it at a college. I took my wife to IU to see it. BUT I must WARN you, the title is not a metaphor for something as I had thought. NO the show is about,,,,CATS. You know, the pet ME, feed ME, love ME, play with ME or I'll put cat hair all over your violin, kind of cat. My wife liked it though.
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Thanks for the tip with the pins! I am sure, my mum has some lying about.
My college has an English Drama Group (I was part of the backstage crew for 'The Importance of Being Earnest' and 'Run for Your Wife') so maybe, if I am lucky, I can add it to their list of suggestions
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