Advice for the adult violin student
We recently received a request for advice from an adult who had played violin as a child but who hadn’t picked up the instrument in decades. She, like many others, discovered that her desire to make music hadn’t vanished when she reached adulthood; it was only buried by the demands of college, job, and eventually family. Interestingly, those same demands often prompt us to return to an instrument (or singing) at some point. Let’s face it: music helps us lead better lives.
While your circumstances and mileage may vary, I’d like to pass along our response, with only minor editing. I hope it helps you in your path.
With regard to resuming violin studies, I can’t encourage that enough. Music is an enjoyable and interesting diversion that I find helps me collect my thoughts better in other areas as well. It stretches you, and at the same time it rewards you for your efforts. It can be an expensive hobby, but it can also be a very inexpensive one. Certainly cheaper than golf! 
Things to consider for the adult, returning string student
- What method was used in earlier studies? If you were a Suzuki student, you’d probably be more comfortable stepping back into that than someone who never studied the Suzuki books.
- How much time/effort/money am I willing to commit to my studies? Not talking instruments and accessories, but lessons. If you want to play for enjoyment, you probably wouldn’t want to connect with an instructor who focuses upon preparing highly advanced students, as they’ll expect a great deal more than you might be prepared (or even able) to devote in terms of time and effort. OTOH, some instructors who work with beginning and mid-level students might not challenge you enough. Once in a while, you also find someone who does it all well. Those people generally command a higher fee, but in our experience, they are WELL worth it.
- Location. If a person lives within or is willing to drive to a major metropolitan area, many, MANY more options present themselves. Nothing wrong with either choice (close-to-home vs. farther away), but each involves pros/cons. Local music stores and community colleges often have instructors available, and rates are reasonable. School music teachers often take on private students as well.
- Regardless of who you choose as an instructor, I’d highly recommend preparing for and auditioning for a local community orchestra. Our area has one, and many other mid-size to large communities do as well. You will need to be reasonably proficient to get in, but even if you aren’t quite ready yet, you can always work toward that and when the time comes, solicit feedback from the folks for whom you audition. Those usually aren’t high-stress environments, but they do stretch you at times and help you learn a lot!
- A fellow musician once told me that the best way to learn an instrument is to have to play it…and he is absolutely right! Once you’ve committed to playing a piece on a stage (even in a large group), you’ll improve rapidly.
- Ask for a “test lesson”. There’s really no way to know who is a good instructor for you until you meet them and try a lesson. A good-for-you teacher will challenge you, but won’t make you feel uncomfortable about it.
- If your circumstances just don’t allow you to connect with an instructor at this point, get the best books, methods, and YouTube videos you can and carefully start over with the basics until you can get an instructor. I offer this last point with some hesitation, as it’s easier to learn good habits than to unlearn bad ones; and being human, we all tend to pick up bad habits if someone knowledgeable isn’t helping us to avoid them. But in the balance, if your circumstances offer you only the choices to learn independently or not at all…I’d choose to learn.
What have I missed? Any thoughts, discussion, disagreement? Comments are welcome and encouraged!
Keep playing,
Mark
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