how long will it take until i sound beautiful playing the violin?

Question

how long will it take until i sound beautiful playing the violin?
ive been playing 2 months and my tone is still weak and screechy

will this improve??

Answer 1

It will take a while and the changes will be gradual. I teach many beginners and what kind of tone they pull from the violin is something I simply don't address at the beginning. It's not necessary. If the student has an ear for sound (and the vast majority do), the sound will come in time. It's all dependent on the way the bow is making contact, the angle at which the bow is being drawn. All of these things fall into place naturally as you become more comfortable with the violin. The main things to concentrate on early on are bowhold and left hand position as well as violin position. I often have parents ask me about that and I tell them not to worry, that it will sort itself out in time. Try not to worry about this. Worry about the basics instead: make sure pinky and thumb are bent on bow, keep left wrist straight and fingers "boxed" (never collapsed backwards), try and keep the bow as straight as possible, about halfway between bridge and fingerboard. You can check all these things in the mirror if you are not sure. If you are progressing with these things well, the sound will improve on its own.

Answer 2

You're never too old to start, and it's good that you have music knowledge. And yes, the left hand works substantially different on viols than it does on bass guitar, so that will be something for you to deal with. At 15, you are still quite young. Basically, it depends on what your ultimate goal is. If you like classical music, you might get to the point where you could play professionally in an orchestra's string section, but perhaps not be a concert soloist [most virtuosos started years younger]. My advice is to start taking lessons, since this is quite obviously a strong interest for you and you have a passion for the music/sound. If you end up not being cut out for it, you can stop -- but if it's "in the cards" for you to do well at this, you can't know that until you actually start. The best advice I can give you [having studied cello] is to not spend a fortune on your first instrument -- in case you end up not continuing with your studies. Try to contact some violinists [I called my local AFM office] in order to find a mentor for advice on where to get a good starter instrument, particularly manufacturers. With all viols, there's a fair amount of crap out there, and you need something with fairly decent construction so you'll hear properly -- the thing has to resonate sufficiently, rather than be dull. Finally, do some networking to find out which are the best violin teachers in your area.

Answer 3

Some very good advice contained in the above answers.



I tried in college, and was a total wash-out: really awful.



One practice technique that might help to improve your sound more quickly, because I think proper "bowing" is probably the key to producing a good sound:



1) start with the c-major scale, and then proceed on thru them, each successive one with more accidentals than the preceding.



2) take each note separately. And just bow(only, repeat, repeat, repeat) - very slowly at first - and close your eyes; and listen, and pay attention to to how your holding the instrument, the pressure applied by the fingers of your left hand, and take particular note of the areas of your body, which are tensed.



3) always practice with as much relaxed a manner as you're capable: tension of any kind, is what usually defeats any instrumentalist(or vocalist for that matter), in mastering their performance technique.



Good luck,



Alberich

Answer 4

It takes much more than 2 months... I am not a violin teacher to give you the exact answer but I am sure it takes time. As a guitar and voice teacher I would say, 2 years to play just good but it still depends, learning abilities... how you improve your learning abilities, psychology of music (another important subject), appropriate teacher... get in touch with other musicians and set up a quartet... all those things help. And always remember, practice smarter, not harder



M.W

http://miketheblacksheep.wordpress.com/

Answer 5

Of course it will improve! It's going to take years and hard work, and you must be dedicated. I don't play violin, I play flute, but my friend plays violin.

You can't force learning an instrument. It's going to take time, patience, and practice.

Answer 6

Of course it will..

violin takes time..

ive been playing for 11 years.. and im still learning something new everyday.. i think it took me about 6months to a year to play songs through without any screwups and squeals and such.. just practice alot.. especially on areas you think you need adjusting in Ex: your screeching.. maybe your holding the bow to hard and pulling/pushing too hard.. etcc..





but you will get better with time : )



have fun and good luck and welcome to the elite group of violinists!!

Answer 7

Of course you'll improve! Violins tough! I know (I failed learning it!) Just stick with it! I quit after about a year because I was squawking, and my intonation was terrible... It takes patience... But keep working! After a year or two, you'll be sounding like a Maestro!!!



Good luck!