| 1. Don't Get Discouraged | | | | have to go. Keeping your nails short makes |
| At first, you're going to sound awful. That's just a | | | | playing easier and makes you sound better. |
| simple fact. But you want to know a secret? | | | | 5. Put it on Mute |
| Everyone sounded awful when they first started. | | | | If you live with other people, whether it's family |
| Even mega popstars like Boyd Tinsley and | | | | members or apartment complex neighbors, you |
| classical virtuosos like Itzhak Perlman were | | | | might feel self-conscious about practicing where |
| beginners, once upon a time. The only difference | | | | they can hear you. If that's the case, you can |
| between you and them is practice, so keep on | | | | invest in a little metal miracle called a "hotel mute" |
| keeping on. | | | | (so named because you could use them to |
| 2. Immerse Yourself | | | | practice in hotels). It rolls up on to the bridge and |
| Watch. Listen. Soak it in. The more exposure you | | | | presses against the strings, drastically reducing the |
| have to violin music, the better your ear will be | | | | volume of the sound you produce, so you can |
| for your own playing and the faster you'll | | | | practice without waking the neighbors. |
| progress. If you can, go to concerts once in a | | | | 6. Ask for Help |
| while, or watch them on PBS (they just love | | | | Even if you don't have access to a full-time violin |
| rerunning Andre Rieu performances for some | | | | instructor, there's nothing stopping you from |
| reason). YouTube is another great resource. | | | | soliciting help for free. Ask the employees at your |
| Watch to get a visual idea of how you should be | | | | local music store if anyone there could give you |
| holding yourself. | | | | some guidance or answer specific questions. You |
| 3. Feel the Burn | | | | can also check online for help, whether on how-to |
| If you're part of the 10% of the population that's | | | | sites or community forums. |
| left handed, congratulations! You have a bit of a | | | | 7. Have Fun! |
| head start, since the most intricate and | | | | The most important of playing a musical |
| complicated work on the violin is done with the | | | | instrument is enjoying it. The less you fun you |
| left hand. Otherwise, do daily hand and finger | | | | have, the less you'll play and the less you'll |
| rehabilitation exercises (you can find plenty of | | | | improve. So remember to keep a sense of |
| them online) to strengthen your left hand fingers | | | | humor about everything. If you're no longer |
| and get them good and nimble. | | | | having fun, it might be time to reevaluate your |
| 4. Good Grooming | | | | goals and expectations. Remember, the number |
| Keep the fingernails on your left hand short, so | | | | one reason to play any instrument is because you |
| that you can properly apply your fingers to the | | | | like it. |
| neck. Sorry, ladies, but those long, manicured nails | | | | |