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Learning Violin Without A Teacher
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SanSkritA
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June 20, 2011 - 12:22 am
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Hello Everyone!

I am excited about playing the violin! It is an incredible
instrument! I really find it gratifying to even just simply bow a string! I am
completely new to learning the violin so many of the violin lingo that people
use on the forum is foreign to me and I can only talk in terms and expressions
that I currently know. I, of course, will be learning along the way! I have a
question for any who is willing to answer. Is it possible to learn the violin
without a consistent teacher? I am at this time utilizing free online videos.
Free being the keyword because I do not have money to afford lessons. Yeah! I
know, sounds pitiful, but it is OK. I am grateful for internet!!!!! And You
Tube!!!!!! Any ideas on what I should start off with???? Scales? Tone? Pitch?
Songs? Where should I begin. At the present time I am practicing keeping a
straight bow when drawing the bow across the strings. That’s where I am at!
LOL! But I do have pretty darn good tone for just starting. I know that there
is MUCH to learn with the violin and I like that because it will keep me on a
constant voyage. Anyone have any words of wisdom on practicing without a
teacher????? THANKS!

SanSkritA

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Oliver
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June 20, 2011 - 2:42 pm
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You can survive without a teacher but getting started can be stressful. 

FIDDLERMAN has free lessons and there are many other free lesson sites.  (Google on "free violin lessons")  The FIDDLERMAN site is special in that you can ask questions and get live advise.

It is unlikely that you will develop some hopeless faults that will ruin your chances even if you just follow some of the simpler videos.

I had a teacher for a few months about 5 years ago and I think I did not lose a lot of progress but I also did my homework and studied everything I could find on the internet.

—————————————————————————————————

Are you able to buy violin learning method books like Mel Bay ?  Lesson books without a CD are pretty cheap these days …… maybe less than $10.  A book will help guide you and keep you on the right path and comes pretty close to being a teacher.

 

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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Morningdove

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June 20, 2011 - 3:16 pm
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I Must reply to this post. Just found this website and already learned alot about things I skipped while teaching myself.  I am now paying dearly for my corner cutting.  I got started by Brian Wicklund American Fiddle Method.  There are two books in the series.  Mel Bay.  It was a very effective launching pad but I highly reccomend learng the names of the notes as well as what finger number it is.  SCALES SCALES SCALES!  Learn and memorize.   All fiddle teachers will require this and for very good reasons. Eventually you will want to jam with other folks and you will need to know scales.  My first couple years I didnt feel comfortable playing in front of people not even my children.  Do it as much as you can.  Find other musicians asap.  The best learning comes from experience.  Hopefully you know a nice guitar player who would be willing to play simpler songs. Dont ever compare yourself to people that have been playing since they were three. Start off with using the fourth finger, it needs the most training.  There are hundreds of learning tools but the most important would be to remember to trust in the process and stick to it.  I am constantly being told that I could have picked an easier instrument so consider yourself brave.  Good luck.

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Oliver
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June 20, 2011 - 6:12 pm
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Why do you think that teaching yourself has hurt ?  What is it that you can not do which you think you might be able to do otherwise

PS

I just surfed on Wicklund and saw "ensemble", "improvisation" and "jamming" in book #1 ??  ( right away !)

I have a couple fiddle methods and find that they push too fast and hope students will somehow wind up on Orange Blossom Special.  Ain't gonna happen.  The method books for classical music are much more careful in developing the basics.

IF you are daring, you might want to try a great method book called VIOLIN METHOD by FRANK ZUCCO and Mel Bay.  (MB 93474)  It is for adults and the author is a genius teacher IN ADDITION to being a performer.

ZUCCO has figured out exactly what students will eventually do wrong and tries to prevent it with his teaching approach.

This is NOT a book just for classical players.

 

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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Morningdove

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June 20, 2011 - 7:37 pm
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Thats what I meant about launchpad.  I was playing songs right away without knowing what key or how the song related to the scale.  I am not a super quick learner so this was enticing enough to keep me interested until I became thirsty for more knowledge.  Now I am going back and learning scales but I could have saved myself time by learning them first.   Does Franks Zuccos book have songs with play along cd?  That seems to be the most effective way to learn without an actual  teacher.

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Oliver
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June 20, 2011 - 9:08 pm
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No, Zucco does not have a CD.  Playing with CD's is very valuable at the RIGHT time but NOT for developing the basics.  ANY music is a collection of skills needed for playing with another person or CD but the CD is not the skill.  In fact, a CD might help with intonation but how about if there is no CD ?

I practice some vamps and shuffles and improvisation and double stops with some CD blue grass recordings but I did not BEGIN there.  Sorry to say you must pay the piper.  You will only become frustrated if you want to play certain music and are not sure of the basic tools.

I also have played CD's with the Suzuki method and it is all the same.   No magic.  It has been work and it is rare that my violin and I are on good terms.

(PS  No way around the pinky.  But it will make sense later.)

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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SanSkritA
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June 20, 2011 - 9:10 pm
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Oliver! Thanks for all that you are sharing. It helps!!!!

SanSkritA

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SanSkritA
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June 20, 2011 - 9:15 pm
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Morningdove, thanks for sharing. I would agree with learning the scales. I am in a band, I play and write my own songs on the guitar. I have been writing songs since 11 years old. I know guitar players who are very nice and would totally be willing to do that. The whole reason I am learning the violin is to play in 2 bands!!!!! I already sings and play other instruments. I also play the mandolin, but I do not know the scales or notes on it. Just basic chords. I do know though, that once you learn the violins scales you can apply that to the mandolin... it is the same! YEAH!

 

 

Morningdove said:

I Must reply to this post. Just found this website and already learned alot about things I skipped while teaching myself.  I am now paying dearly for my corner cutting.  I got started by Brian Wicklund American Fiddle Method.  There are two books in the series.  Mel Bay.  It was a very effective launching pad but I highly reccomend learng the names of the notes as well as what finger number it is.  SCALES SCALES SCALES!  Learn and memorize.   All fiddle teachers will require this and for very good reasons. Eventually you will want to jam with other folks and you will need to know scales.  My first couple years I didnt feel comfortable playing in front of people not even my children.  Do it as much as you can.  Find other musicians asap.  The best learning comes from experience.  Hopefully you know a nice guitar player who would be willing to play simpler songs. Dont ever compare yourself to people that have been playing since they were three. Start off with using the fourth finger, it needs the most training.  There are hundreds of learning tools but the most important would be to remember to trust in the process and stick to it.  I am constantly being told that I could have picked an easier instrument so consider yourself brave.  Good luck.

SanSkritA

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Morningdove

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June 21, 2011 - 10:45 am
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SanskritA,  I know a couple of my friends that are also in other bands that have attempted to learn fiddle and both eventually quit. I think that they gave up too soon because they had their primary instruments to fall back on when they realized how much time and dedication it would take.  I just spent a few days in Weiser ID where they have The National Old time Fiddle contest. I really just want to hack my arms off so I need'nt bother with trying to ever play again. I kid. It is a leg up for you to already have musical talent.

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Oliver
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June 21, 2011 - 11:25 am
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Some people actually think that the fiddle is not as hard as the violin. 

Some people have never tried to learn the fiddle. They are mostly the ones who think the fiddle is easier than the violin.

Many classical people think the fiddle is easier.  They too have probably never tried genuine fiddle music.

Fact might be that both can be very difficult but for different (technical) reasons.

(I doubt that ANYONE can match Michael Cleveland for tempo. He warms up with PRESTO and then he plays faster.)

 

 

 

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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bob.andrews
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June 21, 2011 - 11:46 am
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As a complete novice myself, (been learning for a whole week now) I believe that I just MAY have one perspective on this that would help.

 1st with all the information available online and in books it is VERY overwhelming. With being a beginner and looking for free lessons online and teaching yourself you will see a great many lessons saying this is what you HAVE to do to learn.

 As I have the added benifit of trying to learn the fidle as a grown (some say old) manWink I have learned that whhile yes there are SOME things that all players NEED to do if you look into it and watch multiple videos the one that are the most important and the most basic are covered by all instructors. Find the common points they all make those are the ones we need to learn.

 2nd as we progress from what part of the fiddle to hold, How to hold it, how to hold the Bow, and How to bow the notes you will find one online teacher that you feel the most comfortable with. For me its here on fiddlerman.com for you, well only you know that. But go where your comfortable, when we relax and are comfortable THATS when we learn.

and 3rd when it gets to the point of trying to make music it really really helps to know what the song actually sounds like before you try to play it. (this last one is basically for me it may not apply to all) I have a Mel Bay instruction book and on one of the first pages is how to play Boil The Cabbage Down. Looks achievable... if I knew what it is SUPPOSED to sound like. That way I could hear if I am off. So I would suggest internet intervention to help and also you may want to look in a local library who knows they may have some books and CD's that could help.

 I hope this helps others and if anyone has advise for me PLEASE I BEG YOU HELP ALL YOU CAN lol my cat is starting to looked scared when I practice

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Oliver
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June 21, 2011 - 11:51 am
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Morning

Wanna cut your arms off ?  Listen to video first.

Now do want to cut your arms off ?   ( I do!)

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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Oliver
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June 21, 2011 - 12:06 pm
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bob.

When I began violin my garage cat took off for a few weeks.  I was a bit insulted.  But the cat eventually returned and I told my wife I was getting better.  She said that the cat came back because a Fall chill was setting in.  Never really liked that cat anyhow.

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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bob.andrews
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June 21, 2011 - 12:31 pm
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Hmm make me wanna cut off my arms???? Actually it makes wanna play. I LOVE that sound and the ability to put feelings into the music is evident in the middle of the song when he stopped worrying about the crowd and enjoyed playing it. He got a lil nervous about the ending i think and it went more mechanical and muscle memory but he had the crowd following the music he felt for awhile. Thats what i love about this instrument and hope to someday achieve.

 

I know its a long road to learn. I used to teach select people in mechanics and then a few in how to drive an 18 wheeler. So I know by looking at the end result the task can get daunting. But never fear I will learn it in my own time and pace.

 Dont worry about your garage cat it wasnt the weather, remember they have a fur coat the fall chill is nothing to them you must be getting better. 

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Oliver
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June 21, 2011 - 12:41 pm
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Incidentally,  I just surfed on Jake Krack and found that he has won the Mt. Airy, NC fiddle champoinship for the 4th year in a row.  And you know what ?  Did you notice he used a shoulder rest ?  So much for tradition !

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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bob.andrews
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June 21, 2011 - 12:50 pm
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As I have posted I am THE newest fiddler wanna be you will probably ever meet. But from what little I know I was told the only thing traditional about the fiddle was you hold it however you feel the most comfortable. Well that was what the woman in the music store told me anyway lol. But if he has won 4 years in a row then you shouldnt want to cut your arms off, I say he just tie his behind him and level the playing field lol

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Oliver
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June 21, 2011 - 1:34 pm
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That would still leave Michael Cleveland on the loose but I'll let you run your own surfing on him if you care to. 

It is not true that nothing can move faster than the speed of light.

I am amused with "tradition" because, to start with, there were no chin rests and I believe shoulder rests are relatively new.  So, much of the greatest music written was played without any contraptions that I know of.

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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SanSkritA
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June 21, 2011 - 4:17 pm
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bob.andrews said:

As I have posted I am THE newest fiddler wanna be you will probably ever meet. But from what little I know I was told the only thing traditional about the fiddle was you hold it however you feel the most comfortable. Well that was what the woman in the music store told me anyway lol. But if he has won 4 years in a row then you shouldnt want to cut your arms off, I say he just tie his behind him and level the playing field lol

bob.andrews... you are funnny!

SanSkritA

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kalbybot

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months after starting to learn the violin on my own.. it dawns on me that playing the violin isn't enough... i needed to understand music better.. that's the reason why i bookmarked fiddlerman.com immediately when i saw it.. it covers not only playing the violin but games and materials available are very useful... 

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Readalot
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SanSkritA

Thank you for creating this topic! Its been very helpfulthumbs-up!

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