Intonation is a matter of micro millimeters while on the piano you have nearly an inch of leeway.

With a music background I have seen people progress in one year what a normal child would accomplish in 5.

I doubt that you'll be able to just pick up the violin and noodle around with it. Getting ANY sound out of a violin is easy... getting something that doesn't make the cat hide under the bed and howl is another story :)

SOME study, I would venture to say, is going to be a requirement. Maybe a video tape and a few books will do it for you, but you'll have to practice. If not, a dozen lessons with a teacher or a class will get you to the point where you'll have an idea of what you're doing wrong and the basics of the notes and playing and holding the instrument, etc. Then maybe you can noodle occassionally.

Just persevere with it....and relax. Get a video and a good book which shows positioning of bow hand and fingers. When I first started my teacher put little tiny stickers on the finger board where my first and third finger go so I could get used to the position and the sound. Find someone to practice with!

Good luck

Cat

Make sure the bow is taut and well-rosined (don't think there is such a thing as too much rosin).

Position the bow on the strings close to the bridge - try to keep it aimed somewhere towards your left ear.

Try playing in front of a large mirror and continually check your position.

Don't hunch your shoulders (using a Wolf rest under your fiddle will help). The wrist on your bow hand should remain flexible.

Try to relax your body as you play - any tenseness will sound through your playing.

Good luck Sarah

I must disagree with Donuel about it being difficult to play. I started at age 31 and was playing well enough to be seen in public within a few months - however I had about 20 years of other instruments behind me at that point. It's challenging, yes, but I find the guitar a lot more difficult. The beauty of the fiddle is, you can play something extremely simple as a beginner, and have it still sound good.

Good luck!

If you do videos, though, I recommend at least one beginner's classical video. They are more likely to cover good position, the proper way to draw the bow, etc.

They aren't cheap, but a fiddle camp might be a fun way to get the basics down.

I had a lousy voice teacher when I was in college. I asked the dean to switch me to another teacher, which he did; and at the end of the semester, when student evaluations were collected, the teacher in question was gone, and never came back.

But yeah, if it's something you REALLY want to do, take the time to do it right. You'll be much happier, and a lot more confident in your playing.