Violin guides

As a violin beginner, you spend your first week on three things: holding violin and bow, drawing the bow across the open strings and placing your first fingers on the A string.

Yes, you can learn to play the violin as an adult, whether you are new to it or returning after a break.

The violin asks for more patience at the start than many instruments, because you find the pitch of fingered notes and shape the tone yourself.

Yes, you can teach yourself the violin: you can work through the basics on your own if you also keep an eye on your bow and posture.

As a rough guide, if you practice on most days, you can typically play simple melodies within a few months and feel at home in first position after one to two years.

You can learn to read music in five steps: understand the staff and clef, find the natural notes, count note values, read sharps and flats, and play each note on your instrument right away.