Thanks Damfino! Me too! I'm an adult beginner also, half a century old and thought that I had better get started, pronto. I love a challenge, too!  It has been a challenge but so much fun. I've never felt so proud as when I first 'sawed' out Old Suzannah.' It was a Paganini moment for me. ? 

Hey Bella86. I will try to put up progress videos, at least audio when I can record on something other than my phone. I'm just now learning to play without a death grip around the neck. My left hand and arm felt awful. I never knew that a violin could be so painful. ? Yes I too, want to achieve something on the violin and hopefully will be able to play more smoothly in a couple of years.  I love to practice so that will help, hopefully. Thanks for the welcome! 

Hey All ! Thanks for the welcome and encouragement!   A pitch for Fiddlerman's carbon fiber bow: I bought one and love it, so that has helped. I didn't realize how heavy that my other bow was until I bought the carbon fiber. I think that my other bow was made of iron and fishing line. ? As far as progress, im still in first position. I'm so proud of that for the next couple of months. I'm just working on trying to play a decent little tune or two in some sort of smooth fashion. I'm trying to figure this madness out. ? I'm working on Lovers Waltz by Jay Ungar. I can play it (saw through it) but barely. I can get the right intonation but I can't really get much expression into my playing. I'm working on bow control for that aspect, and trying to work that out. I'm thinking that it will take much experience.  I'm absolutely loving the violin and yes it's a bit of insanity. I think that I've permanently damaged my left arm but it's all good. ?

Hey Everyone! I think that you all are right about relaxing the arm.  When I bought my first violin, it had steel strings which hurt my fingers and I kept a grip on it as if it would play prettier the tighter that I held it. ? It was so tinny sounding and heavy. It had a lot of thick varnish on it. I had no clue on what to look for in sound or playability.

I think I strained a muscle in my upper arm in the tricep/biceps area. 

I finally learned to relax but have not played for about 5 days and I think I'm on the mend.

About 2 weeks after playing my first violin, i went to a 'real' violin shop, as opposed to a music shop that sells mostly everything except violins, and bought a used Scott Cao 017. It was very affordable and the difference is amazing. It sounds warmer and is so much easier to play. 

I've tried shoulder rest but just feel awkward and immobile with the shoulder rest. Maybe I should try it again. 

I would love to play classical but from a realistic point of view,  I would be satisfied to just play anything with feeling. I love old time violin style/waltzes/folk as well. I want to play old Suzannah with enough feeling to either make someone want to cry or want to dance. ?

Thanks everyone for your input. I need it ! 

Thanks Fiddlerman and everyone for the encouragement. I really have been having to baby my left arm. I'm left handed so I over use it anyway, which hasn't helped with this muscle strain. I had no idea that a violin could strain a muscle! Who knew? I guess lots of us know that have violins. ?

It's crazy because I've always been active and had no clue that such a small instrument could strain a muscle...Anyway....

yes, I agree that playing music with feeling is the most important thing. Most people don't have a clue if someone is playing technically perfect anyway! I will hopefully post at least some audio. I've recorded on my phone and think nooooo. It sounds like a transistor radio when I play it back, or maybe it's just my playing. ? ?