Violinists?

[Pippin'sMom]

Anyone here play the violin? I'm just curious since I'm starting my fourth year of playing and have just picked up fiddle lessons (which are terrible, the guy teaching me isn't doing much "teaching", just watching me sightread and play :banghead: ). I haven't heard of many musicians on the board, let alone violinists, so post if you one of the few and tell how long you've been playing.
~Maggie

[Sarah Marie]

Well, this year I am starting my fifth year playing. I had a private teacher during my, I believe, third year of playing but then he moved and I haven't really been motivated to find a new private teacher since:| And the last two years of the school orchestra were a total waste of my time, the kids weren't serious in the least and it wasn't challenging, but I do have a different instructor this year so hopfully things will change.

Sorry to hear your teacher isn't doing much teaching....if I were you, I'd find someone else and not bother wasting my time or money with this teacher in the mean time.

Sarah

[Pippin'sMom]

Yeah, I'm looking into taking lessons from a lady who's been teaching one of my best friends for 2 or 3 years, she's an excellent teacher, but doesn't teach fiddle. Fine with me, Dad forced me into the fiddle part. Oui. Our school orchesrta is great, only about 6 people in my class, lol! These are the ones who really take it seriously, so it's fun and we move along quickly. This year we get to choose some fun songs we want to play (I've already got a list of movie themes: POTC and LOTR to name some. ;) ). Should be great!
~Maggie

[macy]

i played the violin for......5 years, i stopped last year so i could fit more classes into my school schedule. it was pretty fun though! i got a fiddling book and cd that i could play along to, it was little kid songs, but really fun! lol

[Ashleiy]

Hi, I've been playing for 12 years. What a fun instrument. :-)

[EBB]

I have been playing for about seven years and am starting my second year of teaching in a few days. I also a mgoing to be playing the cello, viola, and bass soon but the violin is the best ionstrument of them all.

[violaNZ]

I started playing violin just before I turned 6 so about 13.5 years now. I switched to viola primarily in middle school and that is my main instrument now although I have a five string violin that I love. I also have a cello that I have been working on teaching myself and had a few lessons on. Unfortunately, not being a music major, I don't have as much opportunity to play in college.

As for fiddle, I had a fiddle technique book once but never got very far-- it just isn't as popular of a style. Good luck with it though if you continue.

[equus_peduus]

I played violin from somewhere around 4th grade til somewhere around 7th or 8th grade (all through public school programs). Switched to viola as my main instrument in 9th grade, started private lessons in 11th grade. I then went to university for 4 years, played viola in the school symphony, had about 2-3 years worth or private lessons (the teacher we ended up with is wonderful!). We went to France summer of 2003 as part of the Berlioz festival :) That was fun :) The viola teacher came along... we played Harold in Italy, which is a viola concerto :)

Now I've been out of undergrad for a year... didn't play much while I was working, and am playing even less now that I'm in vet school :(

One of my old roommates plays cello, and she taught me a bit - enough that if I *had* to I could fake it for a bit :P it's hard work...

violaNZ: I am WAY jealous of your 5-string, I've been eyeing them for a long time, but it wouldn't be fair to the instrument to get one :P plus they're expensive.

I have a violin, but play it less than my viola. :( I love my viola :) I know a couple fiddle tunes, but I'm not really any good at them :P

[IndyChinChick]

I took fiddle lessons for about a year last year but then my fiddle teacher moved to Arizona and I can't find another one for the life of me. It was sooooo fun, though! I loved it!