how Hard is It For a Violinist to Learn Piano?

At Alexandria Music Studio, we help students with both violin and piano lessons. Some students prefer to focus on just one instrument, while others want to “double” on a second instrument.

But how much knowledge carries from the violin to the piano? Are you basically learning a new instrument from scratch? This blog will discuss the challenges of doubling on the piano, what concepts will carry over, and what you will need to focus on. If you would like information about piano lessons in Alexandria or violin lessons (or both), please get in touch.

Concepts That a Violinist Already Knows

Both Pianists and Violinists Read Music Written for "C" Instruments

A violinist learning the piano benefits from the fact that both instruments typically read music written for "C" instruments. Unlike instruments such as the alto saxophone, where written notation differs from the “concert pitch,” a violinist can generally pick up a piano score and recognize the notes as they are played. Obviously, keep in mind that violins are often tuned in different keys depending on the piece or the needs of the performance. But while the violin is a transposing instrument in certain settings, standard notation is the same as piano.

You Should Already Understand Sharps, Flats, and Other Musical Notation

As with all instrumentalists, violinists already have experience with sharps, flats, and other standard notation. This makes reading piano music easier. The biggest adjustment will come in understanding how these notations apply to a keyboard layout rather than the fingerboard of a violin. Additionally, pianists must sometimes read accidentals across multiple notes at once! However, the fundamental knowledge of how notes interact remains the same.

You Have a Basic Grasp of Music Theory and Dynamics

Your music theory knowledge will transfer directly to the piano. Violinists already understand concepts like scales, chord progressions, and musical phrasing. However, the piano demands a greater understanding of harmony since both hands play multiple notes at the same time. And pianists must often control volume between hands, making one hand softer while the other plays more prominently (we would call this “voicing” in the classical music world).

What's Different From the Violin to Piano?

The Piano Requires that You Read the Bass Clef

Violin music is written almost exclusively in treble clef, while piano music requires fluency in both treble and bass clefs simultaneously. This is one of the hardest transitions. Learning to read the lower register takes time, but with practice, it will become second nature. Some violinists may find this transition similar to adjusting to alto clef when playing viola.

You'll Have to Read More Notes at the Same Time

On the violin, a musician typically plays one note at a time, with occasional double stops or chords. The piano, however, demands the ability to read and interpret multiple notes in both hands simultaneously. This means developing the skill to scan music vertically as well as horizontally. It’s not easy, but you will get the hang of it fairly quickly compared to folks who have never played an instrument.

Coordination of Both Hands

Violinists already have a strong sense of two-handed coordination, using the left hand for finger placement and the right hand for bowing. However, piano introduces a different kind of coordination. Instead of one hand focusing on articulation while the other controls pitch, both hands must operate independently (yet still cohesively!) to produce melodies, accompaniment patterns, and different rhythms. This will also take daily practice, but if you can learn the violin, you can learn to play the piano with both hands.

Learn to Incorporate Your Foot - Pedaling

You’ll need to learn how to use your foot to control the pedals on a piano. This is an art form unto itself, and for those who have never practiced using the pedal, they can easily turn a nice piece of music into a murky mess.

Learn How Notes Correspond to Keys

You will need to commit the keys on the piano to memory. Then, you’ll have to map notes on the staff to the keys on the piano, and practice until this becomes second nature. But if you can learn finger placements on the violin, you should be able to master this fairly quickly.

If You've Learned Violin, You Can Learn Piano

The biggest advantage a violinist has when learning piano is the discipline of practice and the experience of mastering an instrument. The transition requires adjustments, but violin is one of the most challenging instruments to learn. A violinist who has developed strong technical skills, sight-reading ability, and ear training can apply those skills to piano with confidence. While learning to play with both hands and incorporating bass clef reading takes time, existing knowledge of music theory and notation shortens the learning curve. A violinist picking up piano will likely progress faster than someone with no musical background.