learning to play the violin while traveling

June 28, 2023, 7:30 AM · In Vienna I have heard plenty lf people practice in the parks, maybe you could practice outside in the same way. If you put a hat on the ground you may even get some spending money;)

June 28, 2023, 8:03 AM · I thimo there is some sound that will still com out, but it is very quiet. Unless someone is trying to hear you, they should easily be able to over look it.

Sometimes you just have to get creative in finding practice times if you really don't want anyone to hear you practice.

I used to travel a lot and stayed with a lot of different people, and never owned an electric violin. I probably should have. I found there were times I could practice if they were all gone at the same time, or there was an extra building, room, shed, a place outside, etc. I couldn't practice consistently when I travelling because every place was so different, but it was possible to get some time in.

You may be surprised at how many people enjoy listening to you play.

I like Ron's idea!

June 28, 2023, 8:29 AM · I used to have a job that required quite a lot of travel. I bought a second hand Yamaha silent violin (don't remember exactly the model number). That violin together with a glass fiber bow could just be tossed into my suitcase and would allow me to practice in hotel rooms etc. There is some sound coming from it directly, but it should not be more disturbing than someone watching the TV in their hotel room. Be aware that it is not like playing a real violin. It is better than no violin at all for sure, but it handles differently, it feels clumsy and does not really sound like a violin. It is not for working on the fine details of tone production, but it can give your fingers their daily violin workout. Another - and much cheaper - option would be a very heavy practice mute.

Edited: June 28, 2023, 8:36 AM · Another advantage of the "silent" violin for a frequent traveler is that it is less fragile than an acoustic one.

The headphones will enable you to hear fairly decent sound while your neighbors will likely hear some buzzing at most.

June 28, 2023, 11:18 AM · I agree entirely with Andrew. Get the silent violin. They're nearly indestructible. And if you do end up having it wrecked or stolen, it's not a unique instrument in the same way that a regular violin is, so there's much less emotional risk.

Edited: June 28, 2023, 11:40 AM · "Silent" violins are not silent, just quiet. You don't need headphones to hear them. Nor will phones affect the violin's sound as heard by others.

July 1, 2023, 9:01 AM · Thanks everyone. I'll have a look at a silent violin. I have never used a practice mute; will check that as well.

July 1, 2023, 11:36 AM · Couple of years ago I bought a silent violin for similar reasons.But I found the handling and feedback too different to be useful for practice. It is an interesting instrument in itself. Mine has a fixed chinrest which is an obstacle and I found the sound feedback of my bowing over the headphones too different from playing a “normal” violin.

July 1, 2023, 4:13 PM · Lisa, a quick word about practice mutes. The first one I bought was solid metal and very heavy, with quite sharp edges that somewhat compressed the wood of the bridge. I was afraid of dropping it, and the sound seemed to take a while to recover when I took it off. I replaced it with one that is rubberized, and a little lighter. It still does a very good job, and spares me the angst!

July 3, 2023, 11:17 AM · NS Designs electric violins are like a travel violin for me. I unscrew the chinrest and manage to get it into an overhead cabin sized case with a bow in a bow case. I use a headphone amp by Nux or a tiny amp - the Spark Go.