1 Year of Violin Progress...that is REALISTIC (Adult Beginner)

[@owenmcneill7746]

Yup, sounds about right for an accurate beginner progress video. P.S. I don't know if I would recommend learning the Thais Meditation quite yet. That particular piece is usually played after around 8 years of playing the violin instead of only 8 months. Keep trying though, I can tell you have worked hard.

[@CourtneyLucien]

Solid advice! I knew that it was an advanced piece, and my teacher wasn't pushing it. I just practiced it for fun when I wanted to challenge myself. As time went on, I felt it was sometimes more important to just keep playing (and that often meant playing pieces that I connected with emotionally); and peppering in harder pieces actually helped me stay motivated....because I got to dream of the day when I could play it right!

[@warneryan1085]

I don’t think 8 years is right

[@Keelmangolorinecase]

…I learned after 2 and a half years💀

[@JK20M]

As a person that plays violin for almost 6 years I can tell that this is one of the most realistic progresses that I’ve seen on KZbin. Very good job 👏

[@CourtneyLucien]

Thank you!!

[@queenn9210]

That was great girl 🎉 just keep going, you’ll be a fantastic violinist

[@jdh2024]

This is so good to see your progress! Back in 1984, I bought a record of Heifetz playing the Mendelssohn violin concerto. If Amazon had been around then, I would have had a violin on the way to my house that same day. But my main instrument has been piano for 50+ years, and I have kept it up and kept learning (despite years of coasting). I wish I could learn EVERYTHING, but life is too short and we have to pick and choose.

[@CourtneyLucien]

John! How great that you've got so many years of piano - I think knowing how to create SOME form of music is healing, and ultimately helpful for our creativity :)

[@jdh2024]

@@CourtneyLucien 💯

[@joea55]

That’s really great progression. I just picked up a violin after not playing for 20 years. It’s rewarding once you get the notes right and I wish I didn’t stop playing now. Keep up the hard work!

[@StueyTube]

Great progress, keep it up. I’ve been playing for 32 years (since I was 8) and it’s easy to forget how difficult it is to learn an instrument. My eldest daughter has recently started (10) and this is a great way to track progress, as she sometimes finds she’s not improving but she really is little by little. I’ll need to start filming her!

[@agentgames5841]

Nice! I’ve been playing for 2 years! Keep up the good work. You sound amazing!

[@CourtneyLucien]

Thank you! I'm glad to hear you're playing, too! :)

[@SaphiraFeo]

Finally a realistic video, I love it! And you sound actually really good! I'm so tired of people pretending to play for like two months and they're like "Oh look, I just learned how to play Paganini Caprice No 24". In your dreeaams 🤣 I just started 3 months ago and your video gives me hope 😊

[@CourtneyLucien]

Right?! I'm glad this video is helpful for you, because I believe that seeing the reality is much more inspiring than some fake, overly "impressive" progress! I hope you enjoy continuing to learn!!!

[@peterbaxter8151]

I really enjoyed watching you develop as a player. well done.

[@CourtneyLucien]

Thanks for watching and commenting! I appreciate the support.

[@andreal5947]

Essential elements, best book! I used it to learn 20 years ago in middle school, stopped playing and now I’m picking it back up!

[@CourtneyLucien]

I hope you enjoy starting up again!! ❤️

[@cherylgilbert1]

Congratulations on fantastic progress! Way to go.

[@CourtneyLucien]

I appreciate it!! Thanks for watching!

[@ViolinistGL]

Violin is TOUGH, keep up the good work! I love how you're learning fiddle tunes alongside classical pieces :)

[@CourtneyLucien]

Keeps things fun, and not too overwhelming 😂 yes, violin is SO difficult; but I’m going to keep trying…Thanks for watching and supporting!

[@johjoh9270]

Pretty solid progress, keep it up!

[@CourtneyLucien]

Thank you for the encouragement!

[@traditionalirishmusic9550]

Great to see someone telling the truth for a change, well done excellent progress

[@CourtneyLucien]

I appreciate it!

[@muttley5958]

Great effort 🎯 Very well done 😃👐

[@OddFoxxeP]

Nice! I'm closing in on year 5. As someone that jumped into more advanced content on my own in years 2-3, I had to completely unlearn and relearn them as lesson pieces. It was incredibly tedious. Keep up the good work!

[@alfonsogutierrez1392]

Yes it does inspire me to try thanks 😃👍. Although I, have and have had, for a while, my sights on guitar, piano, singing, bass, but would not mind violin and sax. I don't have much time and I only have a little toy guitar, but I attempt to learn a little, sometimes

[@CourtneyLucien]

I'm about to post a video of my first year of learning classical guitar!! So, follow along if you want to stay inspired to follow your joy!

[@alfonsogutierrez1392]

@@CourtneyLucien I love that saying, I first heard it on a mythology class where they introduced us to Joseph Campbell, he would say: follow your bliss. I am glad you took guitar also. I am still trying. Today I got a cheap rollable 88 keyboard, hopefully it will work. I do better with the keys than plucking, struming and fretting strings, lol. But still would need a lot of practice. It is different than a real keayboard, but is not that bad, it gives me something to practice on. We'll see. Thank you = )

[@CourtneyLucien]

@ Yes! I'm glad you've got something to play on - you can still learn a lot!! :)

[@alfonsogutierrez1392]

@ Yup, it kinda sucks as far as the keys playing when you don't want them to or not playing. The technology on this one is not that great, but, I got me 88 keys and extra sounds to keep learning and practice stuff on. Not that bad for 50 bucks in comparison to other keyboard prices. If I get money one day, again, I might get something better. But these toys are getting me by right now. I can learn a bit of theory, melody, scales, chords, if I get any time, which I hardly do, but, gotta keep wanting. Thanks again for replying

[@humanfingers]

I watched your tiktoks and was so exited for your 1 year anniversary of playing!! Congratulations!(I’ve been playing for 5 years)

[@CourtneyLucien]

Thank you!! How is your playing going at the 5-year mark? That's so exciting! ☺

[@humanfingers]

@@CourtneyLucien Pretty good, but I’ve recently switched over to the double bass. I still play violin for fun though!

[@CourtneyLucien]

@@humanfingers Fun!! And the good thing is that even if you played infrequently, you'll never fully lose all of the technique you've already acquired!

[@wilburdauz]

This is great, happy to see an adult begginer practicing, I'm also learning the violin now for 4 months now.

[@CourtneyLucien]

I hope you find it fun! I appreciate you watching the video and supporting my journey 😄 happy practicing!!

[@lilithhuntress]

Your progress is so inspiring!

[@connieratti.ADBestyoucanbe]

Well that gives me hope...I can do this.

[@CourtneyLucien]

Yes, you can!!! I’m thrilled this video inspired you! 🥹❤️ thanks for watching, and happy practicing!

[@lisadecker1079]

This gives me hope. I wanted to try to learn the fiddle as a much older adult than you. On average, how long did you practice per day when you were really focused? Who is your teacher?

[@CourtneyLucien]

I'm so glad! When really progressing, I practiced for about 30 minutes a day :) And my teacher wanted to remain anonymous, so I cannot share the name - sorry!

[@M_SC]

Your bowing elbow was up in a good position right away. And your bow grip got good very quickly! Perhaps you had some body awareness like dance or yoga experience to make yourself match what the teacher said or how others look; because that’s not something everyone has. I wasn’t surprised your left hand was pretty in tune very fast as other music skills help, but the bow arm progress is impressive. I can’t imagine starting as an adult but I do know several people in my community orchestra that did and I find it so amazing, i hope you can get to play in one too, it’s the most fun to play in a group you like.

[@CourtneyLucien]

Thanks for the detailed comment! I am an actor/athlete, so my body awareness is probably fairly solid :) And I had considered community orchestra...maybe I'll think about it again; that's a great idea!

[@BrianTimmonsTX]

This was really enjoyable to watch, squeaks and all! Having some musical training already was definitely an advantage for you. I started playing cello at 10, but I had an easier time of it than others in my section because I played piano since 5, so I already knew to how read music and had an ear for absolute and relative pitch. One thing that stuck me watching this is just how much your bow hold improved just in the first month! Trying to learn "The Swan" was an ambitious goal for a beginner. After a year, your technique was definitely improved. Achieving clean string crossings and good tone when changing bow strokes is a never ending battle. Warming up with ten minutes of scales and arpeggios really helps. Keep at it! 😀

[@BrianTimmonsTX]

@@MishaSkripach OK, Debbie Downer. You’re a bit salty for my liking, but I’ll answer for the sake of anyone else reading the comments that’s curious. Elitist gatekeeping isn’t the right way to preserve classical music and encourage the next generations of players. I say absolute pitch in the sense of knowing when one is in key. For instance, the modern standard for what an orchestra tunes to is A - 440 hertz. It’s unusual even for musicians to be told, sing an F# and they’re spot on. That’s perfect pitch, which I have, although I have to focus hard in order to use it. It comes more easily to some. And relative pitch is simpler. A listener might hear an A and not realize it’s an A, but it’s much easier to recognize hearing intervals like minor and major thirds, perfect fifths, etc.

[@CourtneyLucien]

Thank you so much for watching! I love the advice about scales and arpeggios - will definitely implement, as I know that is needed. I appreciate it!

[@CourtneyLucien]

@@MishaSkripach I will NOT accept you attacking my teacher or discouraging others from playing and/or learning instruments. You are VERY close to being blocked from my channel - would you like to be?

[@jivekitten1]

@@MishaSkripach Talking of cowards, who are you really?... or will you just remain hidden behind videos of MIsha?

[@jivekitten1]

@@MishaSkripach Does Misha know you hide behind his name when insulting strangers I wonder. You're a coward and very sad. I hope you find peace some day.

[@DonAyoub47]

I simply love you Continue with your violin journey

[@lemanhuseynova5723]

Hello ☺️ Can you please tell me, how many hours per day did you practice? And how many days per week? 🙏🏻

[@CourtneyLucien]

This first year, it was about 30 minutes a day, nearly every day of the week :)

[@fractuss]

"The Girl I Left Behind" is a good tune.

[@antblea96]

You obviously have a great ear, the issue with adult students, especially one who is already a musician, is that they want to play advanced music too soon. First develope a good sound production and take it from there. Open strings my dear and scales for 75% of your practice time.

[@a.h.i267]

that’s my issue right now 😂❤

[@orangesnowflake3769]

What workbooks if any did you use to learn please ?

[@xab5699]

Haii, I hab a violin book recommendation , it’s the suzuki bookss. (Am also a suzuki student hehe) I think it would help you a lot imo!!!!😊

[@kudosjp2]

Congrats. It's a hard journey despite even having some previous music experience. How many hours a day did you practice?

[@CourtneyLucien]

Great question! 30 minutes a day on average.

[@mgzag]

Congratulations on your progress!!

[@lcomfort8683]

Brava!!

[@CourtneyLucien]

Thank you, and thanks for watching!!

[@Itsbritt_22]

What are those stick like things on the violin ? Also you are getting really good keep at it!!! 🎉

[@mexl._.816]

On the fingerboard?

[@CourtneyLucien]

Thanks! Just plastic straws!

[@galihlhakim1530]

Where is you practice? Are aurodidack or with a teacher?

[@CourtneyLucien]

It was with a teacher over Zoom :)

[@Listenerandlearner870]

I found on viola the first year is at times rough but after that it gets better and better.

[@CourtneyLucien]

I’m glad you think so - I look forward to more improvements on violin 🥹 thanks for watching and supporting! How long have you been playing viola?

[@Listenerandlearner870]

​@@CourtneyLucien9 years. I can play some Beethoven symphonies 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

[@CourtneyLucien]

@@Listenerandlearner870 Amazing!! Thank you for sharing 😄

[@Listenerandlearner870]

@@CourtneyLucien I like to play in community orchestras.

[@Listenerandlearner870]

One can get a 14 inch viola that is the same size as a violin.

[@VincentBalmont]

Not sure how you can play tunes plucking strings after 2-4 days. Ive been plucking for 2 weeks lol and its crap

[@rdrik]

Nice! I’d say you really need to Work on improving your bowing technique. Also, in person classes and Suzuki may help a bunch.

[@CourtneyLucien]

Thank you - fantastic advice! :)

[@Itsoliviasworlduk]

im learning the violin currently by myself, I'm a soprano singer and a flautist.... i feel sorry for my neighbours right now, as I live in an apartment, I just try not to practice to late, and that's difficult as I am a night owl.

[@nohomo4774]

have you tried a violin practice mute? It might help

[@M_SC]

If you can afford it. An electric violin is the thing.

[@CourtneyLucien]

I totally understand...I also still feel bad for my neighbors haha -- but, yeah, a mute helps quite a bit!

[@Allen2]

Yamaha Silent Violin =electric.

[@aliceascari810]

Your intonation is great and the left hand is naturally well settled. However, I think that now it's time to work on the bowing conduction. You play with little bow, the right arm and wristle and fingers are stiff, and therefore the quality of the sound is poor. I suggest practicing scales with all the bow lenght, from frog to tip, working on the correct movements of all the articulation of the right arm (obviously with the help of a teacher) in order to achieve smooth and powerful tone. Then you will practice on the upper and lower half, bow strikes and so on. You spent the last months working on the speed and reading new tunes, but if you don't fix the quality of the sound the process will become more and more difficult and frustrating. Good job, keep working!

[@CourtneyLucien]

Thank you for this advice! :)

[@orangesnowflake3769]

Between day 23 and day 24 it sounds so much smoother, did you put more roisin on ypur bow then?

[@CourtneyLucien]

Possibly...but that moment is a great example of how quickly the learning happened at the beginning. When I worked something, slept overnight, and trying the same thing the next day, I often saw immediate improvement. The beauty of our brains!!

[@alnothere]

You look like young adult to me, it's a big difference if you would decide to learn past 50.

[@CourtneyLucien]

Regardless, I don't think it's ever too late to try :)

[@alnothere]

@@CourtneyLucien So they say, but the finish line becomes just a mirage.

[@CourtneyLucien]

@ what do you mean by this? :)

[@rec2you]

Cool! You're making good progress! By the way, you can look at mine, I also have a year of practice on the violin 🥰

[@aixzi_official]

Yes.. big BIG mistake ! rahhh ! 15 days without bow.. After you get fear for weeks

[@johngross9394]

Same book and same stand that I use😂😂😂😂

[@CourtneyLucien]

Nice! Happy practicing!

[@glueconcern]

At the 7:09 mark, Day 27 there are two distinct orbs of light above you

[@SleepyKitKat-]

they're called dust xD!

[@genipt6299]

特に上達してなくてﾜﾛﾀ

[@mgzag]

Don't give up, you can do it!

[@skyxle9020]

get a teacher

[@deviltonite616]

Yikes, the quality of sound is not good. Beginners will be turned off by this video.

[@MichaelaLloyd-y4e]

Actually it gives them hope that it is normal to sound like that at first. 😅😉

[@opacarophile05]

Thanks for this video, I got inspired! 🥹 I just started learning the violin and I am on my 4th session. I thought I might not gonna be learning coz at first it sounds cracking😂 but I have realized as you go along playing the violin, it progress. But still I am working on it coz whenever I transition the bow, it out of tunes😅 Now, I believe I am gonna make it!😊

[@jirokyoka4367]

Samee I'm 16 how old are you?? Just asking because I feel like withh all this study pressure idk if I can keep up. I also feel so late to starting this.

[@diw4599]

​​​@@jirokyoka4367 I am 15 years old (I turn 16 on 2 days) and my first lesson is today. I play guitar too since 2022 and this video reminds me of the first song I tried to play. I sucked at it but now I see all the things I do right on guitar, all that I have learned by myself and I think it'll help me keep trying so I want you to do the same! It's all practice in music. When we start learning a new instrument we feel like it isn't our thing but by the track of time you'll be more and more proud of your progress. I hope that this feeling may help you continue and never give up! (Btw sorry if I missed a gramatical mistake, spanish is my first language)

[@t0mat0juic3]

Thank you for this video! very inspiring progress video.. You sound like a pro at the end! 🙌 PS. never ever listen to haters and also I subbed!

[@CourtneyLucien]

Thank you for watching and subscribing!! I'm excited that you're along for the journey. (And no haters can get to me. They may want to tear people down, but it won't work here on my channel!! I'm hoping to spread inspiration and joy in music!)

[@CourtneyLucien]

@@MishaSkripach I appreciate all of the comments and time you have spent on my channel! I have nothing to prove to you, nor do I owe you any explanation about my life, my accomplishments, or my aspirations with music. It seems you are out to convince many people that they should not attempt to play violin as an adult, which is antithetical to the purpose of my KZbin channel. I'm afraid that your attempt at "putting people in their place" comes across as judgmental of their own journeys, and I do not support that. Many people have many different goals with learning, and I have just accomplished a big one of mine! :) So, I will keep playing, and continue improving, and I wish you the best.

[@Charli-doesnt-play-viola]

If you’re younger: BEWARE you probably will not start shifting and being comfortable with it till your 2nd-3rd year

[@Charli-doesnt-play-viola]

Also the song you see her shifting on at first is the swan or le cygne one of my favorites😭ill probably post a cover sometime this year