How I Would Learn the Violin 🎻 (If I Could Start Over)

I started learning violin at the age of 4 and THIS is what I would do differently if I could do it all over again. Get a boost of motivation and practice music together in a community on Tonic: tonicmusic.app/practice-together (it's FREE)
0:00 - Intro
0:21 - Getting started
1:27 - Musicality
2:44 - Composers
3:43 - Communication
6:25 - Motivation
7:41 - Conclusion

[@sabrinai]

You would have practiced 40 hours a day every day, obviously!

[@tiffcat1100]

At least! 😂

[@Rosieboietz]

❤

[@g.970]

Doesn’t everyone?

[@violinwithRosemary]

I have a new violin student who started lessons in September, she's 12 years old. I sent her a couple of your videos to introduce her to your channel and she told me she was already subscribed and you were one of the reasons she decided to start lessons! I don't know if you will see this message, Ray, but I just wanted to reach out and thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you are doing to help the new young generation of musicians (and us older folk as well😊). It's amazing to see your down to earth nature and how you are able to relay your incredible expertise and experiences with your fans in such a fun and engaging manner. I'm a bit wordless to express my gratitude adequately so I will just say thank you for all you do, it's greatly appreciated🙏🤍✌

[@Virtual_Melatonin]

That's so cool! I'm a teen and I'm about to have my first violin lesson soon! I started because of TwoSetViolin, which also introduced me to Ray's channel (since the two channels work together sometimes.) I'm so excited to start!

[@violinwithRosemary]

@@Virtual_Melatonin wow! That is terrific 😊 the student I mentioned in my comment had her weekly lesson today and she is having so much fun learning violin🎻Wishing you all the best and happiness with your music 🎶 I love TwoSetViolin, they are amazing too!!

[@Virtual_Melatonin]

@@violinwithRosemary thank you! It actually gives me so much joy seeing teachers being proud and happy for their students :D Sometimes when I check comment sections of music tutorials here on KZbin, I see a lot of older adults (50-70 years old) and it makes me so happy! I love seeing people love their music and try it out! I'm so blessed to have the opportunity to learn music, as I already play piano and have tried trombone 🎶

[@violinwithRosemary]

@@Virtual_Melatonin That is awesome! Knowing how to read music already will really help😊I have several adult students and I love teaching them so much. A few are in their 20s and the rest are in their 50s, 60s, 70s and my oldest is 81😃She is an inspiration! She goes to aquabics in the morning before her lesson and right after her lesson she volunteers at a local soup kitchen. She's working through the collection of Mazas Opus 70 duets right now and loving it. A few others are in local community amateur orchestras and a couple go to Old Tyme Fiddle group jam sessions. It's so great that you are learning now as a teenager, you will be able to enjoy playing for the rest of your life. 🤗🧡🎻🎹🎻I'd love to hear how it goes. Violin looks easy but it's very challenging at first so be patient and don't get discouraged, it gets easier with time😊

[@Cute_cuppa.]

@@Virtual_Melatoninno way me too! :)

[@jonhh6918]

Aussie Ray is back 😄 very impressive how he can have different accents 🎉

[@user-tr1mf5qb1i]

I’ve been playing for 4 hours a day for 2 months now. It helps that I’m self-employed with flexible hours, but I’m amazed by how far I’ve come in a relatively short time. Really, that's only like 240 hours. I'm playing songs now that I couldn't imagine playing two months ago. My dream is to play things in a year that I can't imagine playing now. I'm also studying how to make a violin.

[@RayChenViolinist]

Congratulations, I’m stoked for you. That’s what consistent practice will get you! Keep at it!

[@randompersonh]

Honestly, I’d do that if I could. I’m a student with no time tough 😭

[@Gemoraly-iv2fz]

@@randompersonh same but i try to practice a lot in weekends

[@brkauai7]

I'm going to leave a comment here that might encourage you to continue playing and studying. I started studying violin when I was 22, I've been playing for 2 and a half years. In the first year I played 5 hours a day and today only 2-4 hours. Nowadays I've managed to play many pieces by Vivaldi until the end, Mozart 3/5 and I started learning Mendelssohn violin concerto. Honestly, it's not working well, I miss a lot of notes and sometimes it doesn't even look like something fluid, however, it's great to feel like you can read and start learning anything nowadays. One thing I think is like if it were a drawing, first you make the sketch, then the details, the violin is the same thing. study the basic techniques, and I'm sure that in a few years you will be able to learn everything you want. Note: I don't have a teacher, just a friend who plays professionally and gives me some tips when he hears me play.

[@Mosedott]

I would love for you to talk more about phrasing and what kind of approaches you have to phrasing and interpretation, how to be more conscious of how you want something to sound, finding your own way of playing a piece and forming each phrase. I think it would be very helpful for many people.

[@RayChenViolinist]

Learn from young Ray's mistakes and regrets! And another thing young Ray wished he had was practicing together with friends. Tonic would have been his ideal dream: tonicmusic.app/join-in So join in and have some fun with music! 🎵

[@MishaSkripach]

Amazing, Ray! Boys all think the same!

[@lucienazario2786]

You were still very young back then so as a kid even until your teens, you wanted to explore. Definitely your hours of practice were shorter and as you said, you thought what you practiced was good enough. But look at where you are now!!! Thank you for telling the young musicians your experiences. They will put them in mind and learn from them.

[@cheriangang]

Thanks so much for starting the Tonic app. Really helps to bring violin learners together on an international level.

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

Ray, I think you took the right path. Had you practiced long hours as a child, you may have burned out. While playing with others, you could have taken a totally different path. We’ll never know, and that should be okay. You’re an amazing musician, and I’ll bet an amazing person. I love your videos, especially when you make us laugh.

[@UXMetalVTuber]

Honestly? I am hopeful that this might be extremely useful reference material to know, not just for me, but for anyone in the future that is genuinely lost when it comes to trying to understand how to start their journey.

[@RayChenViolinist]

Hope this video helps you in your journey through life. Do you have any similar regrets or things you wished you did better?

[@draedon123]

I just hated practicing for the first 5-ish years, but I'm enjoying it a lot more now. Also, until just recently (a year ago) I was just trying to play an hour a day just for the sake of it. My "practice" was just playing my pieces over and over again... and that's it

[@NutelaSabe]

I have just started learning an instrument (cello). What I regret is not starting sooner :D I'm 35 now. Better now than even later, right? But I always feel this regret that my parents didn't make me learn something, even piano or whatever, just so I have the basic music theory and experience, so I can switch to whichever instrument in adulthood and have a head start. I'll do my best to keep your advice in mind! And keep using Tonic, that thing is so great :D Thank you so much! Having community helps immensely. I'm also part of some facebook groups for adult beginner cellists and things like that. It really helps.

[@johnknox2449]

@@NutelaSabe I also wished I would have started much earlier. Just starting the Viola at 64 but fell in love with it. Will see how far I can get but find it relaxing and frustrating 😊but as they say it’s the journey. It’s Therapy for me.

[@smithmusicstudies]

Wish I didn't compare myself to others. Wish I didn't accept as early on that "Only the cream of the crop make it, so don't try." Wish I didn't expect to fix major problems in one practice setting. Wish I trusted the process more and credited myself for the small as well as the big achievements. Wished I learned more about my body and my physical cues of exhaustion.

[@hanssellrock]

I’m in my second year of learning and don’t know if U have to correct something

[@youngrevivalist]

Your experience is similar to mine. The most heartbreaking and frustrating thing for me was when I got to college and learned that I was playing notes on the flute wrong and my embouchure was wrong. It's taken me years to get up to the level of my peers and I've had to work harder than everyone else, but I'm glad that I have this experience because I know what I am capable of now.

[@louisecolot9156]

1:40 guy got into Curtis without knowing what phrasing really meant...

[@philostreet781]

Ray, thanks for your honest reflecting of your own musical journey❤ It helps my son to realize that every musician has to grow in their own way through ups and downs along the way! As long he keeps keeping on, he is going to arrive somewhere down the road. Importance of understanding the WHY behind the music making! 1:27

[@thepianoplayer416]

Learned violin in school as a teenager. There was no Internet to look stuff up so the only instruction I got was from the teacher once a week. The first thing I shared an instrument and the same teacher with my sister. Mom thought it'd be cheaper to have kids share instrument. The 2 of us are supposed to help each other and contribute to our progress but we were both terrible. My parents are from non-musical families offered no help except criticize our playing that the teacher always sounded better. Some families the kids learn different instruments. It's more expensive but you have them playing together as an ensemble which is very nice. The last thing I was not comfortable performing pieces outside of my comfort zone. I joined the school band and performed for the parents as a group for a few years. My level of playing didn't improve much. There were technical issues including tuning, shifting for high notes, playing legato & staccato, etc. that wasn't fixed until years later.

[@johngross9394]

Thanks Ray. When I started playing violin I started playing by ear. Then decided to learn how to read music. The great thing about learning a instrument is that you are always learning even my Vibrato which I was practicing last night

[@ningchu76]

Hi Ray, I wanted to thank you for your videos and always humbling yourself. You did this one video where you tried to do improvisation with a jazz piano player. I actually spent a year before I saw your video on how to do improvisation on my violin. I had to play in a setting with other musicians and there are no music sheet, you had to just improvise and make up your own counter melodies. I had no idea how to do that because I grew up memorize music and reading music sheets. Then came your video, man. That helped me so much and now I am able to play in an improvisational setting. And I could feel your anxiety when you were trying to learn to play without any written notes! There are a few things I wished I could do if I can start over; knowing what I know now (I am now a mother with children and I am not a professional player but this is what I encourage for my children): 1) play lots of pieces and play in all types of settings like a quartet, duet, jazz, a setting with other musicians to improvise songs. It is very freeing to do that! 2) learn to play in front of people A LOT. Even when you mess up and you are scared to death. I was put in that setting for 5 years now. I used to only play when I have perfected my piece THEN I would play in front of people. But with the experience that I was thrusted into, I learned to humiliate myself and just play. Now my jitters are less. I don't have crippling anxiety when I play in front of people. I hope that helps!

[@AmandaViolinGirl]

I have been to different teachers. My latest teacher got me to learn etudes and I am so glad she did. My previous teacher didn't teach me any etudes.

[@AmandaViolinGirl]

I think my previous teacher was thinking I was only learning violin for a hobby and wanting to learn easy well known pieces that probably only needed 1st and 3rd position so I wouldn't need to do etudes. My current teacher can see I'm serious and want to learn a lot more. Thank goodness I could read music before I even started and had done a music theory exam but don't ask me to remember everything from there. So long as I can remember all the key signatures and work out if it is in A minor or C major for example. If there are maybe some G#'s and the last note is A then it is definitely the minor key.

[@sanaebon8610]

Thank you Ray for sharing!

[@julienarrijs]

Thanks for the share brother! God bless!

[@sissoft]

Thanks for sharing! This is something we can all relate to and learn from. Keep doing this more pls - it helps connect what you do (as a star performer) with our daily practice! This really help serves as a bridge btw where we are and where u are (without asking you to be a free youtube teacher). Thanks Ray

[@alexsaldarriaga8318]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing your learning experience with us. 🙏🏻🎻

[@TaylorFontroy]

You're such an inspiration and encouraging. It's been a whole year since I started back to violin and you've pumped me up!

[@il1200]

Thanks so much for your sharing. It means a lot to other young violinists.

[@emloise]

I’m loving these video’s lately!!!

[@ruiwang6960]

Thank you so much for sharing this Ray. I am a student who's trying to pursue an academic career. It's quite surprising that your experience has somehow inspired me in my journey.

[@christaherwig0404]

Ray, you give us your experience, you give so many young musicians a gift and I appreciate your feelings so much. Thanks for everything😍👍

[@vendelius]

Much Applause for you sharing this.. learning to be Introspective is one of the Most aspects of Great Musicians.. Thank YOU..

[@LL-ds5kl]

I really appreciate for your generous sharing. I forwarded your video to my daughter who started 2 years ago.

[@joonsubjun3634]

I really love your playing but what I love most is your opinion about music and your warm and humble personality. I 've been learning a lot from you.Keep going on!

[@ShireTown1824]

So reassuring to hear that things 'click' late even for the best of the best.

[@danamckerrow9902]

Top-notch advice for learning AND life, bravo!

[@riririsa.]

i started this January and i am so grateful for this video ❤ i started a little late (13) and this video had really helped me notice some of my bad habits, thank you ray！

[@armchairzen]

One of the most valuable parts of my viewing experience was to hear you speak about "old times", when "...people were coming together, and it was a lot of fun...", before you journeyed down the road and became more focused on The Thing, and the serious world of serious musicians. The Tonic concept brought immediate smiles, just thinking of recapturing that fun. I'm just a rock and roll guitarist in a garage band, but beneath it all, we're all musicians, devotees of the Goddess of Music. But it's the oxytocin of it all that we crave, the thrill of making music together, and our memories of early days are always laced with a euphoric glee. As I continued to improve and focus on being the best I could be, my standards rose like the tides; the guitar, the amp, the PA system, perfect tuning, perfect partners, perfect timing. I'm no orchestra pro or touring rock star, just an old singing cowboy. The day I remembered that was the day the laughter returned. The day I learned to stop fussing over the tempo and roll with the drummer's beat. The day I left my vocal monitor off just because we didn't even have monitors in our 80's bar band and I wanted to relive that. To relive the thrill and excitement of making it from beginning to end on a song and considering it success. It's not going to be the same for a virtuoso, but remember this when you get to Tonic. If something's a little out of time or a little out of tune, maybe you should drink it in, and relive the times when that sounded just fine. Sometimes recapturing the fun is as easy as letting it breathe.

[@wakingtheworld]

How refreshingly honest you were, Ray and wot a journey you've had. This is basic (cos I'm still a newbie on the violin) but wish I'd been taught the importance of bowing straight & the necessity for flexing the wrist instead of playing with a piston arm & wonky bow action. Following a wrist fracture, I'm having to go right back to the beginning & relearn how to bow better.

[@tima8847]

Thank you for sharing your experience and I hope you don’t beat yourself up about the past. I don’t play any music, but this is so relatable. They teach the knowledge in the school/uni, but when you entering the work place, it’s another world that you have to learn by yourself (especially learn from the mistake).

[@moonlight3842]

I feel my kids are so lucky can easily approach resources for learning even though we have to distinguish which is good.

[@M_SC]

Great video, great reflections

[@cellosong]

I appreciate what you shared. We all have a journey in life and in music. In my case I was injured in a car wreck at age 28 that ended my solo cello career. I retrained as a school principal. When I retired I went back into physical therapy and now I'm playing my cello again - and soloing with local orchestras where I live. I'm an artistic director of our local chamber music series as well. So there isn't one way to live, one way to develop as a musician. I love that you share what you have experienced so young artists can see that it's a journey. Everyone's journey will be different, but it's important to enjoy the process! Best wishes.

[@jacobc4841]

As a Horn player who is also starting to learn the Violin this video was very helpful so thank you. 😁

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

I started out on the trombone at age ten, and wound up in the Air Force Drum and Bugle Corp. ya just never know…..

[@joycelim]

Thought this was going to be a plug for tonic, but it's really a video for others to comment on Ray's aussie accent. As a Singaporean, I can tell what it is but it isn't centrestage. Happy that it is legit recount of past incidents and good advice!

[@user-kj6jv5fq8x]

Hey just went to your concert last night - phenomenal！

[@leolovsen1448]

Woo GSO in the beginning! Hometown orchestra!😍

[@fr0stbyt3x33]

I started playing the violin back in March 2021 in my late teens, but I had always been interested in playing the violin ever since I was 5. Ever since then, I have been practicing faithfully almost everyday for at least an hour or more because of my passion for the instrument. In these 2 years, I have managed to develop myself to the point where I performed in an ensemble earlier this year in January as an assistant concert master. Of course, it was a student ensemble and not a professional one. Now, I am practicing pieces from Mozart which include Eine Kleine and the infamous Symphony No. 40 IV Allegro Assai. Never thought I'd actually reach this point, especially taking into account that I expected myself make it a casual hobby and not something I would consider doing in life.

[@jessicar.8333]

Starting later in life can actually be quite an advantage. You're studying an instrument because you want to, and like you said, you have passion for the instrument. Don't limit yourself, you can get out there as a professional if that's what you want to do. You have a great start already. Keep going!

[@MakeAmericaGreatAgain04]

@RayChen Your videos are very awesome 🎻🎻🎻

[@ThomUnderStars]

"Quem não se comunica, se trumbica". Thanks, Ray!

[@kirsitahtinen9968]

Wish I could have started younger. Better late than never. I´m 51 years old and playing 2 years. Hope you have concert some day in Finland.

[@elissahunt]

Be proud you started playing no matter what your age. Many adults think, "Oh, I'm too old. It's too late for me to learn." And they never pick up an instrument. It takes bravery to go ahead and start learning as an adult.

[@rahel6882]

Thank you, Ray, for sharing your experiences and generally for your time you invest in youtube, tonic etc. 🙏🏼 Could you once talk more about how you discovered phrasing and what was the „click moment“? Also what exactely made you experience music more intense on this level? I would love to see an entire video about that topic and hear every detail😀🤩

[@k98killer]

It might not have been a singular moment of it suddenly making sense considering it uses intuition which is trained somewhat slowly. Phrasing tends to be pretty obvious when practicing a piece in my experience. I didn't understand phrasing when I started learning piano, but I have no recollection of any singular moment when it suddenly made sense.

[@vagabond197979]

Australian Ray ENGAGED!

[@lllllei5410]

Aussie Ray is so powerful in this video!

[@mellissadalby1402]

It is definitely harder to unlearn bad habits than to learn good habits fro the start. Playing a piece at a different tempo from how you have practiced it can be a real challenge. My teacher instructed me to practice SLOWLY with a timebase (metronome or drum machine) and I immediately realized the wisdom of what she said because that's exactly what I tell my guitar students. That being ssid, I found that I had to really focus more on my bowing to play very slowly. I had no idea how haphazard my bowing was until I tried to play SLOWLY. I have installed the Tonic App on my phone, but I have been too scared to try it yet, thinking that everybody will just tell me how much I suck at the violin. I know I suck, but I suck progressively LESS every week.

[@a-nm.esq.4211]

Ray - great video - thank you for the insight!! any chance for some technical tips that help to overcome general mechanical errors that persist in later stages of learning? such as errors that evolve from either physical attributes or incorrect learning (things that went AWOL from the start and were not corrected)? cheers!!!❤

[@mccafferyfamily]

your description of the mozart reminds me when I played a piano piece in front of an audition panel, but hadn't had lessons for a year, and had not listened to any recordings or done any research and just played it in my own style. the shock on their faces. lol. After they asked me "Have you ever heard this before?" lol

[@CheyenneSedai]

I don't play any instrument, but this is very interesting. And while that's why I don't have tonic, the same general principle of community definitely helps regardless of the type of art. I also find it very funny how Ray's accent changes from video to video and I always to look forward to it.

[@Ikona731]

Ikr I wondered the same. 😂 Itʻs always a mystery.

[@user-ss1oz9lw1o]

It's starting🎉

[@MarissaFerro]

I appreciate your vulnerability in sharing these stories! Glad you had those "lightbulb moments" and have grown as a person and musician. At age 45, I have been playing violin since I was 3, and viola since I was 10, and have definitely had "moments of growth" in my life as a student, performer, and teacher.

[@elaitamani1105]

Thank you Mr Ray💐l✨️✨️✨️

[@user-vl5nm3if8j]

I didn’t get the opportunity when I was young to learn the violin so my experience are now😂I’m a grade 4 ABRSM and ive had several horrible teachers,,, now I have a wonderful teacher. But as an adult beginner it was difficult to get a teacher who understands that I’m an older student and learning is more difficult as an adult .The worse teacher whipped his bow up and cut my arm because it was to low🥲I would have loved to learned when I was younger but here I am now trying my best as an adult beginner:Thank you for inspiring me😍

[@agatafurczyk9149]

A meaningful video 👍🙂

[@abdulkaderajlani5096]

As an adult starting out the thing i miss the most is company, it is really difficult to find friends who are new learners as well at this age. Everyone else at the music school is 7 years old or something like that, i always feel good to see an adult sitting just to realize he's a parent of a 7 year old 😂

[@johnknox2449]

I completely understand. After my lesson a 6 year old is next.

[@Rubylove48]

OST people stop learning new skills or crafts when they get to a certain age, so it’s lonely no matter the field. Focus on how amazing you are to be humble enough to start a new passion from scratch and be happy with yourself that you are growing and learning. Your brain and your heart say thanks!

[@Claushanga]

oh, I know it can feel awkward sometimes, but actually is great that other kids can see adults learning new skills, usually kids see adults as "know-it-all" beings and get really surprised when they see and adult strugling to learn something new, and you tell them that adults also learn new things and make a lot of mistakes while learning, I think that really reasures the kids to feel better about themselves, like they are no less than an adult, is just that adults have had more time to practice all kind of skills, but we all start at the same place :) and btw, there is a group of adults begginers and returning adults in Tonic, so you can meet people over there too ^^ they are all really nice

[@meredith2803]

I’ve been learning as an adult for 5 years. Already knew how to read music from learning other instruments. Nothing compares to the violin, I think it’s probably the most frustrating and rewarding experience rolled into one.

[@MishaSkripach]

@@meredith2803 Well, it is impossible to master violin as an adult, why waste time.

[@theoredori]

I’d love a video about what different paths are possible, after studying music. What options are there for young musicians, except from playing in an orchestra? 🙌

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

I started a band late in life. Im retired from nursing, and the band is now my career. There are as many ways to express yourself musically as there are musicians. For example, check out the Black Violins.

[@antonvf9619]

so interesting!

[@paris_cellover]

Hi, did you ever think about creating an online violin course for self-taught people? I definitely will buy it.

[@007JackyC]

I share my 4 years old boy this video， wish he could love more about violin ~

[@jaegertiger384]

So Ray was located on the SE side of Rittenhouse Square. I know it well, having walked through it SO many times on my way to the New School of Music back in the early '70s.

[@purpletiger9313]

Awareness, Understanding, Patience. Good advice. We all make communication mistakes because we are all individuals. Just learn and try to remember for the next time. Great video.

[@majbrinovec6458]

Video idea: play Ferneyhough (string quartets sound cool) :3

[@jonhh6918]

Part of learning is making mistakes, having questionable ideas or experiences… it is part of our journey and who we become as a person and a musician. Create opportunities to learn and go for it. Good or bad this moment will make you aware of new things and you’ll grow.

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

Mistakes make us appreciate the good things we accomplish, don’t they?

[@jonhh6918]

@@nickiemcnichols5397 Sure thing and they often make us stronger and more resilient person if we treat ourselves with self compassion.

[@antoniomonteiro3698]

This channel become a commercial for Tonic - but it's good commercial :)

[@M_SC]

It’s really good that Ray has gone back to his Australian accent. Anyone professional in a global setting has to de-localize their language somewhat to communicate effectively, but just copying another accent entirely like it’s a total acting role is weird.

[@elissahunt]

I don't think Ray "copies"any accent deliberately. His ear just picks up the accent around him. When he's in the US, his accent just goes American. I think it's related to playing in tune, to be honest. His pitch matches the musicians around him, and his voice matches the people around him.

[@map-reduce]

@@elissahunt I agree with you. I was born in the US but lived in Canada for many years and picked up a Canadian accent (it's a real thing, I swear.) I'm back in the US now, and it's gone when I'm home, but the accent kicks in again when up there visiting relatives, even talking to them on the phone. So I think it's a way to tell where Ray is in the world. Like the flag on Buckingham Palace, when the Aussie accent kicks in, he's home :D

[@elissahunt]

@@map-reduce I love that observation. "Like the flag on Buckingham Palace, when the Aussie accent kicks in, he's home" 👍

[@scabbedwings6548]

Ray is just bidialectal /biaccented due to growing up in Australia, but also due to his time spent in the Philadelphia attending Curtis. It happens to some people. Gillian Anderson's accent does the same thing. When she is in the UK where she was raised from the age 15 months to 11 years and spent summers during her childhood, she has a British accent and when she is in the States her American by way of Michigan accent kicks in.

[@solace0316]

nyieeee, loving the aussie accent

[@andypollow]

I would relearn it Gypsy fiddle like Paganini. That's weird but it makes sense. Flapping your hands alot moving the wrists.

[@viojoe11]

I wish I had done something athletic as a kid. I think it would have made me more physically relaxed when it came to playing instead of trying so hard to have perfect posture and technique.

[@myrona.gilmorejr.]

My high school strings teacher told me that the accompanist is supposed to adjust to the soloist

[@Nikoletakari]

Thank you so much Ray Chen for this video. Even though I don't play the violin you motivated me not to make this mistakes as a classical music student !

[@user-ll6se8kv9i]

Mr. Chen if I can call you that. It is out of respect. My parents always say show respect for someone you don’t know or met for the first time. I’m still doing that even in my 70’s. They sure know how to train us well don’t they! First off, I don’t play the violin, never had but enjoy listening to it. You said many things that I call wise or as you get older, like I am, call wisdom. I find life sometimes gives you trial and tribulation. It is what you do with it. You can learn from it so you don’t repeat it the next time or you can feel sorry for yourself and blame everybody for your stupidity. Dad always say: “What part of stupid you can’t understand, son?” (Wack!) Do you understand it now? 😢 “Hell yeah, I understand it now!”😂 Take Care and have a blessed “2024.”

[@LucasMendes-fy5dg]

Hey Ray reacts a violinist Roman Kim, Eine Kleine, Beethoven 5th and God Save The King, this is amazing!!!

[@gogotrololo]

I'm an adult learner, and glad that the things you would do differently are things I typically seem to do. My only thing I'd do differently is not waste 20 years on guitar, and just go straight for the violin like I always wanted!

[@MishaSkripach]

I hope you do realise that you won't master violin.

[@gogotrololo]

@@MishaSkripach that's rude AF. Did your mom teach you to disrespect people like that?

[@MishaSkripach]

@@gogotrololo It is not rude and it is not disrespect, it is pure facts, the rude one here are you. Violin cannot be mastered by an adult, you will simply waste lots of time and effort and won't have any result worth listening to. Ehen an adult proclaims that they intend to learn to do triple lutz , when theyv never did figure skating is a child, the insanity of this is obvious. Well, violin is the same. Don't waste your life on things that are out of your reach forever.

[@gogotrololo]

@@MishaSkripach oh I'm so sorry, your mother didn't love you, it's obvious now

[@MishaSkripach]

@@gogotrololo This is such a desperate pathological assumption... Wow, with such defensive beliefs you will be disappointed to know that nope, you are wrong. And anyway, believe what you want, but you will NEVER sound good on violin, that's it, end of, gone, train left. Some things are not possible, learn to accept that.

[@Grem305]

They say I sound just like you Ray when I play the violin, would you believe it ? :)

[@ChiefHerzensCoach]

Ray, the conductor of the youthorchestra was much older than you, right? So it was great you worked on your communication skills. But back then you where a young guy and he should have been the pedagogic figure and find the way by asking you and explaining himself.

[@katyb2793]

I agree, these are very valuable and useful tips. But at the same time, adults can't expect children to behave like adults. It makes me sad that a conductor actually damaged the career of, and in a way bullied a child, for having the maturity of a child. Actually, the conductor was already being unprofessional, and didn't like the way (child) Ray reacted. I also feel like teachers and adults around prodigies need to guide them in working with other people, as much as they guide them in their playing, because it doesn't come naturally to kids, and they're thrown into an adult world. Having said that, making this video is great as it's providing guidance for today's young musicians who may not be getting guidance from those around them. So it will surely help. But that conductor makes me mad lol

[@katyb2793]

I also feel it's the responsibility of the teacher to be teaching the student about composers. They should be dropping tidbits of information and how it relates to the piece along the way (and the time period it was composed), and sending them home with resources to further their knowledge. It's only really when we get to uni that we're expected to be more independent in our learning.. Anyway, Ray is such a sweet and humble soul, and it's a very helpful video!

[@Roserosey04]

Right?! That's what I'm saying. Tempo problems happen all the time, especially with the fact that the soloist usually practices on their own ahead of time. I've always been taught that it's the soloists piece. It's their solo. If the soloist thinks they want to go slower or faster somewhere, what has always happened (at least in my experience) is that we follow them. WE are the accompaniment. There's nothing wrong with communicating tempo changes. What an unprofessional man he was to sit there and talk to an orchestra about another man like that jeez, must have been heartbreaking.

[@ChiefHerzensCoach]

@@katyb2793 Christian Li tells and Robin Wilson, his teachers also says, that he has to learn about the composers all the time. He is encouraged to have his own ideas about pieces but still has to learn what was the style of a certain time so that you don't play Bach like Tchaikowsky or the other way round. This is the right guidance. Also he was put into chamber music and in the choir allready as a young boy (skipping choir later because it was too much) so he learned a lot about comunication. Watch how he guided the orchestra as a 10yr old in the Menuhin Final Round. He was tought this and guided and this is how it is done. Not bullying and shaming kids. It is so sad what Ray tells. But good do know for others so they know they are not alone and when they read comments they also know: they might not be able to change some old geniouses (in music) and have to endure their harsh style of communication but it is still nothing wrong with them as kids. They are allowed to learn and try to overcome the bullying by knowing it is not their fault.

[@ElsweyrDiego]

etudes earlier... when? before going to 3rd position? on suzuki 2? i's really helpful to know when starting etudes in general

[@ethanqiu1672]

ray stated he had a 6 month period of practicing only scales and etudes, the scales he practiced at this time was most likely 3-4 octaves including all arpeggios and doublestops in many many rhythm variations. I would imagine ray returned to dont, kreutzer, and maybe rode in this period. what ray was trying to say was practicing basic fundamentals that correlated with your current skill level, so if one is a beginner and just started out, the easiest etude would be the way to start. while advanced students would most likely work on dont or kreuzter because these etudes give the opportunity to develop true mastery of fundamentals

[@ElsweyrDiego]

I understand. now i'm finishing book 1 of whlf op.45 and starting kayser. on suzuki i'm finishing vivaldi 3rd mov. so i think it's all ok for me then@@ethanqiu1672

[@piano.is.a.language]

Very interesting :)

[@TheCurtainCaII]

Me, a non musician, watching this while eating my dinner because I can't afford a violin. Thanks for the advice Ray

[@wakingtheworld]

How about renting as someone suggested to me. It makes it affordable while I save up for my own.... If the passion is there, I'd say 'go for it'.

[@TheCurtainCaII]

I did look into it already but it is not a common practice in my country. The places that rent instruments, they do so to events and ceremonies, therefore it is expensive since the price is per day. So I will just have to wait.

[@wakingtheworld]

@@TheCurtainCaII How frustrating. I'm based in the UK and rental from this luthier (violins, violas & cellos) is on a monthly basis. Someone else suggested that when the time comes, I could attend an auction to buy my violin. One could maybe get a good one much cheaper. Depends on who's bidding on the day. Well, all I can say is, visualise yourself playing the violin every day. Feel the joy and experience the practicing you will do. Every day. And BELIEVE this will happen. Don't ask how. Just believe. The Universe will begin pulling levers and strings to enable this to happen in ways unimagineable. I got my first laptop (which was way out of my price league at the time) in a way that blew my mind.... a gift from an unusual source.

[@TheCurtainCaII]

@@wakingtheworld In the last couple years where I have taken an interest in classical music and especially violin, I've watched so many videos like this one and read many articles. So even though I have never owned a violin, that didn't stop me from researching and gathering information, and I'd say I have a decent knowledge now about the learning curve and the whole process of learning an instrument, of course there is a lot I have yet to learn still. But you're right, life can be unexpected sometimes. So I BELIEVE.

[@antine1279]

Can I suggest asking around in local fb groups or musicians groups whether someone could lend you a violin? I've given a guitar on fb before because I wasn't using it (and it was a good one!). Maybe someone has a violin at home they are willing to borrow, give away or even sell in installments? Also maybe you could tell your friends and family for your next birthday to pool up money instead of gifts so you could buy a violin? We did this for our friend once (bought him a good bicycle). Best of luck to you!!

[@hanssellrock]

I watch Ray’s video tips even though I’m a cellist, but somehow some things help me

[@hei7586]

Dear Ray, I am always at a loss when I try to capture in words or signs a good idea I had about a certain passage or phrase. How to write it down to remind myself next time I practice? Often I couldn't even find words to name or describe a certain feeling, even less how to translate the nuance into playing. Have you any suggestions to that or could even make a video on this topic?

[@chrisw9597]

I find it interesting how every other video, your australian accent strengthens or lessens😆

[@blueberry3166]

What other instrument do you wish you were great at? cello? guitar?

[@puhlsar1]

he transformed into an australian

[@Rubylove48]

Who edits your videos? I’m new to your channel. You are so charming and very kind hearted. This was an honest and beautiful video with you sharing so much of your intimate experiences about empathy and communication. But, I find there are too many camera angle edit changes which makes it choppy and detracts from what you are trying to communicate. It may work for other topics and it may be part of the KZbin success model and what young people think is normal but it doesn’t really suit your personality or the subject of this video. Sorry - jmo. I 5ink there should be spaciousness and pauses for your gentle nature to shine through. I grew up in Australia as the child of immigrant parents. I am a full time philosopher now and my natural curiosity and deep interest in life and creativity made it difficult for me to make friends there. It. was hard to become part of a community as Australians as a culture don’t value depth or excellence and aren’t great communicators about things which require deep thinking and self reflection. cultivating community when you are an outstanding person in your field as well as generous is not easy and those qualities together are quite rare. I’ve worked with the best people in multiple fields around the world and In general super successful men are often socialised to be only concerned with their own trajectory rather than mentoring and helping others. and women are socialised to dumb themselves down so a man will find them non threatening. I wish you the very best personally, you are obviously crushing it professionally so I wish you continued success and fulfilment in that sphere of your life too. 🥂🥰

[@rokugoshitsu]

I agree with you about editing. I want to listen carefully, but it's a little distracting.

[@g02999]

以前學小提琴沒有肩墊、用塑膠小提琴、弓毛是捲毛,只要一開始拉連親戚都跑來叫我停下來不准拉，上鋼琴課每次都被用鋼筆敲手很痛。不過還好現在還懂一點可以陪小孩練習

[@boulosredhair]

I start study music when I was 7 and start playing violin when I was 8 but I take it seriously when I was 17 .. I'm so sad for this years but gonna fix it 😅

[@jennifersharon9360]

Not me scrolling KZbin instead of practicing for my exam in less than 24 hours

[@tiffcat1100]

🍀🍀🍀

[@jameshutchings2683]

“Save it for the performance “ a classic ( I did the same, such a bad idea!😂😂)

[@cassianedorcas]

I love this video (Vivaldi), maybe it's on purpose

[@stephenberson7236]

If the conductor is dragging or too fast wouldnt that be in the notations on the music sheet where there would be no question who is right and wrong avoiding any adversarial confrontations?

[@KM_Ultimate]

hey ray, im thinking of getting a violin as my third instrument for christmas, any good ones around $200?

[@MishaSkripach]

Andreas Zeller by Stentor, about $400

[@khunsateeb]

wait your Aus accent is back? what happened?

[@lennoxdyerviolin]

❤

[@Gemoraly-iv2fz]

I didnt know ray chen was british

[@AldeasophiaGalvez-hp1uu]

Wait wait ray Chen was British😮

[@debbiegriffiths2562]

Do Australians usually sound British to you? As an Aussie this always surprises me.

[@brucebenson5908]

One of the world's most effective communicators tells us he wasn't good at it as a kid. Teachers every where need to get this clip into their classrooms.

[@Silldot]

You can see how nervous he is during the solo by how much he needs to use the bathroom

[@RayChenViolinist]

My bladder pre-concert suddenly has the powers of ant-man

[@koxardon1]

is your accent toggleable?

[@JosephMusgrove]

It is a shame wisdom does not come at an earlier age. Hopefully, some of your younger viewers will learn from the experiences you shared.