Can Adults Learn to Play the Violin?

Many adults think that to learn to play the violin you have to be a young child. Not true! In fact, studies have shown that adults learning to play an instrument, specifically the violin, have improved memory, motor functions, and other cognitive and intellectual skills. As you age, your brain needs more stimulation to stay sharp, and learning to play an instrument fits the bill.

Granted, it does take a certain amount of courage to start taking lessons, but just because you’re not a kid anymore doesn’t mean you can’t have success. Adult learners have something that children don’t, which is professional as well as life experience. While learning violin as an adult can be frustrating, adult students seem to be more persistent and have more patience.

Many adult violin students will tell you how their lives changed in ways they couldn’t have imagined when they took up the violin. What do they all have in common? A love of music and a willingness to come out of their comfort zone to try something new and exciting.

Teacher correcting hand placement on a violin bow

It’s Not Just For Kids

So, the question shouldn’t be can adults learn to play the violin, but what’s the best way to go about it so that you enjoy learning without becoming too overwhelmed in the process. The violin can be a challenging instrument to learn, especially as an adult, so it’s important that you find a teacher who has experience teaching adult learners.

This is a critical component to your success because while children have little muscle training and are pretty much blank pages when they first pick up an instrument, adults already have acquired a lifetime of muscle memory when it comes to posture, hand form, and movement that they may have to unlearn in order to succeed in their lessons.

Once you find the right teacher, it’s time to get a violin. Should you rent or buy your violin? At Johnson String Instrument, we give you the option to rent or purchase your instrument. Renting gives you an opportunity to get a feel for the violin as you begin your instruction, so that you can decide whether to continue playing without making a large financial commitment that comes with purchasing a violin. Our comprehensive rental insurance plan covers the cost of repairs due to accidental damage, normal wear and tear, and broken strings, so you’re also saving on routine maintenance. We also put aside a portion of your rental payments which you can then apply to the purchase of an instrument when you feel that you’re ready to take that step.

If you are comfortable making an investment up front, purchasing means that you will own your instrument outright. It also means that as you improve, you can trade your instrument in for another of higher quality.

Start at any age

If you’re interested in taking adult violin classes, Johnson String Instrument makes it easy to find a teacher near you. Visit our website to create an account and begin a zip code search to find a teacher who offers beginner lessons in your area.

Check out our Resources for String Instruments page and online catalog to find everything you need to know about violins.

Additional Resources

Carriage House Violins

Located in Newton, Massachusetts, Carriage House Violins is the instrument sales division of Johnson String Instrument.

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JSI
Resources

Whether searching for a job, learning about the "Mozart Effect," looking for a summer music camp, or choosing the right instrument string, you need look no further.

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Johnson String Project

A charitable foundation whose goal is to provide high-quality instruments to children who live in under-served communities and who are participating in El-Sistema-inspired programs in Massachusetts.

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JSI
media

Helpful "how to" videos and useful information about JSI and the products and services we offer.

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