Violin etc

[vivdunstan]

Just realised it’s almost 30 years since I played the violin. That came up in a thread on the Accordionists Forum about playing other instruments. I played the accordion from age 4, then the violin from 9-18, including playing it in the Borders Schools Orchestra. But I haven’t played it since, and don’t miss it. It was useful for skills I could transfer when teaching myself the classical guitar, initially playing purely by ear. The left hand control is very similar. And I suppose it taught me more music theory. And playing in the orchestra made me appreciate a wider range of music. But yup, don’t miss it. I do still have my fiddle somewhere. Other instruments I play include the piano and Anglo concertina, and I need to get on with learning the uilleann pipes!

Comments

[a_cubed]

I always thought violin was a torture device not a musical instrument. It's one of the fiddliest (pun intended). You spend the first three months getting to the minimum point of being abe to play a note instead of a screech, and then at least three more with more screeches than notes. Compared to a fiddle, almost very other instrument is more abstract. Sure, it takes some initial practice with various forms of wind instrument but nowhere near as long as a violin.

[vivdunstan]

Oh it can definitely sound bad. I think it took me a year to sound decent. But I really enjoy the feel of it, and here in Scotland there is a very strong tradition of fiddle playing. I enjoyed it while I played it. I’m just a bit surprised I don’t miss it more! Even if it has left me with some nice legacies.