[Antares]

I just got my brand new violin yesterday, and had a lot of fun playing around with it. Some online articles attribute the difficulty in picking up an instrument in adulthood to a difference in status due to age rather than the ability to learn, which I think is not entirely accurate, but does have some merits to it. Taking myself, for example. I earned a professional qualification for the piano at age seventeen, and made principal flute in every ensemble I've been in. I'm simply not used to producing that horribly off key high C on the violin, nor am I used to being a beginner in... anything remotely musical.

My violin teacher is highly experienced and accepted me as a student simply because I did my professional exam preparation (piano) with his wife, another accomplished instructor, and I don't think he would have agreed otherwise, so I'm not quite sure how to behave around him as I don't want to disappoint him or make him think it's a mistake to teach me (it probably is). When I was at the store yesterday, the clerk asked me what type of bow and resin I wanted, and I couldn't say anything because I didn't know anything.

If I were to buy a new flute, it would have been very straight forward- I'd probably know much more than the clerk about these technicalities. I want inline G, split E mechanism, and a B joint. But when it comes to a new instrument, I was tongue tied. Fortunately, another teacher was in the vicinity and helped me choose my accessories, but it was highly embarrassing all the same. When I was trying to tune my E string this morning, I couldn't figure out why my peg was slippery and loosened it so much that the pitch fell horribly flat, but then I recalled static friction, adjusted accordingly, and it worked. It was a horror story all the same. What if I'd broken it?

Adult beginners, what are your experiences, challenges, insights?

[Vogue]

I think it's just adapting to a new instrument, versus actual difficulty in learning it. A child probably doesn't care about tuning. A child definitely doesn't care about tuning.

I started playing the violin when I was very young, but didn't play it for long.

I picked up Trombone at 15 after three years of playing the flute, and within the year was one of the best trombone players we had (against people with 5+ years of experience.) Arguably it was wind to wind, but it was two totally different styles of playing. Woodwind with keys and brass with slide.

Trombone and Violin share a similar challenge. Tuning. Flutes are pretty easy to tune. Trombones require not only tuning with the tuning slide, but hitting the right position. Just like violins. I think with anything practice makes perfect. I didn't get good quickly on the bone without it. I had lessons two days a week and practiced the others for probably an hour a day.

Still you have the immense advantage of being able to read music already, and violin being in the key of C (I think that's accurate).

SO PRACTICE. That's my advice, but you already knew that as an experience musician.

[Solaris]

I am considering getting a flute, though I did learn the basics back in high school. Musical ability has generally come easily to me (except singing which I have some strange fear about if I am singing alone, even though I can sing on pitch just fine). It would be interesting to see if that still holds true.

I think the challenge for you is somewhat that it's a totally different type of instrument, so there's no skill you can carry over really. I've always wanted to try violin, as it's so beautiful when well-played. What prompted you to try when you are so crazy busy already?

No matter what I do, I figure I can't possibly sound worse than when I started playing oboe -- which always sounds like a very angry duck when poorly played.

[Linwenilid]

So you discovered something you didn't know already? There, there, happens to the best of us.

[Booko]

I've had a number of adult students over the years, starting back when I was in college as a music student myself. Many of my adult students had no prior musical experience and couldn't even read music. They were generally good students because they were motivated to learn.

Yes, it can be a little intimidating to some adults, especially if they've been out of anything like formal education for a while, but the instrument I taught most was recorder, because it's cheap to buy and that makes it low risk for expense. It requires no embouchure, which makes it pretty fast to get up to speed on. You can learn to read music as you move along with the other elements. And generally in about 6 months I can have you playing real music along with an ensemble (usually drawn from fellow members of the Am. Recorder Society) and you'll sound like something decent.

In a year I usually had students playing duets with me, usually some of the Croft sonatas.

If you move on to another instrument, what you learned on recorder will be of use for pretty much any instrument you choose.

---------- Post added 01-04-2011 at 04:46 PM ----------

	Originally Posted by Solaris To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I think the challenge for you is somewhat that it's a totally different type of instrument, so there's no skill you can carry over really.

There is always a skill that carries over from one instrument to the next.

Always.

	No matter what I do, I figure I can't possibly sound worse than when I started playing oboe -- which always sounds like a very angry duck when poorly played.

LOL try krumhorn. It sounds like an angry duck even when you play it right.

Or then there's the RACKET. (I jokingly call that the medieval bong. Find a Google image and you'll see what I mean.)

[HackerX]

	Originally Posted by Solaris To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	No matter what I do, I figure I can't possibly sound worse than when I started playing oboe -- which always sounds like a very angry duck when poorly played.

I always wanted to play an oboe. I played clarinet as a kid (primarily), so oboe to me was the next challenge up.

Reading music is definitely a big part I think of why adults might find playing an instrument challenging, so if you have that covered you have a big head start.

I started to play the guitar a few years ago. During primary school as part of music class we received guitar lessons, so it wasn't new to me and I certainly had my clarinet background. I think the biggest challenge though as an adult is finding the drive and the time to practice. I could be better if I bothered but I don't so I'm not.

[Solaris]

HackerX, oddly, one of the reasons I haven't is that I know I will want to practice all the time, and I have a very demanding baby. So, right now, I just don't have time. But, I also think he'd like it and find it soothing, too. The contradictions...

[Antares]

	Originally Posted by Vogue To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Trombone and Violin share a similar challenge. Tuning. Flutes are pretty easy to tune. Trombones require not only tuning with the tuning slide, but hitting the right position. Just like violins. I think with anything practice makes perfect. I didn't get good quickly on the bone without it. I had lessons two days a week and practiced the others for probably an hour a day.

Just playing around with the violin yesterday told me I'm going to struggle to get used to the imprecise and reflexive instrument that largely depends on muscle memory and whatnot. It's not going to be anything like the flute, piccolo, piano, etc. But I've always been told that unlike piano, which starts out easy and gets harder (which is very true! After that diploma I find it VERY hard to advance to even harder pieces), violin starts out being hard to grasp and then advancing gets easier.

	Originally Posted by Solaris To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I am considering getting a flute, though I did learn the basics back in high school.

Do it. It's probably one of the easier instruments to pick up and it's very intuitive and precise. One thing that's hard about is the tone; much harder than the violin to produce a good tone, because it all depends on the shape of your mouth, whereas violin, I managed to make a beautiful sound from the get go yesterday (well, my instrument is at least intermediate-advanced, so that might make a difference). A lot of beginner flautists have a thin and airy tone, but then every beginner has that phase.

	I think the challenge for you is somewhat that it's a totally different type of instrument, so there's no skill you can carry over really. I've always wanted to try violin, as it's so beautiful when well-played. What prompted you to try when you are so crazy busy already?

This fact actually makes it more exciting in my book. I've never been impressed with people who can speak 4 Romance languages. Useful? Yes. But after your first two you can pretty much pick them up very easily, and you probably grew up in it. I know English (Romance-Germanic), Chinese (Asiatic), Cantonese and French (Romance). It'd be like picking up Arabic, something I'd really like to try in college, which is why I'm also trying to "branch out", become the "jack of all trades", so to speak.

I want to play the violin for the same reason as you. I played it when I was about six years old, but I quit. After listening to Paganini and a lot of symphonies and hearing how beautiful it is, I realized quitting was the worst thing I could have done, and ever since, picking up the violin has been an obsession of mine. I'm freshly out of the first semester of senior year, so I can afford to do this. Screw AP Physics. I'll maintain a C.

	Originally Posted by Solaris To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	HackerX, oddly, one of the reasons I haven't is that I know I will want to practice all the time, and I have a very demanding baby. So, right now, I just don't have time. But, I also think he'd like it and find it soothing, too. The contradictions...

Buy a good recording of some soothing songs
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[Solaris]

Oboe had a similar (and yet more complex, thanks double reed) problem to the flute. There is a lot of sound quality derived simply from your embouchure, and it takes a while to develop your "chops" as we say in the US. So, I'll still get that challenge, but without the accompanying "omg when will your head explode" look that the pressure from a double reed seems to cause.

I think it's pretty great that you decided to go back and take up the violin again, and I totally agree that the complete novelty of how it's played is why the challenge is so exciting. You should do anything and everything you can when you have the opportunity (as appropriate of course).

I have a pretty decent collection of classical music, but the baby is just as happy to listen to trance with me.

[INTJoe]

I love music but I don't have great dexterity. I'm a good athlete, but much better with my arms and hands than my fingers (if that makes any sense). So manipulating instruments isn't very easy for me.

But I own a couple guitars, some electronic drums, and a keyboard. I enjoy covering songs as a hobby, and recording my own original music. I just started doing this in like November and have already learned a lot by forcing myself to lay down all the tracks. I've also gotten better at hearing music and breaking down a song by ear. YouTube covers have helped a lot, too. Especially for drums.

I'm really enjoying the keyboard, though. I'm really basic but laying down a keyboard track makes a great base for my rather messy guitarwork.

[saulzar]

I think it helps a lot - previous experience. Myself I learned trumpet in school - age 26 I decided to pick up classical guitar. Needless to say it has been a challenge, I have a general lack of talent or sense of rhythm - I'm very jealous of people who can learn a song by ear.

As a guy I know says he is a "guitar playing robot", through enough practice, despite lack of talent or intuition you can play anything eventually.

It's quite rewarding all the same, but you have to do it for yourself - and no one else. People seem to think "Oh - you can play the guitar, learn this song for me.", I wish I could.

[Cooper]

I just got a four string bass guitar. I taught myself to the banjo many years ago, but haven't played in forever. I have a spinal cord injury and the doc suggested I learn bass to keep my fingers moving as best as I can. I don't read music, never have, so I am learning to do that, too. As an adult I want to do this, which I think helps, and there is no pressure to learn.

[Thinker]

I hated music at school. We were forced into playing recorder and the teachers and teaching methods were abysmal. I left my recorder at home most days (accidentally).

My daughter loves her music and has learned a number of instruments including piano. We have been talking lately about her teaching me how to play the piano. She is 14 and I think she is reluctant in the role as instructor, particularly to her dad
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I have no idea about reading music. I left that behind years ago, and it is not something I look forward to.

I will persist.

[Cooper]

It is rather odd being an adult (mid-aged for me) and learning to play an instrument....

[saulzar]

It's not that unusual - my father started learning the ukulele aged 60, I think I motivated him with my guitar - which is cool, we can do that together whenever I'm in the same country. Mind you - he was very musical as a kid and can/could play piano, banjo and piano accordion.

[INTJoe]

I don't understand why people think learning an instrument as an adult is "odd". I didn't even touch a guitar until my friend in college showed me his. Nor the keyboard until like 4 years ago when I noticed my gf had an old childish keyboard in her closet. Nor drums until I saw a drum game at an arcade like 7 years ago.

Not a lot of people are exposed to things that cost money, like instruments, at an early age. If they are, they are extremely lucky to be raised in a family that actively facilitates such endeavors.

Anyone perplexed at the thought of learning an instrument (especially an obscure one) on this side of age 18 is really naive.

[Antares]

Originally Posted by INTJoe To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I don't understand why people think learning an instrument as an adult is "odd". I didn't even touch a guitar until my friend in college showed me his. Nor the keyboard until like 4 years ago when I noticed my gf had an old childish keyboard in her closet. Nor drums until I saw a drum game at an arcade like 7 years ago. Not a lot of people are exposed to things that cost money, like instruments, at an early age. If they are, they are extremely lucky to be raised in a family that actively facilitates such endeavors. Anyone perplexed at the thought of learning an instrument (especially an obscure one) on this side of age 18 is really naive.

Well, I think I meant that it's rather odd being a beginner when you're so proficient at everything. You hold the violin and you go omigosh i have no idea what to do with this. And then you're made to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and you go omigosh this feels sort of familiar like i was six years old all over again hammering on the piano. It's the feeling of "this is so new, but so familiar" kind of thing.

[themuzicman]

I didn't have too much trouble picking up guitar as an adult, although time kinda prevented me from really getting into to it.

Then again, I did play low brass and piano as a kid.

[saulzar]

Originally Posted by Antares To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Well, I think I meant that it's rather odd being a beginner when you're so proficient at everything. You hold the violin and you go omigosh i have no idea what to do with this. And then you're made to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and you go omigosh this feels sort of familiar like i was six years old all over again hammering on the piano. It's the feeling of "this is so new, but so familiar" kind of thing.

Certainly a lot you don't have to learn twice, music theory - reading music, your aural skills. Though on a guitar reading music adds a whole new dimension, there is always two or more ways to play things - having 4 f# notes and 6 ways to play C major is a pain in the rear.

For me I was lazy as a kid and never counted timing properly, all comes back to bite me now as well. Still lazy and regretting it.

[FreeFrag]

I learned drumming a few years ago. My parents never supported the idea of me being anything but a stereotypical lawyer/doctor so anything I want to do outside of that area requires my own income. So, after saving up, I bought myself an electronic drum kit. I'd been airdrumming to DVDs (seriously) so when I set my kit up I was already able to play the basics. I did also take lessons for a few months - when I had a job that could afford it - so I can also read drumming sheet music and play a few more things I couldn't play before. The rest seems to fall in place with practice and inspiration.

[Antares]

Originally Posted by saulzar To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Certainly a lot you don't have to learn twice, music theory - reading music, your aural skills. Though on a guitar reading music adds a whole new dimension, there is always two or more ways to play things - having 4 f# notes and 6 ways to play C major is a pain in the rear. For me I was lazy as a kid and never counted timing properly, all comes back to bite me now as well. Still lazy and regretting it.

For me, it was scales, arpeggios and foundational skills. My shiny diploma is hidden away in my parents' closet, yet I realized I haven't been playing the essentials for years. I tried my hand at all majors and minors today. They're atrocious. It's definitely hurting my advancement in the piano into the next level. When I was young, I pretty much only practiced pieces because they were more exciting and I had a lot of talent, and got away with it. However, at pro level, things are looking bad. Nowadays, I mostly practice Czerny 740. Flute suffers as well, but more from the lack of one on one guidance in the school band. I'll not make the same mistakes with the violin.

[Solaris]

I remember that when I was playing the oboe, the best thing I could do to improve was to play scales s l o w l y. Like each note until I ran out of breath slowly. I hated it, but it really helped. Should I take up an instrument again, I guess I'll start out doing much the same thing.