How hard is it to learn the violin, viola, or cello as an adult?
Learning an instrument at any age is no easy feat, but learning as an adult presents unique challenges. Not only are adults’ brains fully developed (and therefore slower to take in new information and develop new skills), but they also have many more responsibilities than children, which means less time to practice!
Learning the violin (or viola, or cello) as an adult will be harder than learning as a child, but how much so depends on a few different factors.
Previous musical experience. Adults who come back to an instrument after learning as a child have an easier time picking it back up. Learning music as a child primes the brain and makes it easier to recall these long-forgotten skills. In my experience, even adults whose prior musical experience was with a different instrument have an easier time learning the violin. They understand how much works and
Amount of practice. The more, the better! This is by far one of the biggest challenges adult learners face. Sheer lack of time! If learning the violin is important to you, you must make it a priority, like cleaning your house or brushing your teeth. Carve out time to practice daily, even if just for a few minutes.
How okay you are with being “bad”. Children do not care how they sound. Children aren’t afraid to make mistakes. Children will work hard at something for years, just because they love it.
Adults tend to be the opposite. They deeply care how they sound (which isn’t a bad thing!). They get discouraged when they make mistakes. They are more prone to giving up because the journey is taking longer than they want it to or think it should.
There are so many benefits to learning an instrument. It helps with brain function, learning, memory, problem-solving, critical thinking, and so much more. It’s never too late to learn an instrument, so if you’re thinking about it, this is your time to start. Check out the Online Violin Academy and get started on your journey today.
