Most people proficient at violin start at age five or so. I was well out of high school—no spring chicken—when I started. I bought something from ebay for $43... the whole kit... rosin, strings, case, bow, instrument. I have replaced everything but the instrument and the case. I have a good ear, and good musical intuition. I am being carefully instructed by a very patient lady who teaches violin as her day job (in public schools) and still can tolerate private lessons with adults.
I have two lots of love today. One is for my instrument, and one is for the heart of a music teacher.
The instrument... oh, it's a temperamental beast. Left hand seems harder at first, but it's the right hand, the bow, that makes the difference between brilliance and noise. My violin is still "marked" with two strips of thin tape that tell me where the frets would be if it were a fretted instrument. (There was a third but it came undone after several hours of practice.) And I do practice. I am in love with this instrument.
Now that's the love of the instrument, but now I'm going to rattle on about the heart of a music teacher, and I have known several, and they are all every bit this giving. If you are a music teacher, you are very close to the heart of the Creator. My teacher has given me a music stand, a set of Dominant strings (which cost more than the violin), and lessons at half cost (meaning I pay full price for a 30 minute lesson, but end up chewing the rag with her about Bach for an hour.) A music teacher is an expert (and sometimes even a little delusional) at spotting potential. She is full of hope and pride in her student. This is the music teacher I have. And she is the quintessential music teacher. It's in the heart.
I am afraid of what will happen when the tape is removed. I'm afraid I will never develop a decent vibrato. I am afraid of losing the use of my hands through a freak accident. But until these things happen, I will continue to practice.
Now there's a little girl I know who is very musical... she asks me to sing songs for her, as if I were a jukebox. :-) I am happy to oblige. I would like for her to take some sort of music lessons as early as is recommended, but if I were to press it, it would probably not happen. I see her pretty regularly, and we're able to sing as many songs as we like. She is only 25 lbs. but she is very powerful.... lots of spirit! She has a developing talent for music, plays the drums with me as we sing. Our time together is a joy and a highlight.
