By the by - Schaick - is not shack as in Shaq, but as in sk-oy-k.

I started playing the violin at the end of May this year at the age of 58.  I played flute in High School and more recently the tenor recorder.  I have run out of air - asthma and coughing.

We were going to give my grandson lessons and the teacher said really an adult needs to learn and the child mimics.  My daughter didn't have time and my son-in-law did not want him to take lessons!!

In the meantime my son let me borrow his violin.  I picked it up and loved it, so I said forget it I am going to learn the violin if my grandson happens to catch on - all the better.

I am taking lessons every couple of months so have had 4 so far.  I read music but am using the Suzuki book 1.  I am pushing to learn to hear and tune and play it.  

When I played the flute and tenor recorder it was difficult to memorize music - as I played I would see the notes and then play them.  With the violin I am actually remembering the SOUND!!!

The only answer I have to that is with the violin the notes of the scale are right next to each other - not always the case with many notes of the flute and tenor recorder.