Hi, I'm interested in picking up violin but, is it possible to learn by myself? I have very little music background (Near to none)

i have thought of that but i would prefer to go for classes.... at least until i can get tue fundamentals correct.
i've yet to enrol in a class too but without any knowledge of violin playing, i wouldnt know if i was even holding the violin correctly ...
as for reading the notes, i guess you can learn it yourself but i do have piano background

have you bought your violin? if yes, where, what and how much you got yours? (sorry ya, very typical asian question : how much, ah? )

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Added on March 26, 2008, 4:15 pmi bought the violin!!!! i'm so excited ..... and broke

thx for recommending euro music. the lady vivian is very nice

she actually know my ex-piano teacher!! what a small world.

This post has been edited by storm04: Mar 26 2008, 04:15 PM

erm, not yet buy...i need to confirm first if it is possible to learn it by myself or not through books (Violin for dummies, etc...) coz i no time take violin class...

maybe you need a tutor for the first few months, coz you definitely need them to correct you on your postures and methods. If you really wanna learn on your own, you can do a search on youtube. Benchanviolin and ProfessorV, they are both violin instructors. you can watch their earlier posts on violin basics.

ok more updates on my purchases...

total spent around 1k include

- violin outfit (bow, rosin, oblong case)
- extra set of dominant string
- shoulder rest
- music stand

so the violin i bought - eurostring 300... yea, it's a made-in-china. actually i was not really sure to get it until the lady introduced me to a customer who plays with the bandaraya .. he was very kind... he did a quick tuning and played a short tune. i fell in love... with the violin of course... the sound was rich and LOUD... maybe cos he expert and know how to play it well. but he also agreed the violin got BIG tone.
anyone with the similar violin? yea i know i bought it already but anyone with any opinion?

suppose to get a chromatic tuner but was too excited and forgot about it... any suggestions on tuner?

Violin is very difficult to learn without a proper tutor, you definitely need a teacher to teach you and you'll learn way more quickily than having to do hair tearing trying to figuring out basics. Most importantly, you'll always ask yourself a question - am I doing the right thing?

Also it's advisable to learn some theory at least until grade 3~5 (which covered all the useful stuffs). I stopped at grade 5 anyway...

Gratz to your wonderful purchase! Yeah Vivian is a very helpful and nice person!

Yes it's always possible for cheaper violin to sounds loud and rich, as violin is made of wood by hands (even they're made from so-called factory). And you're lucky that you've got a violin player to choose and test for you! Normally customer will be blur blur and buy violin which they don't have much idea of the potential of the violin.

You'll need a tuner to check the tuning of all 4 strings. But when you've advanced to certain level you can start to learn tuning the A string using the tuner, and tune the rest following the A strings (that's the note that the whole orchestra will check when tuning).

Some care about violin and what you should/shouldn't do:

1. Wipe the white powder after each use (the powder is the rosin on your bow, they'll drop on the violin when playing). They're acidic so you have to wipe them off with dry cloth everytime or else they'll stick there forever and hard to clean. Oh and do not apply too much rosin to the bow hair, just can make sound with ease without powder coming out then ok.

2. Try not to mess around with the bridge and the soundpost (the wood stick inside the body which you can see from the "f" hole). The bridge is not glued and it'll fall down if all the strings are loosen at once, and without top pressure, the wood stick inside will also fall down as it's not glue'd too, without the stick your violin will sounds horrible, and it need a pro to set it up, slight changes in position will cause the sound to change dramatically. If it really happened to your violin, bring back to Euro Music as the owner Calvin will fix it cause he's also string instrument repairman.

3. Change the strings one by one, reason as mentioned above.

4. Always loosen the bow after use, or else the tension will damage the wood stick and it'll lose its curve and will feel dead when playing.

5. Do not have the shoulder rest set too narrow to clamp the body too tight, it'll damped the sound and responsiveness.

6. Do not leave your violin in a hot environment! The painting of the violin will melt and worse the glue that hold the wood pieces will come off.

I think that's about it, try not to knock your violin to cause nicks and dings so you can always sell it off in the future for higher value.

This post has been edited by pigcat: Mar 27 2008, 03:20 PM

hey pigcat
thanks for your advice!

i've found a violin class! and yahoo!!! it's so near my place too. there's this place "de music" ... they sell instruments too.. until today only i notice the shop there... haiz.. if know earlier no need to go down to kl . but is ok la.... nice experience to meet ppl oso.

no la... the guy who played my violin didnt choose for me la... i was sam si si wanna buy or not ... then he was there to get some books and vivian requested him to play and i was hooked


yahoo... tomorrow i will be starting my lessons!!! (i hope i wont do some embarrassing stunts ... i'm so ever clumsy....)

Storm04, Good luck to you. hope you enjoyed your lesson.
BTW, where is the music school u learned from. Im looking for teacher as well.

It is been a while. I saw the list, it was long. Wow.

it's in bandar puteri puchong.

May I know where is the actual location?

are you familiar with bandar puteri puchong?
if yes, it is directly opposite bumbu bali ... (2 roads away...in the opposite direction lo) corner shop, 1st floor. it is above a steamboat shop.
hmm... i will take a photo tomorrow when i go lesson...

actually i told alex, the guy in charge, to make the sign more attractive lo.... cos it is like faded liao and not really noticeable... some more no website...
i mean if make a simple website a just create a blogsite oso ok. just put name, sign, contact... put words like violin,cello, music, lessons.... and of course puchong, selangor, malaysia
at least when ppl do a search can find them mar rite? businesss man business...

This post has been edited by storm04: Mar 28 2008, 05:06 AM

Nice Varnish!! I luv it!!!!

i just realised that the bridge is slightly leaning towards the scrolls.... is it normal??
i suppose the teacher can adjust it tonite rite?

nope, the bridge should be standing straight on the body. hopefully ur teacher know how to adjust.

Unless your teacher know what he/she's doing, or else it'll get worse.

If your teacher know what to do, he/she'll probably loosen the strings one by one, and use a pencil and apply it on the groove on the bridge. It act like a lubricator, so when the strings are tighten again the bridge won't be pulled towards the scroll, and with the lubrication you can simply pull the bridge slightly without the need of loosen the strings.

That said, if there's no problem, better not touch it, as strings instruments are very delicate and fragile instruments (I learned the hard way lol!). Best bring back to Euro music to fix it.

nice violin storm04....what cam did u use? and all the best on ur 1st class:)

Storm04, share with us on your 1st lesson.....All the best and have fun!!
I had stopped my class, planning to start again on May.
My friends just taught me D on 3rd Position and gave me a lot of score to study. hehe!!

kimmie - cam = oly e500


hmm... just came back....

played some open string and hands damn tired....
he was ok. but kinda quiet a little... hmm at time felt a little awkward.. maybe cos i very talkative...
but the teacher doesnt really stress on correct posture....hmm...

he just ketuk a little on the bridge to correct it but it works la...

took a photo of the shop from outside but dark d and lauya phone so picture tak jadi.... gomene!


so did you guys use a mute? i just bought one... everything $$$...

This post has been edited by storm04: Mar 28 2008, 09:36 PM