The Pros and Cons of Self-Teaching Violin

A Nuanced Decision

Deciding between private violin lessons and self-teaching is rarely a black-or-white choice. The optimal approach depends greatly on your financial situation, learning style, motivation levels, and more. For many, the best path forward involves a smart blend of both professional instruction and self-guided learning. By understanding the pros and cons detailed below, you can craft a customized violin education plan suited to your needs and goals.

The Case for Self-Teaching

Learning violin independently instead of taking private lessons offers some clear advantages that merit strong consideration:

You Control the Learning Process

Without an instructor assigning pieces, skills, and techniques to practice, you get to take the driver’s seat when self-teaching. You can:

• Choose songs you enjoy and are excited to learn
• Focus practice on techniques you want to improve
• Tailor the overall learning style and pace to suit your strengths and preferences

This freedom and flexibility can increase motivation substantially. When the learning aligns perfectly with your musical tastes and skills, practicing feels less like a chore and more like an engaging hobby.

For example, if you love playing contemporary pop songs, you may find yourself bored to tears with the classical and baroque pieces most instructors start students on. By self-teaching, you could dive right into Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift chart-toppers that match your interests. Just bear in mind that you may miss out on some of the important fundamentals classical repertoire builds.

Or perhaps you respond strongly when learning by ear instead of reading sheet music. You’d likely find self-teaching far more enjoyable and effective since lessons emphasize note-reading skills right away. With self-instruction, memorizing melodies accurately may come much more naturally to you.

In these cases above, independently directing the learning process based on your needs and preferences can improve enjoyment and motivation dramatically.

Significant Cost Savings

Private violin lessons often cost $40 to $90 or more per weekly 30-60 minute session. Over months and years, these ongoing expenses add up:

• 6 Months of Lessons at $40/lesson = $1,040
• 1 Year of Lessons at $40/lesson = $2,080
• 5 Years of Lessons at $40/lesson = $10,400

By self-teaching, you avoid this regular expense altogether. Any learning resources purchased like books, DVDs, or subscription websites involve a one-time fee only. Without recurring instructor costs, self-directed learning is far more affordable long term.

Consider using the money saved on lessons and instead budget for the occasional “check-in” with a violin teacher every few months. They can provide periodic feedback to help avoid developing bad habits. More on this hybrid approach below.

Flexibility to Practice on Your Schedule

Weekly lessons require coordination with an instructor’s availability. Their schedule may limit your flexibility to practice violin when it best suits your schedule and obligations.

Life is busy – between work, school, family time, and other commitments, finding a consistent hour each week for a standing lesson appointment can be hugely inconvenient and frustrating. Self-directed learning allows you to fit violin sessions around all your other priorities. Only have 15 free minutes before dinner? No problem, grab your violin and use that time productively. Have an unusual schedule with late nights and early mornings? You can practice whenever works for you.

Without needing to travel to appointments, you may also find it easier to fit in more frequent, yet shorter practice sessions. Several 30-minute blocks throughout the week may be more feasible to manage than one weekly 60-90-minute lesson. Maintaining consistent daily practice leads to better long-term retention and progress.

Potential Downsides to Consider

However, learning violin independently also comes with some distinct disadvantages to weigh seriously:

Lack of Expert Feedback and Guidance

One of the most valuable benefits of taking private lessons is having an experienced instructor observe your playing every week. They can catch subtle technique issues and nip bad habits in the bud before they become ingrained. Without this expert eye and regular guidance, it becomes much easier to inadvertently develop major flaws.

For example, tension while holding the violin can creep in over time without you realizing it. Small deviations in wrist angles, neck positions, finger placements, and other form elements can accumulate gradually. A teacher would spot these right away and correct them before they compound. But when self-teaching, you likely won’t realize flaws are present until advancement starts feeling much harder.

The same goes for challenges like maintaining proper bow grip and pressure. Without in-person feedback, you may grip too tight or loose, use too much weight, position fingers poorly, and so on. A teacher identifies and troubleshoots these problems immediately while giving tailored advice to improve.

As a beginner student, you also may not have the foundational knowledge to accurately evaluate your technique. It can be incredibly frustrating to spend weeks or months practicing incorrectly because no one is there to spot correctable issues.

Higher Risk of Developing Bad Habits

Closely tied to the lack of expert guidance is an increased risk of gradually developing bad playing habits over time. Without realizing it, you may start overarching your pinky, adding excess tension in shoulders or wrists, using too much bow, and more. These become harder to diagnose accurately on your own the longer you play a certain way.

An attentive teacher would catch poor posture, technical flaws, and inefficient movements right away before they cement. But when learning independently, you likely won’t realize subtle habits are present until advancement starts feeling much harder.

Here are some common examples of poor violin habits that can easily creep in when self-teaching:

• Excess or uneven finger pressure – pressing strings too hard or using inconsistent amounts of force between fingers
• Poor bow grip/technique – holding the bow at an incorrect angle, using too much pressure, inefficient wrist movement
• Tension while holding the violin – raising shoulders, straining the neck, squeezing the violin too tight against the chin
• Overarching pinky finger – finger sticks out too straight instead of curved
• Inconsistent rhythm/tempo – struggling to maintain a steady beat, rushing certain passages
• Ignoring dynamics – not varying volume, articulation, and phrasing enough

Once bad habits become ingrained in muscle memory, they are tedious and time-consuming to retrain. As the saying goes – practice makes permanent, so you want to instill good fundamentals from the start. Poor technique can also lead to repetitive strain injuries like tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome over years of playing.

Slower Progression and Difficulty Improving

While independent learning provides control over initial skill development, this freedom diminishes substantially when you reach plateaus. As pieces become more challenging, an experienced teacher knows how to break down difficult techniques into manageable steps. They know the optimal exercises to assign to push you incrementally forward based on your ability. Their lessons continuously scale to your exact skill level.

Without this personalized guidance, it becomes very easy to get stuck only playing songs you’ve nearly mastered. The natural tendency is to shy away from new challenges that feel uncomfortable. You stay in your comfort zone rather than pushing to the next level. Over long periods, skill advancement stalls out. Feelings of frustration and stagnation often follow.

Pushing past plateaus on your own requires strong self-reflection and analysis skills that even advanced musicians struggle to develop. You need the objectivity to accurately assess weaknesses and the knowledge to identify specific exercises that target problem areas. Doing this effectively on your own takes years of experience.

Here’s a common scenario: A self-taught violinist spends 6 months feeling like they hit a wall with their advancement. Their repertoire of comfortably playable songs gets stale, yet more complex pieces feel out of reach. An experienced teacher could immediately detect issues holding them back, like poor shifting skills or rhythmic inconsistencies. They assign customized drills, break the problem into steps, and map out a training regimen to push through this plateau.

Without instructor input, the self-learner just keeps playing the same pieces over and over, not realizing the small technical skills they need to focus on targeting. Their motivation eventually dwindles and they put down the violin, believing they simply reached the limit of their potential abilities. In reality, only a minor adjustment was needed to progress – but without a guide, they missed seeing that opportunity.

Hybrid Approach: Blend Self-Teaching with Periodic Lessons

For many students, the optimal path forward combines the advantages of both self-directed and professionally guided instruction. You take charge of foundational learning using the wealth of resources now available online and in print. This allows you to learn at your own pace while playing music you enjoy. You get total control and flexibility.

But at periodic milestones, consider booking time with an experienced violin teacher. Every 3-6 months is ideal. They will observe your playing, identify any flaws in technique, and make personalized recommendations on what skills to focus on training next. You get professional insight on sticking points while correcting bad habits before they cement. This prevents spinning your wheels or even regressing which often happens when solely self-teaching.

With this balanced approach, you can:

• Direct your learning process using methods aligned with your strengths and musical interests
• Reinforce good habits with self-reflection and video recording
• Only spend money on occasional instructor check-ins rather than high-cost ongoing lessons
• Receive periodic guidance to refine technique and provide structure moving forward

Think of it like fitness training. You exercise independently most days following your routines and preferences. But a couple of times a year, you book time with a personal trainer. They observe your form, provide corrections, identify weak points, and set customized goals. You walk away recharged, refocused, and with a clear path to follow. Even top athletes stick to this hybrid model rather than completely self-directing with no outside guidance.

When considering this route, research instructors with expertise specifically in student check-ins rather than traditional weekly lessons. Some even offer periodic online video review options rather than needing to attend in person. This remains far more affordable than paying continuously for weekly lessons over the years.

Tips to Optimize the Self-Teaching Experience

If pursuing self-directed instruction full-time or using the hybrid model, the following tips will help you get the most out of the experience:

Set Specific, Measurable Goals

Set clear benchmarks and metrics for improvement based on target songs you want to learn or techniques to master. This makes your progress tangible rather than feeling like you are wandering. Revisit and expand goals periodically as skills improve.

Invest in High-Quality Learning Resources

Rather than only watching free YouTube tutorials, purchase books, DVD courses, or subscription sites that provide structured, step-by-step skill progression. Using professionally created resources as lesson plans prevents over-practicing bad habits.

Record Yourself Frequently

Set up a camera to film practice sessions. Watch recordings to self-assess form and look for subtle habits you may not notice actively playing. Markdown observations for improvement.

Simulate Teacher Duets

Record yourself playing a piece, then play the video back while you play a harmony line along live. This builds play-along skills and boosts musicality.

Join a Violin Online Community

Engage with other self-directed students by joining forums, Facebook groups, video comments, and more. Share your playing videos for feedback and advice. Access knowledge from more experienced musicians.

Final Thoughts

Learning violin independently offers clear advantages but also comes with considerable risks to consider. Self-teaching works well for some motivated students but others benefit more from ongoing structured guidance during the long journey to violin mastery. Often the best path forward combines self-directed learning augmented with periodic professional check-ins.

Carefully assess your financial situation, learning preferences, self-awareness capabilities, and patience for slower skill-building. Be realistic about your commitment to consistent practice without an instructor expecting weekly progress reports. Craft your instruction plan recognizing that periodic in-person or even virtual guidance can provide benefits from pure self-teaching struggles to match.

With the right self-awareness and supplemental structure, self-directed violin instruction can be viable. However, understand that periodic outside input is key to preventing regressions and providing roadmaps when progress stalls. Be open and flexible, starting with self-teaching trials but building in expert guidance at milestone points along your musical journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main advantages of self-teaching violin?

The biggest advantages are cost savings from avoiding regular lesson fees, control over the learning process, and flexibility to practice on your schedule.

Is self-teaching a completely do-it-yourself approach?

While daily practice is self-directed, it’s wise to get periodic feedback from a violin teacher to correct flaws. A blended approach works best.

How can I avoid developing bad habits if self-teaching?

Film yourself frequently and join violinist online forums to share videos for feedback. Invest in high-quality instructional products to reinforce the proper form.

What if I hit a plateau when self-teaching violin?

This is common without personalized guidance on what skills to target next. Consider periodic lessons specifically to create training plans to push through plateaus.

How long should I self-teach before getting my first instructor check-in?

Aim for an initial in-person or video check-in after 3-6 months of self directed learning. Correct issues early before they cement.

Can kids effectively self-teach violin with parental support?

Yes, with an adult guiding goal-setting, finding resources, and filming practice. But get an instructor’s feedback every 2-3 months to ensure proper technique.

How do I pick the right method books or online courses?

Read reviews and confirm materials follow a structured progression that explains concepts clearly. Avoid vague, disorganized resources.