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 Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:55 am
This is a kind of research tool for me... ^_^ anyone wanna be a lab rat? No, just kidding. I'm writing a research paper for college, and it would be great to have some statistics. Also, I am curious... How old were you when you began playing the violin? What made you want to play? (or in some cases, who or what made you play, whether you wanted to or not) `fishy(green) 0 would be a person who just started playing and sounds really bad 2.5 would be the not-so-good-not-so-bad player (most high school students) 4 would be college bound hopes to get in an orchestra someday 6 at the wayyy advanced stages of learning, looking for professional groups and auditioning for them 7 would be in a proffessional orchestra medium end 8 would be in higher end (New York Phil, Minnesota Orchestra, etc.) 9 would be proffessional soloist 10 would be Itzak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Hillary Hahn, etc. 20 ++ would be Paganini. Have fun! I <3 details, but not personal information!
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Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:34 pm
I started when I was 9.
It was my own choice.
My dad started 6 months before me, which actually made me hesitate to bother, because yet again, I wouldn't have anything to *call my own*. All of my extracurricular activities and achievements like soccer, choir, scouting, gifted & talented classes, kicking butt in school.. they'd already been done by my siblings.
I think that really, from the beginning, I wanted to learn fiddle. My parents had recently taken a trip to Nova Scotia/Cape Breton and brought back cassette tapes of the music from up yonder. It was the first time I took interest in music beyond whatever my parents turned on, on the radio.
However, celtic fiddle lessons weren't accessible, so I just took Suzuki violin lessons from the same teacher my dad was going to at the time. He talked to me in baby talk and consistently thought I was 8 years old for the 2 years I took lessons from him. <__< Then I had a great teacher for 3 years or so, and 2 others once she started med school, and quit lessons altogether when I was 15.
I'd rank my playing at about.. 11 or 12. I'm good enough to be in the 1st violin section of our top orchestra, but I hang out near the back of the section. So, above average, but not fantastic. I lost motivation for classical music a while back, as well as motivation for competition. I'm content with how I play, and that's what is important to me. :]
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Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:16 pm
hmm im just going to give the nut shell....i was 12 i think....at least i was in the 7th grade....and i was put into the class....though at first i was relunctant to take it, but didnt know it was an orchestra class....but the teacher went around telling people what they would play...as for ranking...im not to sure...only because i dont play like i use to, but im starting to work on it again...soo idk...9 or 10?
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Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:58 pm
Sad but true: I fell in love with the violin the first time I heard it. At four, I asked for one, but we didn't have the money. I was told that if I played the piano for two years between then and middle school, I could play the violin when I entered 6th grade. My mom figured I would forget about the piano lessons in six years, and stop bugging her. But I wanted to start piano right away, so that (I thought) I could get to the violin faster.
Fast forward to 10 years old, first day of sixth grade: I picked up a violin and played a scale. NOT a good scale. I think it was sort of D major. Not really. But it made a sound, and impressed the heck out of the girl whose violin it was.
Two years ago I played from Solos for Young Violinists: Book 1 for my final playing test of ninth grade. Now I'm working on the Bruch violin concerto. I got violin lessons starting as my 14th birthday present, in October of my 9th grade year... so I guess you could say that's when I actually started playing.
As for ranking, that's difficult. I know I brag about it all the time, but I do go to a Grammy magnet school, yada yada, and I'm in... maybe the top quarter to top third of the school. The top of the school all got full scholarships to Interlochen last year, sort of thing, go to New York to play, whatever. I'm not anywhere near that good; I've had more than 8 years less of experience On the other hand, I could play in the adult Philharmonic of many small towns. So... maybe... anywhere between an 8 and a 14. sweatdrop
Edit: Actually, could you give us more of a scale ranking? Liike... maybe
1 = 4 year old 10 = whatever 20=virtuoso, or more? Because everyone is putting themselves around 10, and we all have different ideas about it. xd
Edit2: Ok, then I guess... I dunno. Maybe the 14. Because I am pretty good. XD
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Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 3:31 am
I started to play violin when I was 7 I think. Some people came from the music-school and demonstrated at the school I was currently attending. I was like 'Wow! eek I wanna play too!' So we got a form to take home to our parents and fill in (hmm, in or out? sweatdrop )if we wanted to start playing.
And of course I wanted to play so I did that. But guess what? My mom had to start play for a while before I could start gonk Then I was like 'I wanna play now! Now!!'
Oh, well that's life smile
Now I would probably put myself as a 10 or maybe 11 3nodding
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Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 6:08 pm
I started playing in violin age....14? But played viola since age 7 so I had a wee bit of a leg up on how to work it. I remember at my elementary school, 3rd grade was the time the 5th graders demonstrated their amazing prowess at strings, (I was facinated, and convinced I'd NEVER get that good) and permission slips to join the music lessons were handed out.
I begged my parents, and decided to play the viola because "everyone" was playing the violin, and I wanted to be unique, as well as play an instrument where I wouldn't be comapred to everyone else constantly.
I stuck by it, and even though I never learned to read music as quickly as everyone else, I discovered my ear was better than anyones and could mimic what I heard. Thus, I don't know how to read violin music, and know nothing really about the scientific part of reading and writing music, but consider myself a rather good "fiddler", and have been playing viola/violin for 11 years now.
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Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:29 pm
Thanks, Kalile, I have made changes to the first post.
Where are my manners? I should have started things off with my own "testimony."
I got my first violin on my fourteenth birthday, as a gift. It is still my performance violin. I was on crutches when I got it, but that didn't stop me from playing it. I just lay down on the bed, with the violin sticking straight up into the air from my neck. lol
What made me want to play? Unexplainable. I was introduced to one at my friend's house, although she didn't really like it. The moment my eyes met it, however, something happened, I don't know what. It was like a spell or something. I wanted it, I loved it, I wanted to master it. Love at first sight? maybe...kinda. I talked my friend into showing me how to use it. Well, to make a long story short, she ended up kind of upset with me because I spent the greater part of my time there with the violin instead of playing with her! Her mother showed me the basics, and I just couldn't get enough. I talked my parents into buying me one of my own, even though I was surprised very much when my mom brought it out as my birthday present. My first response was, "Is it real?" I was speechless.
Well, that was almost five years ago. Now I am playing pieces such as Csardas and Meditation and Adoration. I am also embarking into lutherie, or the making of violins. I own several violins, now. One of them I have even given away to a young girl who reminded me much of myself. She immediately fell in love with the violin when she stayed at my house and saw me playing. She is a foster child. She is scheduling lessons herself. I'm studying education in college now, to teach violin.
I would rate my performing at around 12. I've made it to a few national competitions, but I still "buckle" under pressure, sometimes. Also, my piano accompanist is my first teacher--my friend's mom.
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Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:23 pm
How old were you when you began playing the violin? About seven years old.
What made you want to play? (or in some cases, who or what made you play, whether you wanted to or not) My mom asked me if I wanted to try it, and I decided to give it a shot.
How would you rank yourself as a player now, on a 1-20 scale; 1 is a 4-year old screeching, 10 is like your average, not-bad-not-good player, and 20 is like Itzchak Perlman or Joshua Bell. I would say 13-14. I'm good enough to be in a youth symphony, but I've only been playing for so long. >.>
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Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:50 pm
I'd say I'm about a 12 on your scale.
I actually fell in love with the sound rofl and decided to pick it up. My dad helps me keep it in tip top shape. I played about when I was say 10 ish. I was still in Elementary when I started. Now I'm helping my dad repair 3 violins so I can keep a 2nd one along withmy one I started on in elementary school.
I played a Bellastari ok I can't spell tonight but yes a 200+_ year old violin is heavenly. It was like perfect when I played it. But yes I'll stop ranting now. Stupid college classes -hums- sweatdrop
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Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:24 pm
I started playing about 3 1/2 years ago, so I haven't been playing very long. I chose to play because when I was a very little girl, I remember seeing violinists on tv, and I just thought it was soooo cool! At first I planned on starting to play the viola to be different, and it was just that, I wanted to be different. But I liked the violin because it went along with my soprano voice. I am very happy playing the violin, and I take lessons every week!
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 3:01 am
How old were you when you began playing the violin? About 7 or 8.
What made you want to play? Nothing in particular, really. I saw it, I wanted to play it. That was all. Plus, dad encouraged me.
How would you rank yourself as a player now, on a 1-20 scale? About a 10, I suppose. I didn't work hard before, so I'm not very skilled now. I can hear pitches and match them, but not when I'm actually playing.
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Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:12 am
I started with violinlessons when I was 5 years old. My father thought I was musically, so he rent a violin and he sented me to a teacher. So it was not my own choice, but I liked it anyway. It's difficult to rate yourself and I've no idea where to put myself, but I think above the 10, because I'm studying for violinist and I've won several prices. I would say 15, but if 20 is Perlman or Bell it's maybe a little bit too hight...
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Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 1:49 pm
I have been obsessed with the violin since I can remember and have been playing for about 7 years.
I have no reason why but I loved it.
I'd say I am about a 12
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Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 2:13 pm
I learned how to read music and to play my first instrument when I was 6, but I didn't start the violin until I was 12. It was my own choice, and basically I just fell in love with it.
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 5:56 pm
I started at 3. It was my own choice. My dad played violin and was good at it. My family had stopped me and my sister from taking piano/rhythm lessons from this really bad teacher. She always would suggest that people do things she couldn't give examples of, and would say you were doing it wrong even though she had no idea herself.
I played Suzuki violin for quite a while (9 years) with ONE teacher. She knew nothing about bowing so I have a really bad style and it's really hard to fix. I've finished all the Suzuki books, and have pretty good left hand technique, but I am pretty bad bow-hand wise.
My dad and my teacher recently forced me to play on my dad's really old violin. I don't know why, but I like my old one better. Too bad...
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