Violin Lesson

It was only brought to my attention on the Friday that Chappell of Bond Street music shop, just off Oxford Street, was offering free beginners' violin lessons. Never one to turn down a free gift, I signed up straightaway for a 20-minute private lesson slot on Saturday afternoon.

I wasn't impressed at first with the service at the shop. I arrived about 5 minutes before the scheduled start and waited at the service desk indicated on the sign. Despite the fact that numerous shop assistants came up to the desk where I was standing, they all just ignored me completely and, in the end, I had to interrupt a salesperson serving another customer to find out where to go.

However, the once the lesson itself started, everything was positive. We started with the basics - how to hold a violin. Without breaking it... I actually found it kind of similar to the flute - in that you're holding your elbow up at a right-angle, keeping your shoulders down - and I liked that I could look down the violin, to see both the music and my fingers at the same time.

As I can read music, we cracked out a Grade 1 book and tried out a piece pizzicato (plucking the strings). The trickiest bit was definitely getting the spacing right, to get the right pitch, and pressing the strings down hard enough to sound the note properly. At least I had a bit of an advantage, in that I could hear when the pitch wasn't quite right and make the necessary adjustments.

Then came the bow. I feel like, at least initially, if I was to hold the bow for any length of time, I would get the kind of hand-cramp you have after writing solidly in a 2-hour exam. I was expecting my bowing to sound like a screeching cat, perhaps trying to climb a blackboard... But it didn't! It was tricky but tuneful and very rewarding. Considering it was only a 20-minute lesson, by the end of it, the teacher and I were playing a piece, with harmonies, and sounding at least alright!

Although a complete violin beginner, I benefitted from previous musical experience. The violin is the same clef and a similar pitch to the flute, and quite often seems to play the same long strings of semiquavers that I'm used to from flute pieces. Finding out that there are things called "practice mutes" that would allow me to learn without annoying all my neighbours, makes it a very tempting instrument for me to try and teach myself...

Watch this space.

This is for you if...

My main reason for having a go (other than it being free) was to find something new to do in music. Music always puts me in a good mood, but I don't feel I have advanced over the last few years. Every orchestra already has at least one flautist; I can't really practice my piccolo in a London flat without rousing every animal within a 100m radius; I never took to piano or clarinet. This is for me because I'd like a new musical challenge.

Recommendations

Whatever the instrument, if someone is offering free lessons then definitely sign up! You have nothing to lose and you might discover a new talent. I'll be signing up to the Chappell's mailing list, to keep an eye out for any more...

Alive with the sound of music?

What: Violin lesson
Where: Wardour Street, nr. Oxford Circus
Who: Chappell of Bond Street
When: Saturday, 12th January 2012 at 14:00
Why: I've played various woodwind instruments and the piano, but never a stringed instrument. Had I tried when I was younger, I think I'd've been practising in the shed... As it is, I can have a go in a music shop and hopefully no one will complain!