In the course of playing and learning violin, everyone develops their own style. The style you will develop is based on your natural abilities, who you learn from, and what genres you wish to play in. Even violinists who can play well in all genres, they will have one they will specialize in. In this article you will learn how to choose and develop your style of playing the violin.
Start with what made you want to learn to play violin. It can be as simple as you loving a particular song or group in many cases. If that is indeed what made you desire to play, is the emulation of that group your sole reason for playing? If that is your only reason to learn, you have decided on your style. This test will also work if you wanted to learn in a broader sense. Yes, natural ability does play into it, but desire to learn will supersede your natural style.
You must also choose a violin that reflects your style. There are some standards that set all violins alike, but there are some differences that lend some more to certain styles than others. For casual play, this doesn't need to be a big investment. Since violins are versatile this isn't a big worry, but there are two major options. These options are the traditional and the electric violin. You will have the ability to play on either, but one will push you more to play certain styles of songs than the other.
Next on the list is finding a teacher whose style reflects the style you wish to learn in. Be sure to ask about their style as well as their experience, music career, and any awards they may have in the field when you are seeking an instructor. Their natural style isn't critical, as long as they can play in your style well. It is better to have a higher level teacher with a different style specialization than a lower level teacher whose style matches yours. This is assuming you're at a level of playing where you would benefit most from this sort of one on one teaching. If you are just on the basics, you can learn through almost any medium.
You don't necessarily have to have face to face lessons. Sometimes you can find skilled instructors to learn from in courses. These are often substantially cheaper and you will be able to learn from higher level violinists in general. A popular example is the online course from Eric Lewis of the Manhattan String Quartet. It costs less than thirty dollars and covers almost every style. It is called Violin Master Pro.
It is key not to let your passion waver as you play. Many lose their drive along the way. This threat can often be eliminated by surrounding yourself with music and people who remind you why you play. Absorb the mindset of higher level violinists if at all possible. Many times it is hard to get access to such players. You can absorb some online from the course mentioned earlier, but it is better to get closer to the individual and be able to talk to them. Go to concerts of violinists you like and talk to them after if you can. With smaller orchestras, you are more likely to have this opportunity. This is really all about making sure you continue to practice and develop though.