Is violin or piano easier to learn?

Well, it depends who you ask. As someone who plays both instruments, I believe there are pros and cons of each.

Piano

Pro: Piano students do not have to worry about or practice intonation. If they simply hit the right key, the note will be in tune (as long as the piano’s in tune, of course!)

Pro: Piano students do not have to worry so much about the tone, or the sound quality of the instrument. There is very little that they can do to change the tone of the piano.

Con: Piano students must become fluent in reading both treble and bass clef.

Con: Piano students sometimes must play 4 different lines of music at once, meaning that they’re playing at least 4 different notes and rhythmic patterns simultaneously.

Violin

Pro: Violin students only need to become fluent in reading in treble clef.

Con: Intonation is much harder on the violin because your finger must hit exactly the right spot.

Con: Tone is much harder on the violin.

Personally, violin has always come more easily to me, but piano is generally easier to learn at the very beginning. Piano is also a great instrument for all musicians to be familiar with. Piano lessons are very in demand so if you can teach piano, you can get more students. If you plan to major in music, you will most likely need to take piano classes as a part of your degree, so prior experience will definitely help.

What do you think is easier, the piano or the violin?