Has Violin helped you?

February 26, 2013 at 09:48 AM · In many ways, it hasn't made me a better person. I'm a retired woman & my husband has started doing the washing & ironing now, since I am so besotted that I spend so much of the day practising!

But it has enriched my life & specifically has given me insights into problems faced by new musician friends. Music is so beautiful & I never fully realised it before, too - so it has deepened my faith in God, which I hope will help me become a better person in time.

February 26, 2013 at 09:55 AM · Violin is still helping me living amazing life.

February 26, 2013 at 12:52 PM · Violin is freedom for me.

I started this instrument when I was a bullied teen at school (because I had good grades and was a shy person not able to defend myself well... as many girl teen, I lacked self confidence...)

Violin was my secret kingdom where I was free to do what I want within the boundaries and rules of violin playing. Violin gave me self confidence and, as an artistic person, much more joy and pride than my school things which I only did because "I had to". I think I was a quite talented beginner.

Later on, violin still is my secret kingdom...

I feel that it takes forever to find a suitable and safe study path that is fun even if not music(I'm already in my second healthcare school program) and if it was not my violin as an element of stability, I think I would be crazy

:)

Violin is in the few things that really make me happy in life!! Despite the efforts and pains that one has to go through to play well.

In short, violin makes me a more confident, strong and courageous person. I've had my load of "s..." in life and often was commented on my courage to deal with it. Well, one can go through anything when they have a stronger bound elsewhere!

February 26, 2013 at 02:18 PM · It has been the best mirror of myself,

the strong bridge to other people,

the rainbow to transcend this reality and come back,

and the source of sheer joy not found elsewhere.

February 26, 2013 at 03:09 PM · Even when in a deep depression, playing violin is one of the only things I still find joyful. The dedication and attention to detail required to play has brought those virtues into my naturally enthusiastic-yet-unfocused brain.

And, when I am feeling some strong emotion or other, playing the right piece allows me to express it cathartically and improve my musicality at the same time. As Neil Gaiman says, "when things get tough, this is what you should do: make good art." [http://zenpencils.com/comic/50-neil-gaiman-make-good-art/]

February 26, 2013 at 09:36 PM · Violin helped me discover classical music, helped me deal with problems at work and in general makes me a happier person. I originally started taking lessons because I wanted to learn Celtic fiddle but after starting lessons I began to really appreciate classical music as well. The job I had when I started was basically to solve a bunch of intractable problems, and although there is much that is intractable about the violin, it helped soothe my nerves at the end of the day. Maybe because it is do difficult that you have to stop thinking about work otherwise you won't make any progress. I bought my own fiddle and I'm at the point where I can play some fiddle fairly decently and that makes me extremely happy.

February 26, 2013 at 10:49 PM · "In many ways, it hasn't made me a better person. I'm a retired woman & my husband has started doing the washing & ironing now, since I am so besotted that I spend so much of the day practising!"

Lol Mollie... it's true that we, passionated amateur violinists, are not always easy to live with. We must be careful to not have done all these "boring and necessary tasks" such as cleaning by others. At the same time, if we do not protect our time with our instruments, too many things and non musician people rob it from us not understanding how important it is for us.

My sister recently had a baby and will probably have to quit her wind orchestra and music all together. Maybe not everyone has to go that far but still, so much time is devoted to the kids and job. I admit that it makes me very sad for my sister...

that ballance of taking time for our violin vs others is not always easy!

March 17, 2013 at 09:10 PM · Viola has helped me with my mental health over the years when I've been stuck in difficult situations in life. On the other hand, auditions that haven't gone well have put me into a sickly dark hole mentally, where I've stopped playing for a year or two. When I was a long younger and hospitalised for a few weeks due to my mental state the only thing that got me through and gave me some sense of normality in the looney bin.

March 17, 2013 at 09:17 PM · Violin has helped me quite a bit financially. It is a lot cheaper than going to a psychiatrist :-)

March 17, 2013 at 11:41 PM · The violin can, indeed, be a best friend.

March 18, 2013 at 09:20 PM · Thankyou very much, you answers have helped me to think about how my violin has got me through tough family situations that are still going on. You have helped me realize how much i owe it to my violin for being the person I am :)

March 20, 2013 at 06:27 PM · Hi Amy,

This is a very thoughtfull and complex question, and one I have often thought about myself. Probably, if I would not have had the violin by my side, I would be an alcoholic or drug addict right now (worst case scenario). Best case, I would be on so many anti-depressants that I wouldn't even be able to stand. I didn't have the best childhood, or formative years, but I was fortunate to discover the violin at the age of nine. The love of it really hit me in high school, and it gave me escape, companionship, as well as personal definition. In short, it saved my life :).

Hope this helps!

March 20, 2013 at 07:07 PM · My violin helps me maintain sanity, despite all the technical/physical challenges he gives me. He has longer life experience than me after all.