A Simple Guide for Adult Violinists: Just Do It

One of the things I hear again and again when I speak to adults who are interested in learning the violin is, “I've been thinking about taking up the violin for a while.” Sometimes that means a few months, but quite often it means several years. They have thought about having lessons, listened to music they love, perhaps even looked at violins or watched a few videos online, but for one reason or another they have never quite taken that first step.

I completely understand it. As adults, we have a wonderful ability to overthink things. We think about whether we have enough time, whether we are too old, whether we will be any good, whether we should have started years ago, or whether we will feel silly because we are starting something completely new. Before we know it, another year has passed and we are still saying, “I'd really love to learn the violin one day.”

I recently had a lovely reminder of this from one of my adult students, Lindsey, who said:

“I have been thinking about taking lessons for a while and I am so glad I did.”

I think this sums up exactly why I wanted to write this guide. Sometimes we spend so much time thinking about doing something that we forget we can simply take the first step and see what happens.

So, if you've been thinking about it for a while, this is my little bit of encouragement: just do it.

You are never too old to start

There really isn't a magical age at which you become too old to enjoy playing the violin. I have taught adults at very different stages in life, and one of the things I love about teaching adults is that they bring their own reasons for wanting to play. Some have always dreamed of learning, some played when they were younger and want to return to it, and others have simply reached a point in their lives where they have decided that it is time to do something they've always wanted to do.

You don't need to be naturally gifted, and you certainly don't need to be able to read music perfectly before you begin. You are allowed to start exactly where you are. Your first notes may not sound the way you imagined they would, and your fingers may take some time to find their way around the fingerboard. That is all part of learning an instrument, and there is actually something rather enjoyable about hearing yourself improve.

Don't wait until you have more time

This is another thing I hear from adults quite often. Life is busy, and it is very easy to tell yourself that you'll start when work is quieter, when the children are older, when you've finished a particular project, or when you have more time in the evenings. The trouble is that there is rarely a perfect moment.

You don't need to practise for hours every day to enjoy learning the violin. Of course, regular practice will help you progress, but even a short amount of focused practice can be worthwhile. Sometimes you might have half an hour to yourself and really enjoy working on a piece. Other days you might only have ten minutes. Rather than worrying about what you haven't done, pick up the violin and enjoy the time you do have.

The violin should be something you look forward to, not another thing on a long list of things you feel you ought to be doing.

Remember why you wanted to play

I think this is particularly important for adult violinists. There are so many ways of measuring progress when you learn an instrument. You can think about grades, pieces, technique, scales, exams and all the things you haven't mastered yet. All of these things have their place, but they can sometimes make us forget the original reason we wanted to play.

Perhaps you heard a particular piece of violin music that completely captivated you. Perhaps you have always wanted to play a certain piece yourself. Maybe you played as a child and remember how much you loved it, or perhaps you have never touched a violin before but have always been drawn to its sound.

Whatever brought you to the instrument, don't lose sight of that.

There is something wonderful about opening a violin case after a long day and simply playing. It doesn't have to be perfect. You don't have to be preparing for anything. You can just enjoy the sound of the instrument and the feeling of playing.

If you are returning to the violin

For those who played when they were younger, picking up the violin again can be both exciting and slightly strange. You may remember much more than you expect, while other things seem to have completely disappeared. Your fingers might not move as easily as they once did, and you may find yourself wondering how you ever managed to play certain pieces.

Try not to compare yourself with the person you were years ago. You are a different musician now, with different experiences and a different understanding of music. Give yourself time to find your way back to the instrument.

In many ways, returning to the violin as an adult can be a lovely experience. You are choosing to play because you want to, rather than because someone else has told you that you have to practise. You can listen to music differently, appreciate details you may not have noticed when you were younger, and choose pieces that genuinely interest you.

Let yourself be a beginner

I think adults sometimes find being a beginner harder than children do because we are so used to being competent at the things we do in everyday life. We have jobs, responsibilities and years of experience behind us, so it can feel uncomfortable to suddenly be a beginner again.

But being a beginner is actually rather liberating. You don't have anything to prove. You can make mistakes, ask questions, try things, laugh when something sounds terrible and celebrate the small things that go well.

And there will be plenty of those small things. The first time you play a tune all the way through, the first time you notice that your bow is producing a better sound, or the moment when your fingers suddenly seem to find their notes without quite so much thought — these are the things that make learning an instrument so rewarding.

Most importantly, enjoy it

Learning the violin does not have to become another achievement to chase. You don't have to become the best player in the room, pass every exam or work your way through every grade. You can simply learn because you love music and because playing the violin gives you something that you don't get from the rest of your day.

Of course, good technique matters, and having the right guidance can make learning considerably easier. But technique and progress should support your enjoyment of the instrument rather than take it away.

If you would like a little guidance

Sometimes, having someone alongside you can make the journey much more enjoyable. A good teacher can help you understand what you are doing, prevent small habits from becoming bigger problems and give you some direction when you aren't quite sure what to work on next.

For adults especially, lessons don't have to mean turning the violin into another obligation. They can simply give you a regular opportunity to spend time with the instrument, learn something new and have someone there to encourage you as you develop.

I offer individual online violin lessons for adults, both for those who are completely new to the violin and for those returning to an instrument they played many years ago. Lessons take place on Zoom and can be tailored to your own experience, interests and reasons for wanting to play.

If you would like to find out more, you can read about my online violin lessons for adults.

So, if you've been thinking about it...

Perhaps it is time to stop thinking about it and actually do it.

Open the case. Pick up the violin. Find a piece of music you love and have a go. It probably won't be perfect, and that's absolutely fine. The important thing is that you have finally started.

You never know where that first step might take you.

And if you discover that you really do love playing the violin, you may find yourself wondering why you waited so long.