Is it too late to start violin at 19?

Question

I've been in the University Chorus club for one year and have learnt some basic music theory. Now I want to start learning violin which I've been dreaming to learn for a long time. Is it too late to start at 19? It's not important to be in the level that I can show in public. I just want to play well.

Answer 1

Absolutely not. I would buy or rent a cheap one first, just to make sure you like it. But you are never to old to learn an instrument. Good luck to you.

BTW: It takes years of dedication to be a pro, so don't think you will be a great player right off the bat. It's a difficult instrument to learn. But if you want to play out of your own pleasure, go for it. And do what ever it takes to have fun.

Answer 2

It's never too late! :'D If you really want to play well, a good instrument is important and lots of practice. (of course). It's a fun instrument to play, although holding it for the first time can be a bit tricky to get used to.

A good quality beginner's violin would be around $250 (or a bit more). You could always rent and pay a certain fee each month. As for violin bows... fiberglass and carbon are durable (carbon being the best, but it's expensive), so fiberglass bows should be just fine. Wood ones are nice, but they break easily. :'(

Having a good cake of rosin is important in playing... if your violin is brand spankin' new, then you would need to rosin the bow a lot. Don't use the rosin that comes with the violin; it tends to be poor quality.

It's a good idea to keep some extra strings, just in case one of the strings break. It's also ideal to change your strings every 6 months, (if you really want to keep the sound quality of the violin in tip-top shape) and the wooden pegs every year. (Well, that's what people suggest, but I don't, even though I should. xp.)

Oh! Last but not least is the shoulder rest. The Kun brand sells some nice ones. I have the collapsible version, which makes it easy to store in my violin case. It's about $25-28 dollars, but it's worth the quality. Some people like to use sponges, so find whatever is comfortable for you. Having a shoulder rest will help you in improving your playing, posture, and comfort. Keep in mind that you're supposed to hold the violin up with your chin, not your hand.

Oops. Sorry about the wall of text... D': Hope I helped you a bit! Good luck!

Answer 3

It's never too late to try something new. It's not that hard. If someone younger than you can learn it, you can do it too. I started learning when I was about 9 and it's really easy. When you get to more complicated stuff, it gets harder of course but you have plenty of time to learn so take your time and soon you'll be able to play the violin :D

Answer 4

When I was your age (about 70 years ago) the Depression
was on---none of us could afford music lessons--no matter
how inclined or talented we might have been !

I had to make a living as a Big Band Singer---for myself
and a wife ---travelling and tired--not much pay ---etc

If I had been rich---in 10 or 15 years I could have learned
to play well the Violin , Cello ,Piano ,Bassoon ,Saxaphone,
Trombone ,Clarinet and the Keyboard if it had existed at
that time !

So can you---if want to concentrate on just the Violin---
you've got it made !

I directed a USO show in Okinawa featuring Jack Benny ---
ask your parents about him ---he was actually quite good
with the Violin---but he pretended on his TV shows in
the 60s that he wasn't ---
He had a renowned bit where he played a song called
"Love in Bloom" where he deliberately hit many sour
notes---pretending he was unaware of them !

I also staged shows with "Rubinoff--and his Violin !"
(Well known during Radio days !)

Good luck with your studies !

Answer 5

I'm 18 turning 19...i've always wanted to learn to play the violin, but circumstances never allowed me to. Now i'm earning my own money for tutoring, to learn how to play the violin.
I just want to be really good...don't intend in taking part in an orchestra or anything. Just as a hobby.

So i guess it's never too late :)

Answer 6

I don't think it would be too late to start learning how to play the violin. I guess anyone can study at any age. Maybe now is the best time because you will be more attentive. I am 30 and I would like to learn how to play the piano, guitar and drums.

Answer 7

It's never too late to do something as long as it's something you really want to do. It'll probably be a little more difficult to learn, but hey, who cares, right? What's life without a challenge?!

Here's a bit of motivation:
I'm 15, started my guitar lessons just a couple of months ago when I was still 14. I know German but I need to re-learn most of it.
I am 15 and I want to larn Spanish, French, Italian, and maybe Arabic.
I am 15 and I want to go huntin although I've never picked up a gun in my life.

So, there you have it. Most of that probably won't start happening for another year - 2 years.

Don't chase dreams, catch them.
-S.a.S

Answer 8

Its not too late to start learning, but it is probably too late if you want to reach a professional level. I have only ever known one person who started violin late (also at 19) to play professionally, but she was virtuoso pianist since she was 6.

Violin is a notoriously difficult instrument to learn as an adult. Brass players and percussion players have much more success as late learners. I don't know why, maybe you just need to be physically stronger to be successful.

Answer 9

When I was 16 a violin teacher told me it was too late, but then I met a girl who had played for several years - she disagreed. They think you have lost your "sense for pitch" when you are older than 15, but its not true...Then you shouldn't be able to learn any music after 15, everyone knows that isn't true.
Start to learn if you want to!

Answer 10

It's never too late to learn and play a new instrument. Because learning never ends.