People who want to learn to play the violin but do not want to invest in private lessons can teach themselves to play the instrument. It is helpful if the student already knows how to read music, but he can learn along the way if necessary. The student should also have a violin that fits his size, though any average size adult can use a typical adult violin.

Set Goals

A student of the violin who is teaching himself how to play should have solid goals about where he wants his skill level to be in a month, six months and up to a year. Share those goals with family or friends. It is easy to stop learning and practicing if there is no accountability. Examples of goals would be memorize scales; perform selected song without mistakes; sight read selected song without checking note charts; perform song in front of friends or family; and try out for or join community orchestra/band.

Use a Lesson

Many do-it-yourself lessons come in book form with either a supplementary CD or DVD. A violin student should make sure the book is intended for someone in his age range. For example, a children's lesson book for an adult may be boring and feel condescending, and an adult book for a child will likely be uninteresting. There are different styles of violin playing, like fiddle or classical, so the student should choose a lesson that appeals to him. If a book does not come with a DVD, make sure there are plenty of pictures to depict proper techniques for holding and playing the instrument. Books that include a finger and string chart are best, otherwise a second book with charts is needed. Songs in the book will be simple, but the student should make sure they are songs he will enjoy playing.

Practice

As with learning any new skill, practice is key to improving. Learning a new instrument can be frustrating and difficult, especially at first. The student should set aside time each day to either do a lesson or practice skills, then practice for the allotted time only to avoid burnout or frustration. If the student has trouble practicing regularly, he should set up a reward system to reward himself each two weeks if he has practiced for all allotted times.

Listen to Violin Music

Listening to violin music will inspire those who want to learn and instill an enjoyment of the music. They can hear proper playing techniques and good tone, both of which they should strive for in their own playing. Attending live concerts or jam sessions is a good way to stay inspired as well.

Source:

Active Musician: Violin Instruction

Violin Lessons: Four Easy Ways to Teach Yourself Violin