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Practicing the Violin Transformation through the Violin

Why study a musical instrument?

study of the violin is transformational

How a violin practice transforms your life.

1. Learning how to truly master specific skills leads to a fulfilled life.
2. Motions and actions are how you shape your basic approach to the instrument. Using simplicity, ease and mastery moves you through life gracefully.
3. Practice is defining specific goals. Defining. Specific. Constant clarity.
4. Practice strategies are the pathway to your mastery. Thus choosing work that matters and doing that work mindfully, will produce a high quality result.
5. Performing is creating work that is important to other people. Like sales and marketing hinges on understanding others interests, problems and aspirations.
6. Performing is also facing up to your challenges. Life presents us with such challenges on a regular basis.
7. Choosing the violin (or any instrument) teaches you to define and implement large projects.

The violin or any instrument becomes transformational when (and only when) you approach it from this larger perspective.

If you’re in it just to learn a couple of songs, that’s OK too. Just don’t expect any more than a quick diversion.

By Bill Alpert

Bill Alpert is a performer, teacher and author with a unique focus on personal development and mindfulness viewed through the lens of violin study. Mr. Alpert's resume includes recordings, performances and film scores with artists such as The Moody Blues, Pepe Romero, Tina Turner and Johnny Mathis. The co-founder of the award winning Alpert Studio of Voice and Violin in California, he is professionally active in the American String Teachers Association and the Suzuki Association of America.

2 replies on “Why study a musical instrument?”

Hi! This is too true. The violin, according to my very incredible teacher, is the most difficult instrument to learn. I find that the more I work with it and listen to what he teaches me, the more amazed I am at how it changes other opportunities in my life.
Also, it creates in me, a more sensitive ear. I learn to hear the notes, to move with grace in achieving the sound I want to play…and feel like a winner when I hear myself do better. I had shattered my right wrist in an accident 4 months ago, and now am finally getting back into the action. Never surrender…you are learning how to sing within, and accomplishing something too amazing to enjoy all of your life!

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