Every time you lovingly unpack your violin from its case - tighten up the bow, tune the strings - you are taking one more step towards your goal. Whether you are aiming to be the next Paganini, or just wanting to take it as far as you can, learning to play the violin is a journey filled with joy and despair, pain and pleasure.
Your mental attitude is most important. As an adult you are more aware of your inadequacies and limitations than a child, but try to see the long view, and know that each day you are progressing one tiny little step more.
The first important decision is to find a good teacher - one who is sympathetic to your goals. Ideally your teacher should also be a good musician, who can demonstrate instead of just explaining what you need to do.
Your teacher should be able to give you guidelines on how to practice. I should like to add a few thoughts to help you on your way.
First, you need to practice every day. Even if you only have a few minutes to spare, just do it! My teacher, Dr. Suzuki, said "You only need practice on the days that you eat," (I like the 'only'). Find a regular time in your day and schedule it in. Make it as much a routine as cleaning your teeth in the morning.
Second, you need to repeat. Repetition is the name of the game. If you repeat an exercise, a scale, a phrase, a piece a couple of times, you are not going to learn very much. However, if you repeat 10, 20, 100 times, you are really going to know how to do it. But be careful. Make sure you know exactly how you are supposed to do it. If you repeat a mistake 100 times, you are going to know very well how to do it - wrong!
Third, you need to copy. Copy your teacher, how she stands, holds her bow, her violin position, left hand position, where is her head?... Go to concerts, and carefully watch professional violinists, their positions, postures, etc. There are hundreds of videos of violinists on YouTube. Pick your favourite musician, and piece.
Fourth, you need to listen. Listen to your teacher, how she plays, her phrasing, tone quality, vibrato etc... Listen to CDs. Try to decide whether the phrase starts with an up bow or a down bow. Are they playing at the tip or the point, or in the middle of the bow? Can you guess what string they are playing on? Immerse yourself in the world of violin music.
My last recommendation is to have fun. To play a musical instrument is to be able to communicate in a universal language. There are no language barriers. Music is its own language. Try to find a friend who is at the same level as you, or better still, slightly more advanced, and play duets together.
To sum up: practice every day, repeat, copy, listen, enjoy.
The old adage is right. "Practice Makes Perfect"
Elizabeth Arnott is English, and has lived in Mexico for the past ten years. In London she was a Suzuki Violin Teacher for 25 years, and taught a range of students from age 3 to adult. She now lives in Merida, Yucatan, plays violin in the Orquesta Sinfonica de Yucatan, and has a few private students.
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