8 Common Mistakes Many Beginners Make
Learning to play any string instrument takes time and demands devotion. With hard work, you'll definitely be able to play it right. As a beginner learning to play the violin, you'll be susceptible to some of the mistakes that most beginners make. Here are 8 of the most common mistakes you can avoid when learning to play the violin.
1. The Misconception that You're Too Old to Learn How to Play a Stringed Instrument
To be clear, there are no age restrictions when it comes to learning how to play the violin. Generally, a lot of people will have many discouraging words if you're trying to learn something when you're already past your school days. There's a misunderstanding that you cannot learn to play the violin unless you're 10 years and below. On the contrary, there are many people on the internet today sharing their videos, and they began playing string instruments much later in life. Most adult learners find learning the violin quite relaxing.
2. Forgetting to Check the Bridge Placement
With use, the bridge on your violin wears, thus warping and leaning toward the fingerboard. It can also move out of place due to a change in temperature and humidity, or when you make a string change. Frequent straightening of the bridge will keep it in place, but neglect will cause it to break.
3. Believing Cheap Instruments Are Just as Good
The notion that a cheap violin will work the same as the more expensive ones can cut your learning journey short due to frustrations. The more you pay for an instrument, the better the construction and wood used. The high-quality fittings of a costly instrument promote great sound. A good instrument that costs you more will be easier to play and will not discourage your efforts to learn.
4. Judging the Instrument Size by Age
Age doesn't dictate the size of the instrument you should use. The size should be guided by your physical stature. The arm length and the size of your hands determine what size of instrument you should have.
5. Purchasing a Non-Adjusted Instrument
Adjusted string instruments are easy to work with, and besides, they sound quite good. Those without adjustments will give you a hard time operating, even if they're of great quality. Buying an instrument online leaves you with high chances of getting one that has not been adjusted. When shopping for a string instrument, shop from a trusted dealer who adjusts them after receiving them from the manufacturers. Test it out before you leave the shop to make sure you like how it sounds. Rest assured we don't ship an instrument to you until we have made all necessary adjustments.
6. Failing to Rosin the Bow
Rosin is a necessity for violin playing. It, however, doesn't come with many new bows, and a beginner may not know that it's required. Rosin increases friction on the bow hair for better string gripping. Without it, there will be no sound or vibration produced.
7. Not Adjusting the Bow Hair After Playing
To prevent the bow from warping, you should tighten it every time before you start playing and then loosen it afterward. Many beginners forget to make these adjustments, which can ruin the hair by stretching it out.
8. E String Damage
E strings are delicate and can break easily during tuning. A chromatic tuner can help avoid this by tuning slowly until the right pitch is attained. E strings are not costly, so it's a good idea to get a backup when purchasing your violin.
You Can Trust Our Violin Experts
Like with anything, learning to play the violin takes time and energy. Our team here at Peter Zaret and Sons Violins understands the challenges that come with learning to play a new instrument. However, soon these common mistakes will be a thing of the past and you'll be able to work your way from a beginner to an intermediate violinist!
