Welcome to the world of violin playing, adult beginners! Are you ready to soar to new heights with your violin skills? Or, at least, avoid endlessly repeating the same mistakes? Well, you’re in luck because in this blog post, we’re going to talk about the top 5 common violin mistakes adult beginners make and how to avoid them. 

Mistake #1: Not Holding the Violin Correctly

Let’s start with the basics. One of the first things you need to learn as an adult beginner is how to hold the violin correctly. Improper posture and positioning can lead to poor sound quality and even injury. But don’t worry, it’s not as hard as you think, just imagine you’re holding a baby bird, you don’t want to squish it but you also don’t want it to fly away.

To hold the violin correctly, make sure to:

• Hold the violin against your collarbone
• Support the neck with your left hand
• Hold the bow with your right hand
• Position your left elbow pointing down
• Position your right elbow pointing up, creating a 90-degree angle

It’s important to practice holding the violin correctly and to make sure you are comfortable with it before you start playing. And if all else fails, just hold it like a baby bird, you won’t go wrong with that. You can watch this video below to learn how to properly hold the violin.

Mistake #2: Not Using Enough Pressure with the Bow

Ah, the age-old question of how hard to press the bow against the strings. It’s a delicate balance, my friends. Too much pressure and you’ll be screeching like a cat on a chalkboard, too little and you’ll be whispering like a mouse.

To find the right balance:

• Start with a light pressure
• Gradually increase it until you hear a clear, resonant tone.
• Experiment with different pressures and find the one that works best for you.

Mistake #3: Not Paying Attention to Posture

You might be wondering why your back hurts after playing the violin for a while, well, it might be because of your posture. As an adult beginner, it is important to pay attention to posture when playing the violin. Sit up straight and place your feet level on the ground. Your left shoulder should be relaxed and your right arm should be loose. This will help you to play more comfortably and efficiently.

To maintain good posture:

• Sit up straight, back against the chair.
• Keep your feet flat on the ground
• Keep your shoulders relaxed
• Keep your right arm loose

And remember, if you’re slouching, your violin will be too.

Mistake #4: Not Tuning the Violin Regularly

“You can’t produce lovely music with an out-of-tune violin,” I’m sure you’ve heard this saying. Well, it’s true. Tuning the violin is an important part of playing, and adult beginners might forget to do it. But if you’re not in tune, it can be frustrating to play and it can make it hard to hear your progress.

To avoid this mistake:

• Tune your violin before every practice session
• If you’re playing with others, make sure to tune before every rehearsal or performance
• Use a tuning app or a digital tuner to help you tune your violin accurately

Mistake #5: Not Practicing Regularly

And last but not least, the mistake we all make, not practising regularly. As an adult beginner, it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and neglect practice time. But keep in mind that the more you practise, the better you’ll get.

To make sure you are practicing regularly:

• Make time to practise every day, even if it’s only for 15 minutes.
• Consistency is key!
• Create a practice plan and adhere to it. Check out 15 minutes violin practice routine
• Break down your practice into smaller chunks of time throughout the day

And remember, practice makes perfect, but perfect practice makes perfecter. Just kidding, there’s no such word, but you get the point.

Conclusion

So there you have it, folks. The top 5 common violin mistakes adult beginners make and how to avoid them. Remember, making mistakes is a normal part of the learning process, but by keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a great violin player. Yet to join my Rimma Strings Academy? Then, what are you waiting for? Request invitation HERE.

Happy practising and don’t forget to have fun!