It’s never too late to learn something new. But when it comes to mastering the violin, the saying, “It’s easier said than done,” may apply mainly because it is one of the most complex musical instruments to learn. Learning how to achieve the right pitch and its challenging bowing technique are some of the things that make this instrument a challenge.
But if you’re looking for violin lessons Monrovia has to offer, remember, like any other instrument, becoming a master takes commitment and time. This means one lesson won’t be enough. The plus side is going for violin lessons will help you realize that you aren’t the only one struggling to play the violin. So, let’s take a look at why learning the violin can be challenging.
Why is it Challenging to Learn the Violin?
To understand why the violin is one of the most challenging musical instruments to learn, you must first consider its composition. The violin has four strings, making it a string musical instrument, similar to playing an acoustic guitar, as sound is produced by vibrating a string, which resonates within its body. Unlike the acoustic guitar, the usual way of playing the violin is with a bow.
This bow is made of horsehair consisting of about 160 to 180 single hairs and a wooden bow stick. The hair is tightened and treated with a sticky material known as rosin, which is extracted from trees. This process helps the hair create friction whenever you drag the string, causing it to vibrate and produce sound. The pitch of a violin is controlled by the fingers of the hand holding the instrument.
Now that you know the composition of a violin, you are starting to get a look into why learning a violin is challenging. Let’s explore some complex challenges you must overcome when learning the violin.
Physical Placement
As a beginner, you first learn how to position your violin. Your physical placement plays a crucial role in how you play the violin. You need to know how to move your hands entirely oppositely. One hand moves the bow horizontally while the other works vertically. This type of movement doesn’t come naturally to us.
It’s counterintuitive, much like rubbing your stomach while patting your head. Overcoming this challenge happens by you practicing using one hand at a time. With time, the opposite movements become more natural.
The Bowing Technique
The bow is the voice of your violin, which means you need to know how to control it without dropping or sending it flying. This is not an easy task for anyone learning how to play the violin. Naturally, we all grip things we hold in our hands hard, but with a bow, the placement and grip are completely different.
You need to learn how to hold the bow to control its speed and weight. You also need to know which hand you prefer to hold the bow. The bowing technique might seem hard to master, but with practice, it becomes second nature.
Pitching
The next challenge you’ll have to overcome is achieving the right pitch. Getting the right pitch when learning how to play the violin will be your biggest challenge. You will need to learn violin notes and pay attention to unique terms.
Let’s not forget to mention that each pitch comes with different hand positions and fingerboards depending on the keys you are playing. This means your hand positioning must also be perfect to have a good pitch, which takes time and practice to master.
Posture
The last hurdle you will have to overcome is posture. A good posture is crucial in your bowing technique, good pitch, and quick fingers. Your posture refers to how you hold the violin, the hold of the bow, and your hand’s position on the fingerboard. Attaining the proper posture can be challenging, which is why practicing how you hold the violin is also important.
Remember, the foundational basis of playing the violin is multitasking. You will need to think about your posture while recognizing notes, fingering, bowing techniques, and pressing strings with the correct pressure simultaneously. While attaining all these aspects at first may be challenging, practice makes you better.
So, even if playing the violin is challenging, you can get better. But to get better, you need someone to guide you; this is where a violin teacher comes in handy. With a violin teacher, you can get past all the challenges of learning how to play the violin, as you will have a guiding hand.
So, the next time you think playing the violin is cool, remember there’s a lot that goes into it.
