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Just being able to learning something new is a joy I have not experienced in a long time. The feeling is probably mutual for people who take up instruments later in their lives, which accounts for many older students at the "hagwon" where I have been taking violin lessons. One of the oldest students at the hagwon is a retired man over 70.
I grew up with the piano and but always admired violinists. I have tried to learn the violin several times, but the lessons never lasted for more than a month or so. Now I realize that I soon lost interest in them mostly because they were in a group setting. In one of the previous group classes, there were about 30 people. The teacher could not possibly pay attention to all the people in class who have varying needs.
The motivation to restart the violin came from my desire to play some of Bach's partitas and sonatas as well as some other pieces I love. My current hagwon is very different from regular ones in that it specializes in lessons for adults and all the sessions are conducted privately.
Compared to my piano lessons, the violin lessons have so far been very different. With the piano, one can at least spot a C or D or any other note on the first lesson. But with the violin, it's not as easy. There is a lot concentration needed from the beginner to just hit the exact note.
I have being working on three strings for the past few months, the D, A and G. Hitting the right note, properly angling the bow and making a clear, strong sound are still very difficult. There are a lot of details one needs to remember to correctly hold and use the bow. You can go through several lessons just devoted to the right bow hold and even then, you may find that it's a challenge every time.
For me, the biggest upsides to taking music lessons as an adult have been the attentiveness and drive that were not there before. Because piano was not something I chose for myself, I did not take it seriously until much later. My attitude toward the piano lessons was mostly passive, just following the teacher's instructions.
After having listened to a lot of violin music and watched many violinists over the years, I often ask my violin teacher questions. My teacher is always full of tips and suggestions to aide my grasp of the essential techniques. I try to remember them by taking notes and rely on them in my own practices.
During one of my earlier violin classes, I asked the teacher if children tend to learn the instrument quicker than adults and surprisingly, her answer was "no." "They don't practice," she said. When I go to my hagwon, the practice rooms are almost always full. Some are struggling with single notes and some practice beginners' tunes. And there are advanced players who play more difficult pieces, like Kreisler's "Praeludium and Allegro" or one of Brahms' luscious violin sonatas. It feels very special to be among people with that kind of passion for something.
I want to reassure adults who share similar musical aspirations that being older is not in any way an impediment to acquiring a new instrument. Based on my experience, I am confident that adults can be more effective learners than youngsters.
jhdo@koreatimes.co.kr
