instrument question!! ...?

Question

i'm 14 years old and last septemebr, i started taking piano classes and sol-fa classes. But the problem is, i also really want to know how to play the violin and i'd feel really bad later on if i didn't start now (i'm already mad at myself for quitting the violin and piano classes i had started when i was much younger...) before it's too late and i really get too old to start an instrument. so i was wondering if it's ok to learn 2 instruments at once... (and i'm not talking money-wise) : i'd continue piano and sol-fa and next september, take additional violin classes???...

Answer 1

You can definately learn two instruments at once at any age. I am teaching a woman in her early thirties how to play the violin, while she is taking guitar lessons. i think that it is even greater that you are getting a feel for the piano first. This will help you so much with note intervals, pitch, and music theory in general. I wish I had started that way.

Answer 2

Hey, i'm 15 and Im learning/play 8 instruments at once (through self teaching on some and lessons on others). It's completely okay, because the more you play any given instrument, the easier the others should get for you. Violin is awesome and so is piano. They're both C instruments, which means their notes are in the same key, so they sound the same, and yea i'd say go for it. The more the merrier. It makes it a lot easier.

Answer 3

Absolutely go for it. Taking sol-fa classes is one of the best things you can do, and will be helping you immensely in your violin studies. Learning at the age you are, with more maturity, and obviously more drive, you will have no problem learning piano and violin at the same time. I'm sure as long as you are dedicated and find a good teacher, you will catch up with other people in your age group in no time at all. I've seen it happen! Go for it!

Answer 4

Definitely!

I've know people who take as many as 4-5 instruments at one time. Oftentimes your experience with one instrument can help you understand problems that you have with another instrument. I also took piano in middle and high school (and had voice lessons in high school). I still wish that I had taken a band or string instrument as well. It will help that you have already started your piano lessons; that way you aren't attempting to start fresh with two instruments at the same time.

However, don't worry about starting an instrument "before it's too late". It's never to late to learn to play an instrument or to return to an instrument that you used to play. Just be aware that if you are taking two instruments, you will need to practice twice as much. Don't overwhelm yourself.

Answer 5

Piano and Violin are totally different. So if you have the strength do it. I place bass in a metal band called WEAPONELECT. Piano is a good fondation to build on, what ever you do from there should just be easier. 14 is when I started messing with Music, I am 31 now.

Answer 6

You are sooo awesome for wanting to learn more than one instrument!!!

Remember this: Almost all instruments (including the human voice) read the same types of music. Some may be in different keys, some may be in different clefs, and some may require the use of multiple staves (such as piano & organ) - but they're all basically the same. The only major exception is percussion which, with a few exceptions, focuses more on rhythm than pitch.

So, once you have learned the musical basics as you learn to play one instrument, you get to carry over that musical knowledge as you learn the second. That means, for the additional instruments, you only have to worry about the technique particular to that instrument. The different techniques is the fun part! I play the piano, clarinet, flute, recorder - in addition to being a professional singer.

There are two ways to approach multiple instruments: 1) focus on a particular type or 2) play a broad assortment.

ONE PARTICULAR TYPE: Some people like to focus on a particular type on instrument. Examples of this are piano players that also play the organ; woodwind players that play sax, clarinet, flute, etc. (which is common in jazz); percussionists (that play snare, tom, bass, trap, bells, etc.); and string players (electric bass players that also play stand-up acoustic).

Usually the skills and abilities you have in one type of instrument in a certain group makes it easier to play similar instruments (like a trumpet player that can easily learn trombone or french horn because they've already learned about the embouchure for brass instruments. The same is true for the embouchure for sax and clarinet.) For professionals that play more than one instrument very well, the often get to play several of them in performances and recording sessions. They call this "doubling" and it usually means that you get paid more. (Very cool!)

BROAD ASSORTMENT: However, for other people, they really enjoy learning how to play different types of instruments. They like the challange, they like the ability to play different styles, they like to play things that have different sounds, etc. I have a friend that plays the violin in orchestras and drums in rock bands. It works for him because he likes classical and rock music (and not many rock bands use violins).

Many, many, many professional musicians play at least two instruments. For many of them, one is the piano. I'm not 100% sure why, but I think it's because so many parents make their kids take piano lessons and they really like it. Then, although they like to play the piano, they can't usually play it at school so they add a band or orchestra instrument (or sometimes voice) so that they can do music at school.

Almost every university or conservatory music school requires you to be proficient at the piano - regardless of your major instrument. So, if you learn more than one instrument you're on you way to being just like the professionals out there! Congratulations!

At 14 you are absolutely the perfect age to be learning two instruments. Just make sure you give each instrument enough time in your schedule so that you give them a fair shot. A lot of people your age are really busy and give up an instrument because they don't have the time to practice enough to get past that icky stage where you don't sound so good because it's still new to you. Stick with it and you'll be really glad later on.

P.S. There's no age when you'd be too old to learn an instrument. However, now is the perfect time to do it!

Answer 7

At first I would say absolutely, but just make sure you have enough time and patience to practice, and most importantly you still have time for schoolwork. It's good that you already have started taking lessons for other instrument so that you know what you are capable of and what else you might have to give up: less time with friends, less time playing video games, and less time on the internet. I'm not trying to discourage you, just think about what you are capable of before you get started, only you will know the right answer of rather or not your ready, also your parents they might be able to help to.

Answer 8

It's never too late to learn a new instrument!! I'm 26 (not that that's old) and just started tuba after playing percussion (mainly mallett) since I was a junior in high school (never played a thing before that).

Just make sure you have enough time to devout to each area before committing. You don't want to be a "jack of all trades, master of none" type person.

Answer 9

Nothing wrong with it. Just don't be surprised if it takes longer to learn everything. I would advise you to pay attention to the violin as it is a harder instrument and go back to the piano later.

Answer 10

go ahead I play about 3 instruments and took lesons for two of the back to back once