September 17, 2012

My Advice for Learning the Violin: Beginners

Hey everyone! I get so many questions from those of you wanting to start learning the violin so I wanted to do a more in-depth post about that here to try and offer some advice and supply you with some additional resources. A lot of you have said that you are unable to afford lessons and simply don’t know where to begin. Obviously if you can afford a teacher to help guide you, then that’s an ideal route. But if you can’t, that shouldn’t at all stop you from trying to learn violin because there are so many great free resources available out there now that can help you learn violin on your own. What I’m going to do is go through all of the necessary equipment for you to get started and provide an explanation and piece of personal advice for everything. I’ll also post on some extra equipment and give you some additional resources at the end. This is going to be a long one lol, here we go!

Basic Equipment:
1) Violin: You really don’t need anything fancy to start, because even if you were playing on the world’s best violin as a beginner it would still take you many years to make it sound like the world’s best violin! I haven’t played on a beginner instrument in a while now, but I would imagine you’d want to plan on spending at least a few hundred dollars to get something decent that is in working order.  If you buy something too cheap, it will constantly slip out of tune, possibly crack, and probably wouldn’t be set up properly. As far as sizing, if you’re 10 years or older, you will probably need a full size instrument. The best thing you can do is set a price range for yourself and go into a music/string store and try out as many instruments in your price range as possible. If you can’t get to a store, you could try ordering online at a site like Shar Music. I’ve used them for a lot of equipment orders and I know they have a great reputation for quality products. Another site worth checking out for quality beginner equipment would be Fiddlershop.com.

2) Bow: You should probably be able to get a violin, bow and case as a package when you’re buying a beginner instrument, but in case you don’t go that route, just be aware that there is just as much of a price range for bows as there is for violins themselves. Make sure when you’re buying that the hair is clean (not dirty/extremely yellow looking) otherwise you’ll need a re-hair of the bow for it to grip its best, and it’s usually not cheap for that so don’t go spending more than you need! For as much as I play, I re-hair my bow around every 6 months, but you should probably only need to do it once a year, if that, if you’re not playing a lot.

3) Rosin: Rosin is what helps the bow grip the string. It’s cheap for how long it lasts, but again, you can may as much or as little as you want on rosin. I’d say spend around $10 and you’ll have it for years and it will be better quality than the cheaper stuff.

4) Shoulder Rest: This is an extremely personal choice and, oddly enough, a cause of great divide amongst violinists lol. Some people are firm believers that shoulder rests of any kind should not be used, some people use a small sponge or pad just to provide some friction between the body and violin, but the majority of people choose to use a shoulder rest. For the first 14 years of playing the violin I actually didn’t use a shoulder rest. I decided to give it a try because I was experiencing some collar bone pain, and once I got used to it I couldn’t imagine playing without one! It took me a LONG time to find one that worked with me, and to be honest, it’s still not 100% comfortable all the time, but it’s extremely helpful. It helps you hold the violin up so you’re not clenching with your neck or lifting up your shoulder, and it provides an easier way for your hand to shift into higher positions since it takes much of the burden of holding up the instrument off of your left hand. You certainly can play without one, but like I said, it’s just a very personal choice and there’s no reason not to at least try some out just to see what works best for you. If you can, get to a store and try out as many different ones as you can because there are a lot of different models out there. I personally have really enjoyed the Wolf “Forte Secondo” model because it’s very adjustable and flexible so you can actually try and mold it more to your body than most.  Basically, just use whatever is comfortable for you and don’t worry about what other people think of it!

5) Case: No need to get anything expensive here, just make sure that it’s not flimsy and will protect the instrument, and make a decision as to how many storage pockets you’d like it to have if you want to keep extra equipment (rosin, shoulder rest, sheet music, etc.) in there.

Phew, ok, you still with me? Lol, I want to be as thorough as possible here to give you some meaningful advice so I hope this is helping! Continuing on with optional equipment:

Extras:
1) Mute/Practice Mute: Mutes come in all different sizes, and most are used for effect in orchestral pieces. But for those of you who are planning on practicing in shared spaces with thin walls like apartments or dorm rooms, you probably want to consider getting a practice mute so you don’t get noise complaints from your neighbors =) It really dampens the sound, and the great thing about that is you can still concentrate on normal bowing technique and applying pressure without worrying about making too much noise. They’re fairly inexpensive, and I’d recommend getting the slightly more expensive rubber coated one just in case it falls off, that way it won’t scratch up your violin.

2) Extra set of strings: As for what strings to choose, don’t worry too much about that at this point, just make sure they’re not worn out or starting to break. When you’re starting out, you can really go as long as your strings will hold without changing them.

3) Cloth: When you’re done playing, wipe your strings and violin off with a soft cloth to remove rosin. If you let it build up, it can cake on and interfere with your sound quality, and also ruin the varnish on the wood of your instrument.

4) Metronome : I’m not a huge fan of these, because they really show you how out of time you are haha! But they’re actually really good to play with on a regular basis because you learn to play in tempo at a steady beat, and that’s very useful if you ever want to play with others or in an orchestra.

Books:
If you’re starting from scratch with absolutely no knowledge of music or how to read notes, I would recommend starting with the “String Builder” series by Samuel Applebaum. From there, the Suzuki series is a good option for learning and practicing songs in a progressive manner. I personally think it’s important to start your training with a classical foundation because you’ll be playing pieces written specifically for your instrument that will help you improve your technique as fast as possible. If you’d like a little more of a challenge, I would recommend trying out the Wohlfahrt etude series.

Alright, that’s pretty much it for this post lol! I just feel that I have been very blessed to have been given the chance to train with teachers through private lessons for the first 13 years of playing and really want to help those of you who haven’t been afforded that opportunity but are still looking to learn violin. Since I can’t answer all of my messages on this topic, I felt compelled to write something in detail that I thought would be very useful to those of you looking for this kind of information.  A lot of this information is my personal opinion based off of my experience, so feel free to check out some of the other resources out there for other opinions.  I hope this has helped you and has given you some meaningful direction, and I wish you the best of luck on your violin journey!

Additional Resources:

Interested in violin lessons? Click here

Click here to check out my blog post on 5 Things Every Beginner Violinist NEEDS to Know!

My beginner tutorial video here I made on my channel a couple of years ago. I give a general summary of what equipment you’ll need, some suggestions on training and my opinion on what it takes to learn violin.

Take a look at professor Todd Ehle’s YouTube channel (username Professor V) where he features violin techniques in great detail.  I would highly recommend his videos for those of you learning without a teacher. Click here for his channel.

My personal favorite place for finding answers to violin questions on the web is Violinist.com. I highly recommend searching their forums where you’ll find wonderful discussions on every violin-related topic imaginable from violinists representing all different skill levels.

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Hi, I'm Taylor,
your music career guide!

I’ve been a violinist for over 25 years and for over the past 10 years I’ve been building my skills and career as an independent musician. Within that time I’ve grown an online audience of over 3 million people, released 11 full-length albums (5 of which charted on the Billboard Charts) and traveled the world touring my own live show, all without ever signing with a record label. One of my greatest passions is helping other musicians learn and grow from my own knowledge and experiences through my Musician of All Trades courses.

  1. I am learning violin these days. In violin, the strings hurt and fast movements seem difficult. Thank you so much. It really helped me a lot.

  2. I really appreciate you talking about the equipment one might need when learning the violing. I want my son’s interest to really be something he can cultivate within himself, so I want to support him as early as possible. I’ll get him all of this equipment before I have him take violin lessons in the area.

  3. Hakan says:

    Just bought a Knilling Perfection violin for my 7 years old daughter, and searching to get some tips to help her.
    Thanks for the tips.

  4. MozartReader says:

    Great summary. Getting used to great strings and rosin can also improve the learning process.
    I can totally recommend those:
    http://www.laubach-shop.de/english-worldwide/violin-strings/evah-pirazzi-violin

  5. SakineMieko says:

    Dear Taylor Davis,

    Hello! I watched your YouTube videos where you played, and that inspired me to learn the violin. I’ve been researching tips on how to begin learning the violin and best ways to start to convince Dad to let me start, and I remembered this site.

    In your part about the shoulder rest, you said that it takes most of the burden off of your LEFT hand. Could I play with my right hand holding up the violin?

    Yours Truly,
    SakineMieko

    • SakineMieko says:

      Never mind the handed-ness question. I wasn’t clear with what I meant. I was asking because my right hand is my dominant hand and I wondered if you should hold the violin up with your dominant hand or not.

  6. Violet says:

    Hello! Taylor I love your music! You are amazing I hope I can get as good as you someday. Thanks for the tips! =)

    ~V

  7. Grace Anderson says:

    I really really really want to play the violin but my mom cant afford lessons much less the violin and the things needed to go with it. I am 14 years old and if i get a job i have to give most of my money to my mom if i want to keep living at home. I adore lindsey stirling and you (taylor davis) and many others. I feel super sad alot because i have always wanted to get my hands on a violin and learn to play. Lindsey Stirling is my idol in the violin world. i want to play like her.

  8. shubhendra Vikram says:

    I am a complete beginner and I desperately want to learn violin, but the problem is that I have just 2 months time for the same, so will I be able to do it since it won’t be possible for me to learn it in the next 4 months, should I learn??

  9. Eman Khalid says:

    Hey, I was wondering if you could help! I’m looking forward to learn the violin, I’m a complete beginner and never even held a violin before I’ve always wanted to be able to play an instrument and i love the sound of a violin, its the perfect instrument for me. This is urgent because I have to prepare a piece i one week. Please help!

  10. Pierce Townsend says:

    I’m in middle school now starting to learn to play violin, is it weird that i’m the only boy in violin? Can anyone help me survive this year please?

    • chloe says:

      Hey Pierce, it’s totally fine being “the only” guy playing the violin! If you’re interested in playing it then you shouldn’t let any stereotypical problems affect you, also there are a lot of male violinists!

    • Jher says:

      You are the only boy in a class of girls? If anyone gives you crap about it, remind them of all the female attention you receive lol. Besides, there are countless male violin players. there is nothing weird about it.

    • maverick says:

      It’s not weird. Keep playing. Ignore any peer pressure that says otherwise. 5 years from now you will be glad you did.

  11. yoloperson says:

    I need to learn how to play violin to get into my classes. plz reply some tips back to me

  12. Casey Morgan says:

    Hey, I wa wondering if you could help! I’m looking to learn the violin, I’m a complete beginner and never even held a violin before but I’ve been pretty sick lately and was searching for something else to focus on. I’ve always wanted to be able to play an instrument and i love the sound of a violin, its the perfect instrument for me. However as a complete novice, I’m not sure what type, make or model I should begin with, can you help!

    • Greg says:

      You should consider spending between USD250.00 and USD450.00 for a good quality beginner violin. Avoid the cheap violins sold on Amazon and eBay. If you have a local music store it is advisable to seek their recommendations especially if they sell violins/fiddles. On the other hand, if you prefer buying non-locally there are plenty of retailers with an on-line presence in addition to their brick-and-mortar shops.

      In addition to Taylor’s suggested vendors I have personal experience buying from Superior Violins (http://www.superiorviolins.com) and Gliga Violins (http://www.violinslover.ca / http://www.violinslover.com). Superior Violins offers a try-before-you-buy service so you can try an instrument for a two-week period. Gliga Violins offers a range of violins suitable for beginners to advanced players; even their lowest-priced violins are constructed of wood not plastic.

  13. Nicole says:

    Thank you so much for this helpful post. I’ve always thought the violin was a beautiful sound, yet there wasn’t a string section in my school band so I grew up playing the flute. It was always fun but I didn’t really have much of a passion for it, like I did towards the string instruments. I’m so excited to use this knowledge and finally learn to play the violin. πŸ™‚

  14. Mandy says:

    I am looking to learn how to play. Thought this was very insightful. I am sick and have always found the beauty in the sound of the violin. I am very excited to purchase and learn to play. Made it part of my bucket list. Good luck everyone and happy feeling the music and not just listening. Ty

  15. hashem says:

    hello Julie I am learning violin for6 months in my opinion learning clarinet as difficult violin I sure you can do it
    and I wish you be succesfull

  16. Michael Kimbley says:

    Great article! If you want some professional violin lessons in Florida for you or your kid, I suggest you https://www.elizabethfarrellmusic.com/ Really expert teachers!

  17. Scott says:

    Hey Taylor, I’ve been listening to your music for a couple of years now. I’m wanting to learn how to play something (possibly the violin) but I’ve had a lot of people tell me to learn the piano first regardless because it is easier to learn and then move to a different instrument. I have pretty much no music knowledge; I know what music notes look like and not much else. If I decide I want to learn the violin, would you recommend learning on the Piano first? What’s your opinion on this subject?

    • Amanda M says:

      Hello scott,
      Seen your comment and thought i’d just tell you of my experience. My opinion is, well i learned how to play the piano and i am now onto guitar and violin. It is much easier to learn piano for students than it is other instruments.(except sometimes other people can be diff) But since i learned to play the piano it was much easier for me to read the guitar and violin notes and to learn to play them since reading the notes is the same as piano. This is just to inform you it is easier for most people but you and others could be diff and it might be easier for you just to go into violin. Unless you’re willing just to go into violin and learn though it may be a bit tougher.

  18. marie says:

    Hello
    Have you heard of a 2/4 size violin?
    I need a 1/2 one for my daughter.
    There is a STAGG 2/4 for sale on the internet.
    Mathematically, In know that 2/4 = 1/2, but is the same true for violins?
    thanks in advance
    Marie (Ireland)

    • Greg says:

      Marie while this response comes after almost 4 months violin sizes are 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4. So a 1/2 sized violin is a 2/4.

  19. Alvin says:

    I’m a violin beginner, how can I a suitable violin for me.I’m an adult,using full size, 4/4, price us$200~300.

  20. Lee says:

    Do you know an exact full size violin that would be good for a beginner? Could you possibly make a list of places to buy the supplies that you list (like exact products)? Thanks!

  21. Taylor Shay says:

    Hi.. My name is Taylor and I was wondering if gettin’ a beginner violin on ebay would be a good thing to do or not? I am really wanting to learn and i am also starting to learn Piano. the only reason i am learning so many at a time is because i teach myself alot of stuff and very quickly and also my friend is going to give me free lessons. So if you wouldn’t mind emailing me if you can and answer my question thank you very much!!

    • MT Violinton says:

      hi taylor, you can get a good and affordable students quality violin on amazon.com. The price range is around 50 to 200 dollars.Read the review first before you buy, avoid buying a product from china, its cheap but not worth it.. Read the review about how to buy a beginner violin here..

      • Greg says:

        You should always buy a violin constructed from wood not plastic and when possible avoid any violin under USD100.00. There are plenty of reputable retailers with brick-and-mortar and on-line shops where you can purchase a good quality student violin for under USD250.00. While student violins tend not to sound the best they are an inexpensive option for someone who is beginning and if you want to upgrade to a better quality violin after 6-12 months you are not out a lot of money. Some retailers offer a trade-in option when upgrading your violin .

  22. Robert Carrick says:

    Hello Ms.Davis,

    To begin with,listening to you play can only be described as audio-sunshine!!!! I just started listening to you about 2 months ago and I’m a fan!!!In fact I’ve liked listening to you so much, I have purchased a violin (cheap one), trying to find lessons in my area,and have subjected my family to some of the most horrible sounds known to man, all in a quest to find some deep seeded musical talent (that i don’t have),LOL!!!! I never played an instrument as a kid and trying to start at 33 is a task to say the least. I really just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration.

  23. Aira says:

    Hello, Ms. Taylor. πŸ˜€ I’m a huge fan of yours and I finally started violin lessons. I’m fourteen years old and I really reaaaaally love it. It was always my dream to play the violin and when I discovered you on YouTube it gave me confidence to ask my mom if I can practice the violin instead of piano (played the piano for 5 years) and here I am now. I love your videos and I thank you for giving me inspiration. πŸ™‚ God bless, Ms. Taylor. Keep up the good work!

  24. Merna says:

    I just bought my violin and I would like to learn how to play, but I am from Egypt and lessons here are so expensive or cheap but they teach very very slow to get money as long as they can, so they’re scammers
    I am 16 years old and I am not sure if I can learn online or what? If anyone knows any good online website tell me please
    or if you can help me while chatting on skype, that would be great !!
    E-mail me: mernaibi@hotmail.com
    thank you.

  25. niloy says:

    How much time does some1 need to be good at violin .. ?????

    • Anon says:

      A couple years to be good enough to play really good, probably a year to play a full song.

    • bradley says:

      I’ve been playing for about 4 months now and I’ll be honest I didn’t dedicate much time at the beginning so naturally I haven’t progressed, BUT now I’m playing anytime I can and of course I can play better, but it still sounds horrible. It helps if you have already had training in the piano or any other instrument like I have. It’s annoying as anything to learn to play because MOST of the violin is technique, notes and making the violin sing are all about that, nothing less. I know it’s going to take me years to be able to play the same piece that I can play on the piano (and learned in a week). Once you have that realization that it’s not just the notes, but the accuracy of which you hit them and how you hit them, it will be smoothER sailing

      • Duane Lucy says:

        I recommend keeping it out all time. Maybe you should get a violin holder that you can put on your wall.

  26. Bryn jones says:

    I have always loved the Violin and did start in primary school,but was to
    embarrassed to ask my mum for money for lessons?
    I was really enjoying it to.I forget now but do you think i could pick it up again?
    Thanks

    • Jasmin says:

      yes you should.
      i’m 16 and have never played the violin before. i wanna learn it now.
      you are lucky to have started so early πŸ™‚

      • Duane Lucy says:

        Jasmin,

        You are never too old. Just jump in there and start playing. You have a great advantage if you can get private lessons from a qualified teacher. I am 61, if I didn’t have nerve damage in both hands I would still get a teacher; however I feel to progress from where I am I need to be able to relax both hands.

  27. Dwi Kumorojati says:

    I’m 18 y/o and i really want to start learning violin. Could you please tell me the basic to play violin?

    And if i happen to buy a cheap violin, let’s say it is $30 or so, is it fine for a beginner like me?

    Thanks before

    • Anon says:

      Beginner violins won’t be about 30$, lest you want one that will need constant retuning and will crack/break. You’ll want to invest a couple hundred to start out.

  28. ponyo says:

    can you give some effective tricks to play violin. I am 12 i have learned violin for 1 year. I have just begin D major. it is just difficult. thank you for this advice.

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  30. Marie Lee says:

    I’m 57 and I Love Violin so much I want to learn it. I have purchased a manual to teach myself, it is possible for me to learn the basic, even at this age

    • Carol says:

      Hi Marie Lee, I thought I would add a bit of support to what you are doing, even though I am a total violin beginner. I am 58 and just started violin lessons several months ago.

      I do best with instruction and so am thankful for the lessons. However, the lessons don’t answer all my burning questions. A teacher is instrumental (I say this from my very limited experience!) in correcting your form, which is PARAmount to decent playing and not ending up with musculoskeletal problems. It’s very difficult for us beginner players to correctly assess our posture and form.

      My lessons really help with that, but I have gone outside the lessons and researched as much as I have time for. Whatever you end up doing, feel free to email me if you would like. I’d love to commiserate with someone else my age who has taken on such a challenging instrument! schpinkle@yahoo.com

  31. Enrique says:

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  32. Yay! This is the best advice yet! Still don’t have a violin, lol

  33. Parsa says:

    dear taylor
    I’m from Iran.I have been playing violin since I was 6.and now I’m 15.so,I have been playing violin for aboot nine years.
    now, what books do you recommend me ?

  34. Nikhil says:

    I ma 23 and just bought a violin. I have also joined a class for learning the instrument.
    How long will i take to play a few songs on it !
    I actually have only 6 months to be precise.

  35. Jay says:

    Thanks for the tips. I plan on getting an electric violin so I can use headphones. I’ve been learning on my own for months now. The hardest thing I think is learning vibrato. I can’t for the life of me figure that out. Good luck to everyone it’s a hard instrument to learn but well worth the effort.

  36. William in DC says:

    Hi,

    1. Do you need a musical background to learn? I can’t read notes.
    2. Can one still play even if “classical classic” music isn’t their favorite genre? Most of the violin I like is from hip-hop, electronic and soundtracks.
    3. I’m in my 30s. Is that too late?
    4. What’s the approach in learning to play casually vs. learning to perform for actual events or big audiences?

  37. emma says:

    ok i love the sound of the violin i always have. i am about to go into high scool so its a little late to join the program my school has. my best friend plays and she is good like amazingly good (like she is at most artistic type things) and so she is going to teach me. i bought a violin cheep from my moms friend (like 50 bucks and his daughter used it like once)but i had to save up so now i am out of $$ and this helped me make my list of things i still need thank you.

  38. web page says:

    “Honey would I be silly for wanting to learn to play the Violin at my age. It weaves its sound into the overall whole of the music and, as such, is quite a subtle instrument. If your bridge is bad you can actually buy a pre-cut bridge and use it for your violin, and a few drops of rosin on the tuning pegs will keep them from slipping

  39. Violin Care says:

    Thank you a lot for sharing this with all folks you actually recognise what you’re talking approximately! Bookmarked. Kindly also seek advice from my site =). We will have a hyperlink exchange arrangement among us

  40. Josh says:

    I really liked it, it really helped me alot :D. I did not know how much mute helped, plus just around 100+40 violin and bow (the one comes with bow is therrible so i bought nice one)

  41. Julie says:

    I spent 15 years playing the clarinet ( first chair most of them) but the violin is what I was always wanting to play; I even went to Interlochen.

    Despite a head iinjury in 1980 (car-bike) which left me with slightly limited left-hand dexterity, I still want to try the violin. It seems to be in my soul to do this because I haven’t been able to shake it for 45 years.

    I’m going to try and I know I’ll never be great or even good but that was/is not the point. Maybe I was a violinist in a previous life. I cannot explain my desire to do .

    Julie

  42. Em says:

    Hi! Since you said that although buying an expensive violin when your a beginner does not guarantee a world class sound for just a short period of time, I wanna ask, because I bought the wrong size of violin. It was my mistake, I did not do my homework before buying. Now, what are the disadvantages of having the wrong size violin? Mine is 1/8 and I am 20 years old, my height is around 5″. Thank you for your response!

  43. Anusha says:

    Thank you so much πŸ™‚ I am from India, and I really love your videos.
    I have been learning to play on and off for the past 5 years, but I feel like i still can’t play that well. Does it take that long to be perfect, or close to perfect? πŸ™‚ How often should I practice?

  44. Lara T says:

    Thankyou very much Taylor, I am 13 and I just love everything about the violin, all the advice you have shown here will make it easier for me to learn more about the violin. I listen to any violin music every day and anywhere [I am even listen to it now] because I know each one has their very own story to it and that is my favourite part about the music. I really want to start playing the violin, so I’ve been saving up for all the necessary things for the violin. Thankyou again for this advice. I hope you do well like always for the future.

  45. Kezi says:

    Please, I am 21 and want to start taking violin classes, I need guidance on online resources that will be helpful. Thanks, expect response!!!

  46. dennis says:

    Dear taylor.
    First of all your a grate violinist .
    I might have an odd question for you.
    I play the violin now for about a half year now and it goes verry well .
    But becouse of health issues (i spare you the details) the time I have to learn the violin has to speed up a bit .
    Do you have eny sugestions or tips so I can learn it a bit easyer/faster?
    I do have a teacher and practically all day to practice (i practice about 3 houres a day)
    Every tip and or sugestion is welcome

  47. annie says:

    This was very helpful. Thank you so very much. πŸ™‚

  48. Philip Bassey says:

    I really like this! Add:D on facebook via; Philip Bassey.

    Taylor, kudos to you for such good tips. Thank you!

  49. CC says:

    I would like to learn violin but my parents don’t let me as I’m already learning the piano. So how should I start in learning the violin myself? I have sufficient knowledge in reading the notes but I just can’t buy a violin to practice now. Please give me some advice by sending me an email through ccsy2010@hotmail.com. Thanks. πŸ˜€

  50. Alyssa says:

    Hi Taylor!

    It’s very nice of you to post these tips and advices on learning violin. I’m also into violin, I have been into this for only a few months now and I am still learning. There are so much to learn and I’m glad there are people like you who care to share her expertise to newbies like us.

    You play great! πŸ™‚

  51. Jack F says:

    As a beginner I find your website very helpful and informative.

  52. delma says:

    love your stuff taylor i jsut started my self. iam 58 dont tell anyone. recommend easy music.

  53. rosemary says:

    Where is the sheet music available for some of the simpler pieces you play on You Tube?
    Some of the stuff you play is in the higher register and too challenging for beginners.
    I would like to play the Titanic music,Lord of the Rings,The Gael etc.
    Thank you

  54. Waterman117 says:

    πŸ™‚

  55. Hollie says:

    Thanks for this informative article. I have just ordered my first violin and I’m sure this info will be very useful.

    I was wondering if you can recommend any books/resources for those who are already accomplished in another instrument, so don’t need to learn theory?

  56. this website really help me find what i needed as a beginner violin player….
    thanks for the tips

  57. rameez hassan says:

    hi taylor davis
    me Rameez Hassan from Pakistan. I dont care that what are the hindrances betweem us of distance and religion.But i really appreciate your awesome performance and request you to become my violin teacher.I will be really hurt if you will refuse.
    please contact me on facebook
    saim_alone_waiting@yahoo.com

  58. lifestar1 says:

    For beginner violinists who are looking for a good online resource I woul drecommend to search on Youtube
    theonlinepianotutor(one word). I knssays piano but she is actually a violin teacher.

  59. Larry says:

    Hi I just got my violin dont have a cooking clue ! but its always been my life long dream to play the instrument. Starting classes soon very exited !

  60. edwlicona says:

    Omoshiroi!!!

  61. Augustus says:

    I really love the advice, I’ve been thinking about learning how to play the Violin for a while now but I was unsure what I needed to get started, Thanks for the great information! But what I am curious about is this advice also applied for Electric Violins as well?

  62. view says:

    Everyone loves it when individuals come together and share thoughts.
    Great site, continue the good work!

  63. Cesar says:

    Hey Taylor! This topic was great and very helpful, thank you so much for the detail you put here πŸ™‚

  64. habiba says:

    i want to say from my heart that i love your music and see my profile is very full from your videos and see how much i love you so we well gonna say that we have a very nice violent and buttieful woman and happy face:)

  65. Natasha says:

    This was wonderful and very helpful, I am going to be buying a shoulder rest soon and liked the idea of the Wolf for its mold-ability! I played back in the 2nd and 3rd grade and now that I own a violin again it feels as though I am starting from scratch! Thanks for all the tips!

  66. kohlgjp0552 says:

    How many year did i have to wait for that?Thanks for the advice!

  67. Priscilla Sanchez says:

    What type of violin do you have like the brand? You are so awesome and I love the way you play!!

  68. Renan says:

    You play very nice, I always see you videos, you play with soul, never seen one look so deep and virtuous. Im beginer in violin and im chemistry student, and you?

  69. Arya says:

    Good tips! I’m currently learning how to play the violin and wish I had read this before! One thing that I didn’t really like about the Suzuki method is that… well, it escalates very quickly. I mean, the difficulty level increases absurdly from 3 to 4.

  70. Tania says:

    You actually make it appear so easy along with your presentation however I find this matter to be really something
    that I think I’d never understand. It sort of feels too complex and extremely extensive for me. I’m looking
    ahead on your subsequent publish, I’ll try to get the dangle of it!

  71. Melanie says:

    Thanks Taylor, that was really helpful πŸ™‚ looking forward to your next video!!

  72. check it out says:

    You should take part in a contest for one of the most useful blogs online.
    I most certainly will recommend this website!

  73. I could not resist commenting. Very well written!

  74. Alina says:

    Hello Taylor,

    Thank you very much for your insights and for taking the time to explain everything in so much detail. I am excited to hear about the Mute/Practice Mute since I live in a place with a lot of people around me and I am always worried that others could hear the sound. Now I know that there is a solution!

  75. behind says:

    This is a topic that is near to my heart… Best wishes!
    Exactly where are your contact details though?

  76. James Drescher says:

    Hi Taylor!
    I’m really happy that you made this post for violin beginners! I was one of those many people who probably asked you to make a post like this hehe. Thank you very much for all the information you provided! It helped me out alot, and I am really enjoying learning to play the violin. Keep up the great work!

  77. Jonathan says:

    Hi Taylor!
    Thank you for these advice!
    I think there are many french following your channel and willing to learn violin (such as me), so I share this website where a teacher provides video and audio lessons and it is very cheap and of good quality. And I have just discovered that it is also available in english now so everybody can try it!

    http://www.ecoledeviolon.com

  78. Binu S G says:

    That personalised experience about the shoulder rest was really worthy.

  79. Viktor says:

    Hey Taylor. Haha, someone was following my style here and writed endless message, heh? πŸ˜€ No worries, i was with you from the beginning till the end. I mean, i did read all of it πŸ™‚
    Thank you for such detailed advices. It’s nice of you that you think of us who haven’t been blessed enough in the childhood. And nice that you posted Todd’s channel. The first video that starts playing there will either scare people off because they will think “omg, how can i ever play fast like that” or oposite, it will motivate them. I believe it will motivate them πŸ™‚ And Todd is really good teacher. His videos lessons are really good, so i recommend to all people to try his lessons.
    Taylor, no matter how hard i try, my messages will always be longer than other’s πŸ˜€ I feel the need to comment everything in details or i rather don’t write anything πŸ˜€
    Thanks again for your effort to help us out, Taylor πŸ™‚
    Have a nice week πŸ™‚

  80. Laura says:

    Hi Taylor!

    I’m a french fan. I follow you on Youtube and Facebook ^^ I really want to learn violin, and this post will to help me ^^

    thank you very much and sorry if my english isn’t very well

  81. Lass Do says:

    Hi, i’m not planning to learn playing violin but i’m curious and your advices are very interesting !!! And your explanations are very simple and clear!!!

    Bye

  82. Mark Pitts says:

    Taylor,
    Thank you for taking the time to do this. I purchased a violin from Shar Music. I started taking lessons from a guy from church right after I got it.

  83. Joe says:

    Thanks for this Tay rearley helpfull and keep the vids on YouTube going, your an inspiration to all of us

  84. Dom_Brown2406 says:

    Thanks for this Tay, it was really informative and helpful πŸ™‚

  85. Robert Pait says:

    Fiddlerman.com is also a great community site with forums and live chat for those looking for something a bit more informal. violinmasterclass.com is also a terrific site for technique videos.

  86. Natural Tanuki says:

    Very cool post, thanks for sharing the knowledge !

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