Many violinists seldom recommend a beginner to learn the instrument on his own. Their reasons are that the violin is a complicated instrument that requires much skill in perfecting. While this is true, the same applies to any other instrument and yet there are millions who do not benefit from rote learning.



Instead of trying to find out if one needs a personal instructor, first find out what your real intentions are behind learning the violin. Have you given it enough thought, and is the interest strong and serious? Passion is a vital ingredient in learning any musical instrument, especially for one that requires great technical ability as the violin does.

Learning any musical instrument requires a huge amount of discipline. Without it, nobody will be able to master the violin to a satisfactory level. Even music prodigies spend hours on their instruments before reaping the success they enjoy at a later stage.

Many have insisted that the best way to learning the violin is being taught by a personal teacher. But there are millions of musicians worldwide, and not just violinists, who have established themselves without having gone through a formal education. Their secret to success owes a lot to passion, discipline and dedication.

Everything must be applied and put together to achieve success when learning the violin on your own. Sacrifices will be required, but the rewards are sweet. And imagine how most of it, if not all, will be earned through your own hard work.

There are other advantages to being self taught in music, especially on the violin. The most obvious would be the amount of money that can be saved. Violin teachers might cost more than instructors of other instruments, as they are of a smaller supply. As a result, many of them command a higher fee.

There is a greater freedom of expression when teaching yourself how to play the violin. You might try methods that would otherwise not have been revealed in a music school. It will encourage defining your own violin playing style which might lead to better things in the future.

Finally, if there is to be a disadvantage to learning the violin on your own terms, it is that more time could be required. But this can be compensated by seeking guidance from other helpful violinists or friends sharing the same passion. At the end of the day, the three qualities of passion, dedication and discipline will be the difference between those who become successful and those who give up on the instrument.