Overcoming the Struggle of Learning to Play Violin

People always say violin is the hardest instrument to learn. Or they say it has a steep learning curve. I disagree with both of those statements. Personally, I believe that every instrument is equally hard to master.

One of the reasons people give up on the violin is that they never realize where the real struggle is. I'm about to tell you.

Violin isn't necessarily harder than other instruments. The thing about violin is that it has a low threshold for frustration.

Think about it. You make some scratchy noises with your bow and you start questioning your whole purpose in life. You get filled with self-doubt and wonder if you're wasting your time. How do I know? ​I've been there!​

I played guitar for 3 years before I ever picked up the violin and I never recall having a soul-searching, doubt-filled, tear-brimming moment after strumming some guitar chords that didn't sound great.

Violin is different. It's easy to get frustrated. The real struggle with the violin is not learning where to place your left hand fingers or how to get a good tone. The biggest struggle with playing violin is overcoming the mental frustrations you impose on yourself.

Once you realize this, you'll understand your greatest obstacle in achieving your dreams is your own mind.

Now let’s talk about WHY people get frustrated so easily and how to fix it.

First, you need to think about the negative cycle of...not practicing!

It's important to practice the violin often, even if it's just for a few minutes. I do recommend taking off at least one day a week to refresh. Make it a goal to practice at least 5-6 days a week.

There's more to it than just not practicing. Not practicing the right way can yield the same results as not practicing at all.

When I first started playing violin, I would practice for 4 and 5 hours a day with okay results. When I finally figured out how to practice as a college student, I could get more accomplished in less time with little or no frustration.

If you would like to get more accomplished in less time, watch the video lesson here on my ultimate practice routine.​

Basically you want to do stretches, warm-ups, scales, etudes or exercises, a solo piece, something fun you do well, and also take some time to experiment.

Whoa! That sounds like a lot! I thought you just said practice every day, even if just for a few minutes? How do I fit all of this in?

Well, each one of those items doesn't have to take 15 minutes. For instance, here's how you could break it down for someone that's been playing for a few months.

• Stretches: 1 minute

• Warm-ups: Playing open strings (no left hand). 2 minutes

• Scales: 3-5 minutes

• Exercises/Etudes: 5-10 minutes

• Solo Piece: 10-15 minutes

• Something Fun You Do Well: 2 minutes

• Time to Experiment: There are no rules when you experiment. Do it for 3 seconds or 3 hours

So you see, that routine could easily fit into half an hour, or maybe two twenty-minute sessions. As you progress, you can scale it up if you want to spend more time on each item.

Now I know life gets in the way. Here's what I want you to do if you don't have time to do your full routine. Only do open strings. Yep, that's it. If all you do is open strings every day, I guarantee, you'll make progress!

There's one more reason people get frustrated with the violin and quit. They think learning violin is a continual upward slope. It’s more like stairs with a combination of progress and plateaus.

You’re going to reach plateaus with certain skills. That’s expected. Don’t get frustrated. Realize you’ve reached a plateau and focus on another skill. Give yourself some time and pretty soon you’ll be making progress again.

People also don't rejoice in small victories. The road to being the musician you want to be is comprised of lots of tiny steps. Find joy in each of those steps and you will always love playing the violin.

One of my favorite quotes is: "Make the most of all that comes and the least of all the goes."

Rejoice when you do something well. And when you don't do something well, learn from it and let it go.

To sum it up, here's what you want to take away.

1. Practice every day even if it's just open strings

2. Develop a practice routine and stick with it as much as you can

3. Rejoice in small victories

Those three items are the keys to making progress on the violin and squashing frustration in its tracks.

For more practicing tips, join me in my ​members-only 30 Day Practice Challenge​ and find a new way to get more enjoyment out of your practice routine every day.

Steps for Sticking with the Violin

So is violin worth it? I think so! There's a reason I stopped playing all those other instruments to focus on the violin. Sometimes the things in life that involve the most struggle also have the greatest rewards.

Those frustrations you're dealing with? I've dealt with all of them and overcame them all! Here's my tips to help you master the mental aspect of playing violin.

• Tell someone you're playing the violin. Whether that's in person or on social media. Accountability helps you stick with something. When you start sharing with people that you play the violin you'll probably hear these two statements, "I always wanted to learn violin" or "I used to play violin..." and then you'll realize how special you are for plugging away at this tantlyzing instrument.

• Listen. Listen. Listen. Listen to music all the time. Fiddle, classical, gypsy, whatever. Mix it up. Stay surprised. Attend live events as much as you can. Listening is the number one thing you can do to stay motivated. Need some ideas? Here's my ​ultimate playlist.​

• Don't set unrealistic goals or expectations. That's just setting yourself up for failure. Learn to enjoy the journey of small accomplishments.

• Play for people. I'm super introverted but playing for people is a great source of joy. Make yourself do it and you'll be happy you did!

• Join a jam session, ​my members-only community forum​, or local orchestra. Playing with others is a great way to stay motivated. Sometimes you just have to jump in feet first and do it.

• Make progress videos. Record yourself. You don't have to listen to it if you don't want to (although it's a great help). In a few weeks, record yourself again. Get a good collection and then see all the progress you've made.

• ​Submit videos and get my feedback on your playing​ through my Online Studio Membership

If you're just starting to play violin, or thinking about starting, don't let this scare you away. Yes, violin is a challenge but if you have the right mindset and a good foundation of the basics, you can learn to play the music you've always wanted to play. If you are brand new, check out my ​"Getting Started"​ articles and videos.

Happy Practicing!

~Lora