1.Entertainment
First of all, it’s just plain fun! With just a modest cash investment (big internet retailers sell violins for as low as sixty dollars), you now have hours of entertainment in front of you. And once you feel comfortable enough, performing for others spreads the joy.
2. Nights on the town
Learning any musical instrument will help you with your sense of rhythm, pitch, and overall musicality. Don’t be afraid of the dance floor anymore! Bonus: Because of how it’s structured, the violin requires more ear training than something like piano or guitar, so your off-key karaoke will improve, too.
3. Free therapy
We all need ways to express our inner angst or pure, unadulterated joy in order to be healthy and balanced people, and music is probably the most powerful method we have of doing that. The violin is a particularly apt instrument for this, as it imitates the human voice better than any other member of the orchestra. At the very least, it’s cheaper than an hour on the couch with the psychiatrist, and you never need to make an appointment.
4. Yes, you can!
Taking up a new hobby and learning a new skill is one of the fastest and most effective confidence boosters out there. Keeping your hands (and mind) busy is a great preventative measure to keep sadness at bay. You will find the courage to try other new things that you have wanted to do for years: parasailing, skydiving, you name it!
5. Meet and greet
Playing the violin means you’ll need some supplies, from time to time: new strings, fresh rosin, sheet music. Becoming a regular at your local music store means you have the opportunity to build new relationships not only with the owners, but with other regulars as well. This is doubly useful if you’re new to the neighborhood and haven’t met anyone yet.
6. Violin hero?
No longer relegated to dusty concert halls, the violin is fast becoming something of a rock star. Big bands like Yellowcard, Dave Matthews Band and Trans-Siberian Orchestra, among others, feature outstanding violinists and violin soloists. And even if you don’t get rich and famous, you can still learn that amazing violin solo from Baba O’Riley of The Who.
7. Build Muscle (Mental)
Learning and playing a musical instrument of any kind has been linked to keeping the brain fit and flexible. Violin, with its focus on the left hand, the non-dominant hand for about 90% of the population, also specifically targets what is often the “weaker” half of the brain. Over time, daily violin practice builds new connections in the brain and strengthens and speeds up existing ones. And the benefits don’t end there: the manual and mental dexterity required to play the violin, if maintained into old age, also helps prevent senility and Alzheimer’s, keeping your wits sharp for the rest of your days.