AboutDavid Expertise I mainly aim to answer questions about playing techniques--intonation,
vibrato, bowing etc. I am somewhat familiar with Baroque and Classical music, though not as much with Romantic. I am unable to answer questions about advanced music theory, violin crafters/brands or the monetary value of a violin.
Experience I have played the violin about nine discontinuous years. Most of my work has been orchestral, with some soloing throughout. I was principal 2nd violinist of the Disney Honors Orchestra in 1998, a six-time All-State Orchestra violinist, a two-time assistant concertmaster and two-time concertmaster of my All-County Orchestra. I also have perfect pitch, which I believe can be learned (though I do not claim to know how to teach it).
Since starting medical school in 2004, I have had fewer chances to play, but I hope to someday resume on a regular basis.
Question hello i have aske friends that play violin if i play guitar would it help learning the violin im advanced guitar in my school elective im 14 do you think guitar would help me learn violin
Answer Hello Ernest,
Yes, I do believe that prior experience with the guitar would help you in playing violin. Since you are already familiar with scales, chords, key signatures and the like, even before starting violin you would be ahead of someone who had no musical experience at all. However, please take such a statement with caution--violin still takes a lot of work, and since you have no way of knowing how you would learn violin if you had NOT played guitar first, while you learn the violin you may not FEEL that the guitar experience is really helping. Trust me, though, it is, whether in a little or big way.
Now I am not a guitar player, I've only tried a guitar a few times in my life, but I can tell you that since violin doesn't have frets like the guitar, you really have to memorize where to place your fingers, and very small differences in placement can make huge differences in intonation. But I think that's straying from your question, so yes, I do think your experience will help you in learning violin. Good luck, David
