Hi guys,

I am very passionate about learning violin and would really appreciate some help on how to get started. I am 21 years old and know absolutely nothing about music. I would like to know how should I get started, should I try it on my own or should I attend private lessons. Also, is it possible for someone who has no background history in music, like me to learn violin?
I am currently in US and I would highly appreciate if someone could give me a rough estimate on how much would it cost to take private lessons.

Regards
Gautam

Hi, I think the first thing to do is to go out and buy a good quality violin
No really, the kind you buy is really important. I would suggest that you probably rent one and buy it later on.
If you go to a music sore, they generally offer good rates. If there is another person nearby who is just as passionate and already plays the violin, you can get good and quite inexpensive lessons from them.
If neither are practical or available, I hear Suzuki and Technique thingiewhatsit have good books for teaching yourself bowing and fingering. You can travel at your own pace with the books, a plus.
Once you have mastered those, All for Strings has good vibrato and shifting advice, and Strictly Strings has excellent pieces to learn and impress your friends.
Have fun learning one of my favorite instruments!

Thanks a lot for the immediate response. It does make sense and I will start searching for a good violin asap.

Hi,
I think if you want to learn something, it doesn't matter very much what your history in it is... you have to start somewhere

I would say go to a respectable violin shop if there is one near by.

Oh, yes, it is also nice if you are able to try out the instrument and get advice on strings, etc.

Hi,Gautam~~
First I want to say I'm very happy to meet you because we have the very very same situations! I'm also 21, with absolutely no background of music, I even didn't know anything about the stave! But I really really love violin and I don't want to lose it again as when I was quite young.
Now I have learned it for one month. Very happy with my violin~ maybe that how I prepareed for it and got to start can give you some help.
First I looked for information everywhere I could get to collect advice. Many senior violin players told me it is better to find a good teacher in the beginning, if without a teacher, you may get some bad habits and those may be harmful. If it is not difficult for you, I suggest you also find a teacher~ My teacher is very helpful to me, and she helped me to choose a good quality instrument.
Besides, I learned on the internet about basic music theory on violin before I start my course. and I also bought several 0-degree books(with video or CD) about learning violin. Those books and videos helped me to get some simple idea and feeling about this instrument.
I prepared for beginning my violin journey for nearly one month, both Psychologically and physically. for example I must rearrange my timetable for daily life, and also the money~ After that I began my lessons with my teacher. When you begin to take the course with teacher, she will make plan for you according to your own situation and take you into it deeper and deeper.
That's my experience. Of course, self-study is also very important even with a teacher. So I still learn from the web, books everyday now~ the teacher can't always with u, so u must find out your drawbacks and overcome them through practice yourself.
I hope this can give you some ideas! By the way, I found it is useful to listen to violin music! I have been used to listening to violin music for many years, so the feeling when I pick it up myself is familiar just like my old friend!

Gautam,

I would advice you to rent a violin first. If you can afford a tecaher he/she might be able to pick a rent violin for you.

Otherwise you could take anyone who plays ok to the shop and select one for you.

You also can start by your own . I would advice you for a book. If i were to pick a single book, i would pick Basics, by Simon Fischer.It is great for beginners, intermediates and even advanced violinists. You may also go for violin CD lessons by instrumentmasterpro. You can get it for the price that you pay a teacher for a single 1 hour class.

Cheers!