What's with parents making their kids learn/play the violin??

[akshatp]

It has to be the most hated thing amongst kids aged 8-15, yet parents force kids to take violin classes against their will and spend their evenings practicing.

How many of these kids actually grow up to be professional violin players? Why not push them towards something that might actually have a chance of coming to fruition, like guitarist or drummer or something?

This is probably a bad stereotype, but I notice that Asian families (Chinese, Indians) are the worst offenders of this...

Am I wrong?

 

[TehMac]

I don't know, but many Indians take pride in their phallus-like Sitars.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Well to be fair I don't think the parents usually expect the kid to become a professional musician. They just think that they're stimulating the kid in a positive way. As for why it HAS to be the violin, I dunno. Seems that any instrument would be beneficial in a similar fashion, and letting the kid decides for themselves would make continued practice and real proficiency with the instrument more likely.

 

[Sluggo]

Maybe its just one tool in an arsenal to teach discipline, which it seems many kids these days are in desperate need of.

 

[Savij]

Honestly, I kinda of wish I had gotten some violin/piano/guitar lessons instead of my complete lack of anything musical.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: Sluggo
Maybe its just one tool in an arsenal to teach discipline, which it seems many kids these days are in desperate need of.

winner winner chicken dinner :thumbsup:

 

[SSSnail]

I don't know, maybe it has something to do with most Asian musical instruments are stringed? I just found my new passion, Ukulele; maybe one day I can be the first Vukulele player. <dreamy eyes>

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: FoBoT

Originally posted by: Sluggo
Maybe its just one tool in an arsenal to teach discipline, which it seems many kids these days are in desperate need of.

winner winner chicken dinner :thumbsup:

mmmmmm chicken

 

[warmodder]

Sticking with any instrument is difficult with kids because instructors present the material in ways that has little relevance to the music they may hear on the radio. Learning scales on a guitar is important but not all that exciting when they hear everybody rocking out in music. Teach em some power chords and they'll have a ton of fun and maybe want to learn more.

My 2cents.

 

[Howard]

I wish I had a viola to play.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: akshatp
It has to be the most hated thing amongst kids aged 8-15, yet parents force kids to take violin classes against their will and spend their evenings practicing.

How many of these kids actually grow up to be professional violin players? Why not push them towards something that might actually have a chance of coming to fruition, like guitarist or drummer or something?

This is probably a bad stereotype, but I notice that Asian families (Chinese, Indians) are the worst offenders of this...

Am I wrong?

I don't know, I'd love to be able to play the piano or the violin. I think playing an instrument is a good thing to learn when you're a child...hell of a lot easier than when you're an adult.

Would you rather be playing video games?

 

[ed21x]

eh? I grew up in a Taiwanese family that started me on piano, and then added violin at an early age. Eventually I picked up guitar in high school and it was a cakewalk given my classically trained background. Being musical can only be a good thing, and I appreciate my family for it. However, like any instrument (especially the violin), starting and sticking with it is the hard part as it usually takes at least four years before you have the tone quality/technique that is good enough to be self-motivating.

And yes, it does teach discipline. Kind of like sending your kids to martial arts to wear out their energy doing something productive instead of letting them run around playing videogames all day. Maybe that is one reason why asian kids do so well in school.

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: akshatp
It has to be the most hated thing amongst kids aged 8-15, yet parents force kids to take violin classes against their will and spend their evenings practicing.

How many of these kids actually grow up to be professional violin players? Why not push them towards something that might actually have a chance of coming to fruition, like guitarist or drummer or something?

This is probably a bad stereotype, but I notice that Asian families (Chinese, Indians) are the worst offenders of this...

Am I wrong?

I don't know, I'd love to be able to play the piano or the violin. I think playing an instrument is a good thing to learn when you're a child...hell of a lot easier than when you're an adult.

Would you rather be playing video games?

No. If you read the OP, I clearly asked why they dont push them towards things they can relate to better, like a guitar or drum set.

 

[BrokenVisage]

I only play the vagina.. but damn if I'm not good at it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
I only play the vagina.. but damn if I'm not good at it.

I'm a fucking grand master at pussy licking.

 

[alfa147x]

they are making them gay its a revolution

 

[Aluvus]

I played violin from 6th to 12th grade (and still do, but less). I got to spend an hour in school every day not listening to Yet Another English Lesson (or math, etc.). It was one of the few things I actually enjoyed in high school.

Closest equivalent for guitar players would have been jazz band (high school only, and eww jazz), for drummers would be jazz band or percussion in regular band. Neither is any closer to Top 40-type music.

I'm also confused about this notion of things "coming to fruition". "Professional violinist" is a vastly more realistic (and stable) career choice than "professional guitarist" (which to make money, you either need to be a studio musician or be in a band that makes it big). And based on the people I knew, I sincerely doubt that the odds of sticking with guitar or drums (either to being a professional or just through HS) are really any higher.

And yes, playing an orchestral instrument is a good lesson in discipline and teamwork for the kids willing to learn it. And a little bit of math, for that matter.

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: FoBoT

Originally posted by: Sluggo
Maybe its just one tool in an arsenal to teach discipline, which it seems many kids these days are in desperate need of.

winner winner chicken dinner :thumbsup:

ding ding chicken wing! :thumbsup:

 

[BATCH71]

I have a friend whose daughter is 12, plays the violin and loves it. She is good, she is pissed that the school does not offer it as a subject.

Dave

 

[0roo0roo]

its just like sports..football, soccer, most don't become professionals.

its worse for classical instruments. professional generally means orchestra..
not yo yo ma or perlman. maybe 5 famous violinists around out of millions of players. there are tons of sports professionals making decent bank compared.

 

[manlymatt83]

I'm 24. I took up violin when I was 23. Wish I started earlier.

 

[bobsmith1492]

Learning music at young ages (<8, most likely) is a good way to stimulate the brain and leads to better grasp of mathematical concepts in the future. Maybe that's why there are so many of Asian extraction in engineering programs here in the US? (piano-playing engineer speaking)

 

[oboeguy]

Originally posted by: Aluvus
I'm also confused about this notion of things "coming to fruition". "Professional violinist" is a vastly more realistic (and stable) career choice than "professional guitarist" (which to make money, you either need to be a studio musician or be in a band that makes it big). And based on the people I knew, I sincerely doubt that the odds of sticking with guitar or drums (either to being a professional or just through HS) are really any higher.

And yes, playing an orchestral instrument is a good lesson in discipline and teamwork for the kids willing to learn it. And a little bit of math, for that matter.

Well said!

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: akshatp
It has to be the most hated thing amongst kids aged 8-15, yet parents force kids to take violin classes against their will and spend their evenings practicing.

How many of these kids actually grow up to be professional violin players? Why not push them towards something that might actually have a chance of coming to fruition, like guitarist or drummer or something?

This is probably a bad stereotype, but I notice that Asian families (Chinese, Indians) are the worst offenders of this...

Am I wrong?

The violin is a low impact, gateway instrument. Young kids can pick it up, learn how to read sheet music, and develop discipline. I wish I stuck with it longer, but you're right about one thing... I didn't care for the effort it took. I just wanted to be outside playing.

It's fairly quiet and if played nicely, can be soothing. Guitars and drums are loud and kids just want to be 'rock stars' with them.

 

[Tiamat]

For me, it was the piano. When done correctly, the kid gets a sense of discipline and can see a "pain/effort" -> "payout/success" relationship. Its a decent way of getting a kid to understand the benefits of 'practice makes perfect' mentality. Does it work all the time, NO. Can it work, YES; but only if the parents have good parenting skills, the kid is enthusiastic or sees/understands the benefits, the teacher is good.