Beginning Violin Lessons

Yes, you can learn to play the violin!

And avoid squeaks and squawks of the typical beginner. How do we do that? By a honed curriculum with great explanations that plant the seeds of professionalism from your very first bow stroke.

Welcome Beginners

Since Violin Lab launched in 2009, our belief was that adults should learn how adults learn best; with depth, clarity, and highly structured content. 15 years later, Violin Lab is the leading platform for adults to reach their potential learning violin.

The course consists of technique lessons and exercises as well as a wide variety of easy pieces with play-along accompaniments.

Become a member

String Crossing Basic

BEGINNER LEVEL 1

String Crossings for the Left Hand

BEGINNER LEVEL 1

Hooked Bows

BEGINNER LEVEL 2

Folding to the Frog

BEGINNER LEVEL 4

Common Questions

Absolutely not! Is 60 or 70 too old to learn golf, knit or paint? How about learning to use your computer or smart phone? Assuming no unknown physical conditions, there’s nothing that should keep an older adult from learning the violin. Our brains are designed to learn throughout our entire lives. However, as with most anything in life, you’ll go as far as your own passion, practice and dedication will take you.

Master pedagogue Shinichi Suzuki created his method specifically for young children, and since its introduction in the US in the mid- to late-1960s, it has been recognized as a leading approach for nurturing talent in young players. However, many aspects of the Suzuki method are less suited for adult learners. The method’s emphasis on repetitive practice of a limited repertoire works well for children, but adults generally seek fresh challenges, diverse musical styles, and varied contexts. While all methods for teaching violin, whether Suzuki, ABRSM, or other traditional methods, all teach the same basic principles of violin technique, Violin Lab adapts to adult learners by bypassing the steps designed for children and presenting advanced concepts in manageable stages, enabling faster development of advanced technique.

How quickly you progress depends on how frequently and thoughtfully you practice. Based on how the harder working Violin Lab students have progressed in the past, you can expect to progress through the Fundamentals and Beginning Level 1 courses in 1 to 2 months. In a year’s time, with daily practice, you will finishing up the Beginning Levels and will be moving in to the Intermediate Levels.


That said, I hope you do not evaluate your experience by how quickly you can check off skills. Of course, the more you practice, the faster you will progress, but remember, the goal is to make sure your muscles learn good playing habits. This takes time. Be the tortoise, not the hare.

In the beginning weeks and months of learning, practicing for 15 minutes a day, two to three times, can help you make steady progress. Breaking up your practice sessions like this is important to avoid overtaxing your muscles, which will be adapting to new movements. The key to success, however, is consistency—practicing daily without skipping days is your most valuable learning tool. After a few months, aim to gradually increase your practice time to about an hour a day. Again, breaking this time into segments is ideal for maintaining focus and building your skills effectively. Be sure and check out our Ultimate Guide to Practicing as a Beginning Violin Learner blogpost.

While some Violin Lab members take private lessons or receive feedback from Beth Blackerby as Premium members, most students rely on their own judgment to determine when to advance. It’s natural to have some doubts, especially if you’re a perfectionist who worries about moving too quickly. Fortunately, Violin Lab provides resources and rubrics to help you self-assess your progress, so you can feel confident in your decision to take the next step.

Though Violin Lab was initially created for adult learners, many young students are also thriving on the platform. We believe an “adult learner” is defined by someone who takes responsibility for their own learning and practice, regardless of age. Children who are not self-motivated and whose extracurricular activities are managed by their parents may not find Violin Lab suitable and would benefit more from a school or local program.

What is included in my Violin Lab Membership?

One monthly price, access to ALL content

For an affordable $35per month, you will have instant access to all content on Violin Lab. This includes our carefully sequenced violin lesson curriculum, consisting of over 600 videos for all playing levels.


No need to buy books

All the repertoire on Violin Lab comes with downloadable files. There are PDF files for sheet music, audio files for practice, as well as worksheets and handouts.


Private video exchange

Premium and Premium Plus Members can upload a video for feedback from VL creator and master teacher, Beth Blackerby. These videos are private and are not shared with the community.


Play Along Accompaniments (“Interactive Music”)

Experience enhanced practice sessions with human-recorded accompaniments, presented on interactive players from Soundslice.com. This fantastic tool accelerates your musical learning and is seamlessly integrated into the lesson pages for repertoire training.

Members only Live classes

We hold regular live Zoom sessions covering a wide range of topics like: Dealing with Frustration, How to Listen more Critically to Violin Performances on YouTube, Troubleshooting Vibrato Trouble and more.

Community forum

Our Community page is a vibrant hub where members can connect, collaborate, and inspire each other. Share your experiences, seek guidance, and celebrate successes together through discussions, insights, and even video demonstrations.

Video exchange

Get personal feedback

Send in a video and get feedback and practice recommendations on your technique and repertoire skills by Beth Blackerby. You will get a video response within 2 to 3 business days after submission.
All videos are private and not shared with the community. Video Exchange is available with our Premium Plan.

See plans

Meet your instructor

Hello, I’m Beth Blackerby, the creator of Violin Lab. I launched the site in 2008, inspired by my belief that adults can develop basic skills in a manner used by professional players. 

Throughout this journey, I have continually refined my teaching methods to make violin learning more effective, and more importantly, enjoyable regardless of playing level. It is my unwavering commitment and mission to help every member reach their musical potential and realize their dream of playing the violin beautifully.

About

TAKE YoUR sKILLS to the next level

Start your membership today!

All plans include

  • Access to all Video Lesson Content
  • Sheet Music and Audio File Downloads
  • Play-Along Practice Players

Basic Plan
35$/month

Give Violinlab a try with our Bacic plan. Access all Video Lesson Content, Sheet Music and Audio File Downloads.

Auto renew, cancel anytime. Upgrade or downgrade as needed.

Select Basic

Premium Plan
65$/month

With the Premium Plan you will get Video Exchange Lessons with Beth once a month.

Auto renew, cancel anytime. Upgrade or downgrade as needed.

Select Premium

Premium Plus Plan
95$/month

With the Premium Plus Plan you’ll get weekly Video Exchange Lessons with Beth.

Auto renew, cancel anytime. Upgrade or downgrade as needed.

Select Premium Plus