There’s nothing more rewarding than hearing your first tangible notes or playing your first song. Learning a new instrument is one of the most challenging things a person can do. It tests your patience, physical and mental endurance, and will to learn.
Studies show that the piano and guitar are the most popular instruments to learn. However, about 16% of Americans have chosen to play the violin. Most people start learning their first instrument at a young age, but if you’re an adult, it’s never too late to learn.— 
Book your lesson today at Marvin Empire – Online, Home, or In-Studio.
Are you looking to learn a new instrument? This article covers all the reasons why you should play the violin. Read on to discover the benefits of learning violin!
1. Violins Are Versatile Instruments
The violin is a major component in many great western classical music. Many recognizable pieces from composers like Bach and Beethoven were written for the violin. While your violin lessons may start with basic classical music, you aren’t limited to that!
Many other cultures have adopted the violin into their music. The violin fits in well with various styles of music and orchestrations, including rock and indie folk music.
You may have heard of violin content creator Lindsey Stirling. This talented violinist combined her classical violin skills with an electronic touch. Her unique approach was well-received and earned her a loyal following.
Many musical street performers also use the violin. In addition to being versatile, the violin is one of the most portable instruments you can have. If you dream of being a traveling musician one day, the violin is an excellent instrument of choice.
2. Work Out Your Muscles and Learn Coordination
Did you know that playing the violin burns 170 calories per hour? Learning the violin is a great workout, especially for those tiny muscles in your hands. Most beginners struggle with pressing different strings at the same time and holding the bow correctly.
However, as you continue to play the violin, you build fine motor skills and finger dexterity. Playing the violin can also help with symptoms of arthritis. Learning fast notes and moving across the fingerboard will help you regain strength in your hand muscles.
Learning the violin also requires coordination in your entire body. One of the first things a violin teacher will show you is the proper way of holding a bow. You also need to learn how to place your neck and position your fingers before you can move on to learning sheet music.
The violin teaches you how to coordinate your body to play the right notes. Proper hand placement on the bow will help you adapt to the pressure and force of the score. Your neck holds the violin in place, so it doesn’t slip away.
3. Stimulate Your Brain
Learning an instrument is a great way to stimulate the brain. It can improve various brain functions, like speech, reading comprehension, and language processing. Reading music and playing notes will also teach you better hand-eye coordination.
Learning violin involves tons of repetition. You may find yourself playing the scale multiple times in one session. This repetition teaches you to pay more attention to detail.
You also develop better memory from learning chords and memorizing musical pieces. Playing violin also has a positive impact on the attention span of young learners.
Violin lessons will progress to more complex musical ideas as you keep playing. This sharpens your problem-solving skills.
4. Develop Your Ears
Unlike the guitar, the violin does not have a fretboard. This means that you have to find and learn each tone by ear. Even if you find the correct positioning, you may not produce the sound you want because of how you hold your bow.
While this can be frustrating for beginners, it’s also great practice for your ears. Many young violinists learn to coordinate their finger placements with notes through sound. You learn to determine if a pitch is in or out of tune or if it matches the score you’re listening to.
5. Creative and Emotional Outlet
Music has a way of connecting with your heart and soul. We all have our go-to happy songs if we want to start the day right. Many of us also turn to music when feeling sad or angry.
Playing an instrument like the violin can help you process these emotions. One day, you can also start making your own music!
6. Helps You Learn Other String Instruments
One of the best things about the violin is that it can give you a headstart if you pick up another string instrument. The violin is the smallest instrument in the string family, and the curved neck can make it awkward to hold.
Learning the guitar will be much easier, as you have a fretboard to guide you to the correct chords. Pizzicato on the violin can also translate to picking techniques in other stringed instruments. This includes the harp, bass, and guitar.
7. The Violin is a Social Instrument
Music brings people together in ways more than having the same music taste or liking the same artist. The violin is a melody instrument. This means you can play it solo or in an ensemble with other instruments.
Making music is always more fun with others, so gather your musically-inclined friends and start a jamming session!
You can play the violin with a duet or with an orchestra. Orchestras are common in high schools and colleges. These are great for kids who are looking for somewhere to fit in.
Why You Should Play the Violin
If you’re looking for a sign to play the violin, this is it. Regardless of your age, there are many things that this little instrument can teach you.
At the Musical Arts Center of San Antonio, we have a great love for music and sharing our knowledge and skills. Are you interested in violin lessons? Fill out our form, and we’ll help you get in touch with the right violin teacher.— Book your lesson today at Marvin Empire – Online, Home, or In-Studio.
Why Playing the Violin is so Popular
The violin is the most popular instrument among young orchestral students and one of the overall most frequently played options, but what makes this instrument so special? Violins play melodies far more frequently than other orchestral instruments, and their quieter nature means that far more are needed to create an adequate balance with much smaller woodwind, brass, and lower string sections. Here are some of the many social, emotional, and cognitive benefits of playing the violin!
— Book your lesson today at Marvin Empire – Online, Home, or In-Studio.
Social Benefits of Playing the Violin
Playing the violin (or any instrument!) can have a wide range of social benefits. Many of the unique skills and characteristics that contribute to strong “musicianship” can also be applied to how we relate to the people in your life. Here are some of what we feel, are the most significant social benefits of studying the violin!
Listening Skills
Playing the violin involves constant, focused listening to the details of what you and everyone you are playing with are doing. Every note, just the right volume, and length in order to perfectly match the tone of each piece. When played together, this blend with other musicians is nearly magical! By understanding when someone else’s part is more important to the overall structure of the piece than your own, it mimics a conversation. Recognizing when your instrument isn’t blending well with the rest of the group and making quick adjustments is key when it comes to creating an overall balanced sound.
Improving your listening skills as a musician can easily translate to being a better listener in other types of interactions. Once you begin to understand that your opinion is not the only one or the most important, you can take a more intentional approach to considering others’ points of view. This includes brainstorming project ideas or working through disagreements.
Non-Verbal Communication
Music also involves finding ways to “say” things, express concepts, and convey moods without using words. Enhancing your awareness of and sensitivity to specific ways in which dynamics, articulations, and other details can change the tone and overall meaning of the same piece of music. It can also improve your ability to pick up on gestures, facial expressions, subconscious movements, voice tone, and other forms of nonverbal communication. Each of these help the player to better understand what the people in your life are expressing.
Playing Violin Fosters Cooperation
Violinists frequently work with other performers. Even most solo violin repertoire involves working closely with an accompanist to create the best overall performance possible. Chamber music and orchestral work involve a significant amount of cooperation when it comes to getting everyone, not just yourself, to sound as good as possible. Improving your cooperation skills can help make group projects, manage your family dynamics, work commitments and disagreements, and other life challenges significantly smoother.
Commitment and Hard Work
Becoming the best violinist is no easy task. Even the best and most natural musicians must put in a significant amount of work to continue advancing their skills. Younger beginners should aim to spend at least 30 minutes practicing most days, while serious advanced violin students should be surpassing an hour per day by high school. Experiencing the effects of putting in plenty of hard work can help you build a similar work ethic and level of commitment in other areas of your life, including other classes and relationships.
In addition, having in-person violin instructors is simply a must. Here at Southbury Music Studio, our focused violin lessons are tailored to the student. While the core techniques for playing violin are common, your student is unique. Our instructors understand that and work with their students to bring out their very best.
Emotional Benefits of Playing the Violin
Playing the violin in Southbury, CT is an artistic and emotional outlet. The violin can also help you better understand yourself and the music being played. It can even change how you view and interpret the world around you.
Deeper Understanding of Feelings
Interpreting music involves digging deep. Music is often an expression of those things that might be hard to put into words. By carefully considering the details of where these feelings come from and how to share them with your audience you can improve your drive to understand and respond appropriately to those around you.
Cognitive Benefits of Playing the Violin
Finally, playing the violin can have several cognitive benefits that improve various aspects of the overall functionality of your brain and its ability to handle both musical and nonmusical complex tasks. Here are some of the most significant ways in which studying the violin can improve your mental capabilities!
Complex Thought Processes
Even performing seemingly simple pieces of music involves a complex series of dozens or even hundreds of tiny decisions about exactly how each note and phrase should sound. Many of these decisions need to be made at almost the same time. While this is true for any musician, violinists often have more complex parts than other members of the orchestra. This can make the violin an excellent choice for boosting the speed and overall capabilities of your brain.
Playing the Violin Improves Physical Coordination
Timing each note precisely and making sure it is just the length and strength you want it to be involves a significant amount of mental and physical coordination. Building these cognitive skills requires accurately translating each thought into action. Coordinating your arms, fingers, shoulders and chin can significantly boost your overall coordination and mental sharpness in other areas.
Advantage of Studying With a Frequent Performer
Many of our Connecticut music teachers continue to perform in community or professional ensembles or as guest artists regularly. In fact, most of the music teachers at Southbury Music Studio are avid performers. Making the decision to take your violin performance more seriously by taking lessons at Southbury Music Studio, will add a new level of polish to your music experience. By studying with someone that does perform both frequently and at a high level, their gain is your gain.
— Book your lesson today at Marvin Empire – Online, Home, or In-Studio.