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I reckon it took 10 years of lessons (and not very much practicing) for me to start enjoying playing violin/viola on its own. Prior to that I’d only really enjoyed playing in various ensembles (4-100 people). Kept it up till I left college but only as I had a very good teacher who viewed our Friday afternoon lessons as a chance to relax, have a chat and play some duets. If I’d been under any pressure to achieve at that point I would have probably binned it off but I think it was trained technique that let me enjoy it. Different with bowed instruments though where the timbre is unlistenable without good technique!
Dramatic_Hammer-
Different with bowed instruments though where the timbre is unlistenable without good technique!
Ugh! I wish someone had put a guitar in my hands instead of a bloody violin when I was 9. Do kids learn cool instruments in school these days?? :-)
(Apologies to any fiddlers who are actually quite good/enjoy playing, and/or make it sound cool...)
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I wish I’d had this with my piano lessons instead of the traditional do-the-grades approach, it was v much a chore. These days I play quite a bit to add layers to my band’s stuff and wish I’d stuck at it past 15/16 years old. So useful now but I struggle with technique stuff
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Different with bowed instruments though where the timbre is unlistenable without good technique!
I'm envious. The sound of a bowed violin / viola / cello / double bass when played well is just astonishing - that ability to move from piano to forte and down within a single note can be so emotive, and when you're used to plucked / whacked instruments like I am, it feels almost magical. Of course you can do it with volume pedals but they don't change the timbre like bowing does. Such a brilliant skill to have.
PhilPub
jackbepablo
ReekBlefs
Balance definitely the one. When I was in a band and we decided to do an (also ill-advised) seven minute drum and bass / feedback / french horn / cello / live drum noisefest, all the people we asked to come and play on it had been heavily trained as kids. All but one of them gave it up once they hit their teens, beacuse they'd just had the enjoyment of playing an instrument studiously drained out of them through all the practicing. Much healthier to suck but enjoy it for a few years, then get trained out of your bad habits later on. Teaches you respect for the craft.