Learning Violin As An Adult

The violin is one of the most beautiful musical instruments to listen to, and one of the most satisfying instruments to play.

Many adults remember a time in childhood when they wanted to learn, or got frustrated with lessons and quit early, and now regret the decision.

There are many reasons an adult may want to start playing the violin and wonder if it’s too late. But adult violin lessons are beneficial and rewarding in many ways, some of which you may not expect. Let’s take a closer look at violin lessons for adults.

Is it Difficult to Learn Violin?

The violin is regarded as one of the most difficult instruments to learn. While it may seem simpler than others, with only four strings and a bow, it presents a lot of challenges for beginners. However, it is also one of the most rewarding instruments, particularly for adults.

The physical and mental challenges of the violin are associated with improved attention span, enhanced memory, and improved executive functions that have been shown to protect older adults from cognitive decline.

Violin may be difficult to learn, but most players agree that it is worth the effort.

Is it Too Late to Learn Violin?

No, it is never too late to learn violin, or fiddle if you prefer. While a child’s brain has a high level of adaptability and rapid learning that makes it easier to start learning an instrument in childhood, adults have many advantages over children when learning to play and read music, particularly when it comes to the violin.

Learning Violin as an Adult has its Benefits

In many cases, adults can even learn to play faster and better than children. There are a lot of advantages to beginning violin lessons as an adult, including:

Adults are More Responsible

This may sound simple, but it’s actually incredibly important. A violin is not a high-maintenance instrument, but it does require some care and diligence.

An adult is much more likely to remember to care for their violin and bow and keep them in good condition. This is important because a well-cared-for instrument sounds better and makes violin practice more rewarding.

Adults Have Better Focus and Concentration

Adults learn to read music more quickly because they are more focused and attentive. Adults are also capable of paying attention to both the music and their posture at the same time, which children find difficult to do.

Adults Have Greater Emotional Control

Statistically, most children get frustrated with the violin and quit their lessons. Adults are better able to manage their frustrations and balance their emotions, which leads to greater rewards.

Adults Have More Commitment

Adults are far better than children at pursuing long-term goals. They understand the value of hard work and persistence, so they will invest time in lessons and practice and follow through on their commitments.

In other words, many children need to be constantly supervised, nagged, and reminded when they are studying the violin, which can make learning slower, more difficult, and less rewarding for everyone.

An adult can learn more quickly, not just because the adult mind focuses attention better, but because they are more motivated and committed.

Can I Learn Violin on My Own?

If you want to learn violin by yourself at home without going to a class, you can absolutely learn violin on your own.

There are abundant online resources that will help you learn and practice, and many of them are either free or extremely affordable.

For inspiration, listen to the progress and experiences of YouTuber Colton Baird-Rowe, who taught himself violin using books and YouTube videos.

However, every beginning violin player, at any age, can benefit from personalized instruction, even if it’s online via video chat or something similar.

A professional violin tutor can give you feedback on your form and on your playing, and give you personalized instruction that will help you progress more quickly.

In fact, it’s best to get that kind of individual feedback and instruction from online violin lessons very early as you are learning the instrument.

If you develop habitually poor posture or body mechanics while playing the violin, it can be more difficult to correct later.

The best beginning violin lessons for adults give you that kind of personalized feedback and commentary early, so that you can develop good habits that will help you progress more quickly.

How Much are Violin Lessons for Adults?

There are many different approaches for adult violin lessons, and each has a different associated cost. Generally speaking, here is what you can expect to pay for different types of violin lessons:

Free

There are a huge number of YouTube channels and podcasts that offer violin lessons and insights into the instrument. You may also check out books from your library.

Low Cost

Many community centers, recreation or activity facilities, and community colleges offer violin lessons. These may cost $25-$250 for a 6-10 week series of classes, depending on what is offered in your community.

Very Affordable

There are a huge range of online violin lessons available from general educational sites like Udemy and Fiverr, many for as low as $10 per lesson.

Affordable

There are also a lot of websites offering specialized violin instruction, ranging from beginner level to master classes.

It’s a good idea to choose a more expensive package that offers personalized feedback and instruction via video, and these typically have a monthly cost from $30-50, or annual costs from $150-300.

Expensive

Hiring a violin instructor to tutor you in person is the most expensive option, and typically costs $50-125 per hour.

If you are wondering how much violin lessons cost, the truth is that the cost really depends on the level of instruction you are looking for.

Most adults have busy schedules, so prefer to use a combination of approaches that fit their specific budget and time availability.

For example, they may pay more for a once-weekly video lesson with a tutor but use apps or online videos for daily practice and skill building.

Online violin lessons for adults can be an incredibly flexible way to learn and practice the violin, with the time and budget that works best for you.

In other words, not only can adults learn violin, but they should. People are living longer than ever, and it’s never too late to learn a new skill or take up a new hobby.

In fact, science shows that learning and practicing music, even when you begin in adulthood, helps to improve memory and cognition, and delays cognitive decline and dementia.

In Summary, It’s Never Too Late For An Adult To Learn Violin

Violin lessons for adults are readily available, online and in person, and many instructors prefer to teach adults rather than children.

Even if you feel too old to be a violin prodigy, or start a career in the symphony, playing the violin can bring you years of enjoyment and let you create beautiful music on your own or with others.

If you are an adult considering learning the violin, there’s no reason not to begin today.

The violin is a fantastic musical instrument that’s been around since ancient times. Nearly every opera or classical music performer now owns one. With different makes and brands, you have plenty of choices on the table.

We certainly hope you benefit from the information we provide in this article! Just so you know, we may receive compensation if you use the links on this page. If you do, thank you so much!

How much does a violin bow cost?

One of the things that learners and intermediate violin players have in mind when shopping for a violin bow is the cost of acquiring one. Size, shape, material, and brand all influence the price.  So how much does a violin bow cost?

On the lower side, a violin bow could cost you under $50, while on the higher side, it could cost you thousands of dollars.  For starters, you’d want to go for something in the range of $50 to $100 or slightly more. But if you’re an intermediate player, a bow that’s in the range of $100-300 would be a good purchase.

Fiberglas violin bows are somewhat cheap and at the lower end of the price spectrum. Beginner bows cost less than $100. In between wooden and fiberglass lies the carbon fiber violin bow, which is a great all-purpose bow. One will set you back by $50 to $300.

Wooden bows, made from Brazilwood or Pernambuco, are the costliest of the four. A cheaper one goes for roughly $100 bucks, but the best wooden bow runs into thousands of dollars.

As a rule of thumb, buy a violin bow that generally costs 20-25% of the price of your violin.

Who makes the best violin bows?

The violin market is flooded with all kinds of violin bows. This market can make it hard for you to decide which bows to buy. Luckily for you, we have done all the hard work. The only thing that’s left is for you to choose from the best violin bow makers. They can supply you with quality bows.

If you’re looking for a respected handmade bow that can serve you for several years, Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Violin Bow should be at the top of your list. It’s crafted from quality carbon fiber. It has a balanced weight distribution and a beautiful arch, which provides a great bounce.

For the best balance of must-have features and design quality, Cecilio Brazilwood Violin Bow with Ebony Frog, which is our budget pick, will suffice. Strung with unbleached horsehair, it can serve as the best replacement bow for beginners.

In case you’d like to upgrade from your generic wooden bow to carbon fiber, Crescent Well Balanced Carbon Fiber Violin Bow is the safest choice. It’s lightweight and does the job it’s meant to do.

Sometimes you might need an excellent spare bow for practice. And none does a better job than the Violinsmart 3/4 Size Violin Bow.

Do you have kids who want to learn how to play the violin but don’t want to spend a lot of money getting them a beginner’s bow? Look no further than the Crescent 4/4 Balanced Brazilwood Violin Bow as it’s a low-cost design.

Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Violin Bow 4/4

Cecilio Brazilwood Violin Bow with Ebony Frog in...

Crescent Well Balanced Carbon Fiber Violin Bow 4/4

For more information on choosing an appropriate bow, you may be interested in our comprehensive guide: Top Five Best Violin Bows for Intermediate Players and Beginners.

How to buy a violin bow

When shopping around for a violin, you need to keep a few things in mind so you can get a quality bow while saving time and money.

The shape of the bow: Violins are available in either octagon shape or round shape. The latter is a good shape as it is less stiff and simultaneously more comfortable to configure.

Materials: Violin bows are made from four kinds of durable but lightweight material: Pernambuco, Brazilwood, carbon fiber, and synthetic material.

Weight and balance: Each bow comes with a distinct weight and balance. A heavier bow will create a deeper sound while a lighter bow will create pure sounds with every stroke.

Violin size: Ensure that violin size matches your body size. If you’re an adult, the full size (or 4/4 size) violin might suit you. But if you have shorter arms or body, consider the 7/8.

Strength: A good violin bow should be reasonably reliable yet sufficiently flexible, so the material used should carry both properties.

Final thoughts

Your violin bow is more than an accessory, so you should give it much thought before you buy one. Get a good bow, and it will serve you right for many years. Get a poor one, and it will belt out sorrowful strokes to the chagrin of your audience.

Buying a violin bow shouldn’t be a problem if you know what you’re looking for in a violin. A good bow should cost roughly a 1/3 of the price of a violin.