He'd Mastered Banjo, Mandolin, Pedal Steel… Then He Tried the Violin

Rick is a retired engineer with a 48-year career, a former engineering teacher at a magnet high school, and a retired martial arts instructor who taught what we now call MMA before it had that name. He's also a lifelong musician — percussion starting at age 12, piano, guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, dobro, pedal steel. He spent his late teens and twenties playing professionally in road bands up and down the East Coast.Despite playing with all these other stringed instruments, he'd never touched the violin until this year.In this conversation, Rick shares what it's really like to come to the violin as a lifelong musician — and why, despite all his experience on other strings, it took him by surprise. He talks about the moment he almost gave up, the mindset that got him through the screechy beginner phase, and a practice approach so simple and counterintuitive that it stopped me in my tracks: 10 to 15 minutes at a time, multiple times a day. That's it. It turns out neuroscience research backs this up — but Rick figured it out simply because he lives on a farm and never has a free hour in a row.In this episode:How a 48-year engineering career, martial arts, and decades of music all shaped Rick's approach to learning something newWhy violin felt uniquely difficult even after mastering guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro, and pedal steel — and the specific reason most stringed-instrument players don't see comingThe "doghouse" story (and why this time, Rick gets to practice inside the house)His simple, sustainable practice habit — and the research from Peabody Conservatory that supports itThe mindset that got him past the screechy beginner phase ("I'm not a quitter — I'll at least get to Twinkle Twinkle")His first improv jam session on violin, and what it taught him about playing in front of othersHis advice for anyone stuck in the scratchy phase and tempted to put the violin downIf you've ever felt like you "should" be picking the violin up faster than you are — whether you've played other instruments or not — Rick's story is the encouragement you didn't know you needed.🎻 Learn Violin with MeWhether you're picking up the violin for the very first time or returning after a long break, you don't have to figure it out alone.🌟 Join my free community for adult violin learners — a warm, encouraging space to learn alongside others on the same journey. [Join here] 📋 Download the free Perfect Position Checklist — a simple guide to playing with proper position with your violin, bow, and body the right way from day one. Also includes free sheet music with all of my fingerings included. [Download here]Learn more at oberlinviolinstudio.com