The Importance of Performing

Learning the violin doesn't have to be a lonely process. Even though it involves hours of individual practice, the violin can be a very sociable and versatile instrument. In my opinion, it is very important to perform as often as possible.  After all, this is what all musicians aim for - sharing their skills and passion for their art. Practice should lead to performance no matter what level or grade of accomplishment. Even beginners benefit hugely from performing - the enjoyment of playing for an audience, no matter how small, is a huge encouragement and brings a fantastic sense of achievement.

I encourage my pupils as young as 5 or 6 to perform in  front of their family and friends, and at school assemblies and concerts. More advanced pupils enjoy playing in school orchestras and string ensembles as well as performing solo or with accompaniment for school concerts. Of course, the performances don't always go as well as we wish. Nerves, emotions and even stage fright in some cases, can lead to unexpected mistakes and a sense of underachievement. This is why it is so important to perform often -  it is also a form of practice - practice at doing your best in front of an audience. Being able to perform is as much of a skill as it is to be able to play.

Once the basic skills have been mastered, the violin can open many doors to various types of ensemble playing. It is in high demand indeed! Apart from the common violin with piano accompaniment combination, there is also chamber music for trios, quartet, quintet and so on, as well as string ensembles and orchestras.

After all - when you know how to play the violin, you are never really alone.