A life as a young violinists, is it really worth it?

December 19, 2010 at 2:37 AM

Do you guys think a violin life is worth it? I practice the violin 4 hours a day and im only 14, i can see that i have no time to do anything. This is what i must do to become good and i accept that. I also, don't mind practicing because when im older it will be worth it. When you think about how much you miss out though, and is all that time of your life practicing the violin is worth it. I also, see that you won't have time to go date, and meet other people, do things, and many more. For example Michael Rabin. What are you guys opinions or thoughts about this.

From Anne-Marie Proulx
Posted on December 19, 2010 at 2:55 AM

Hi,

I started violin at 14 and although people say late starters are not serious, I always took it as seriously as if I had always done that and practiced many hours a day even if it was sure that I could not reach a super level at that age.

I remember having the same feeling as you (all my fellow teens go out and party and I have never been to a real party except invite two or three friends home and vice-versa) I also remember never having done anything risky/funny/original. (Sure, thanks to this I'm maybe still alive and I'm not telling one should get drunk dead or drive too fast NOT at all this is stupid. But it's not cool to have no funny stories to tell about your teen days except minor little things as everyone do such as these classics: buy beer for the others because you are the only 18 yo one and laugh with friends in some particular "stores" etc. (no big deal!)

I guess it's all about taking decisions. What do you value more: social life or violin? I also made an analysis of my friends and other people around me. What do the parties bring them? They have dates but are they good choices? Would I like to date these people? Will that really bring them somewhere in life? Are they just too dependant on one another and not able to think by themselves?

Sometimes it's about building your futur (with all the social life sacrifices necessary) to allow you to hopfully meet even more interesting opportunities and people later on. I voted for giving everything to my violin and just keep a few serious friends rather than a whole bunch of "not real friends just to look "in".

I did not regret it. Beeing adult and in university now, I feel absoluntly "free". Free of all the social pressure the others put on themselves. I do what I want when I want and don't have to force myself to go in parties and stuff or join in x team just to look "cool" (like many others force themselves to do...) I have a wonderful hobby... violin. (difficult and challenging for sure but so much more rewarding that will follow me all my life as an investment which gain and gain). And the few friends I have are real friends not "artificial ones". What to ask more? The only "leash I'm on" and restricting/annoying thing for me is school. But some also have social restricting "leashes" ; )

One day, you'll be out of these teen days where peer pressure feels awful and you feel that eveyone judges you. After 18 or so, people will just 'let you live" and not tease you if you play violin instead of partying or whatever. Of course, one still needs to stay balanced. Having no friends at all and 0 social would be a mistake and bad for you!

You're not an alien. Many dedicated amateurs, simply music lovers or aspiring pros, (sport athletes included) probably would have said the same thing as you... Only they don't always say it publically and you think you are the only crazy one practicing in your basement on saturday nights! ; )

Good luck!

Anne-Marie

From Eric Gable
Posted on December 19, 2010 at 3:54 AM

I started at 9. ^_^ I always tell my friends that what i do which is "practice" is for my future. Sure, i don't do nothing else because school lasts till 3:00 P.M. Im usually tired after so i take a nap, and i practice around 6-8 pm and finish around 10-12 pm. Nathan Milstein once said that if you love music your life is complete. I do believe that, even if it does not feel like it at this age.

From Anne-Marie Proulx
Posted on December 19, 2010 at 4:06 AM

"Nathan Milstein once said that if you love music your life is complete. I do believe that, even if it does not feel like it at this age"

And Oistrakh said things about that too in his letters to his son: that he had many friends in Odessa when he was young and that some worked hard while others... were lazy (or "were playing in the streets"? I can't remember the exact word he used to describe them). However he said that those who worked hard all became famous contrarely to the others.

(beeing famous is maybe irrealistical nowadays... but the general idea is that one will get nowhere with no work...)

He also said to his son "I want you to be proud of yourself later on"

That is true for everyone really (not just for musicians).

And if the violin doesn't work for a job, it stills makes a wonderful hobby and thing to hold on in this life where things are always changing, always different! I don't think it's "lost efforts" or waste of you youth. Not at all...

From Bart Meijer
Posted on December 19, 2010 at 5:12 PM

Many exercises (notoriously, Sevcik) are not meant as music, but as an aid to mastering the instrument: "little yoga" as my teacher called it. Done with attention, discipline and love it becomes enjoyable, and very effective too.

Please enjoy your practice. If you do, the question whether it's worthwhile to do it does not even arise. I believe that practice should be enjoyable in order to be good practice.

From Kathryn Woodby
Posted on December 21, 2010 at 3:55 AM

Bart, can I quote you on that last sentence? Have never heard anyone say that but I think you're right on. Investment and enjoyment have a lot to do with each other...and I could definitely get on an interesting philosphical tangent here...another day :)

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on December 22, 2010 at 9:00 AM

Anne-Marie, as always, I like your personal story and appreciate your honesty. In our early teens, we have tremendous peer pressure to be like everyone else and do what everyone else does. I tried to avoid letting people know that I was studying the violin. One time when I was in high school, i said that I played the violin, and a friend said, "You look like you play the violin." I knew that was not a compliment. As I grew older, I found that most people are favorably impressed that I play the violin. As another group of people who are different says, "it gets better."

From Janis Cortese
Posted on December 22, 2010 at 11:45 PM

A life spent doing what you like is always better than a life spent on the couch picking your nose and telling some idiot who can't hear you to buy a vowel. :-) And you'll date -- you'll just date another music geek is all.

Do what you like and throw yourself into it if you want to. You'll love if too much if you do, and you'll regret it to much if you don't.

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A life as a young violinists, is it really worth it?

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