I took piano lessons as a kid, but the thing that got me in the end (besides laziness and inadequate wingspan) was that pesky bass clef. It's a very busy instrument, the piano, and my left hand never fully cooperated the way it was supposed to. I always pounded out the melody, fudged the harmony, and pumped the pedals with a leaden foot.
The violin, however, is a simple, unassuming instrument with a pittance of strings. So rudimentary is the violin, that you could probably play it with your hands tied behind your back. I was fairly certain it was the perfect instrument for me, and, lo! I had an opportunity to try it when I took the V-meister to see a school friend make her debut with the childrens' orchestra.
The concert was part of the family music series, and the kids in attendance were given the chance to try different instruments before the performance began. V-meister didn't want anything to do with any of it, but I couldn't stay away from the violin table. After circling it for several minutes, I finally asked one of the orchestra volunteers if I could give it a go, and she said, "Why not? You look about twelve" (Not really, but it was implied.)
Just between you and me, I half expected that violin to play itself. And so I was rather taken aback at how awkward it felt, how cumbersome . . . how . . . how . . . downright difficult it actually was. I couldn't even figure out how to hold the bow without the docent's assistance, much less guide my paws into position on the strings. And the sound it made when I finally managed to put it all together was absolutely pitiful. I handed the violin back and ran away.
But don't think for a minute that my musical dream has been dashed. The violin is all the more enticing because of the challenge it poses. And really, I just want to
* Cello, schmello
6 comments:
I had the same experience with the guitar! It looks so easy. And I can play the piano. How hard can the guitar be? And then I held one and tried to contort my hand into the right position to play one chord and then make the other hand strum at the same time and I was all "Pssht, who needs this?" and hit up Craigslist for a piano. Turns out pianos are expensive. And I have a (borrowed) guitar already. Maybe I'll give it another shot.
The idea of being able to make music with my hands holds such an appeal. I took violin in 4th grade, but practice became a chore and I gave it up. I kick myself still.
Let us know how your violin instruction goes!
Good luck with that!
I've taken... hm. Guitar and piano lessons, but I can really only play the piano a little bit and the guitar not at all. My husband can play the banjo! I am delighted to have married someone who can play the banjo.
I played violin for a couple years when I was a kid. It's not easy and when you stink at it the sounds it can make are simply dreadful! I won a competition though for my rocking rendition of Shortenin' Bread. True story.
I think it is AWESOME you want to pick up violin. We are so much more motivated to learn the things we want to learn as adults.
Invite me to your first concert!
I totally think you should go for it. Any progress? The right teacher makes all the difference. When I started (at the tender age of 32, not old like you), I wanted to quit every week, but my teacher kept me going.
I miss my violin lessons. It's been over a year. It's about time I got back to "torturing the cat," as my husband likes to call it.
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