Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which instruments did Arnold Schoenberg play in his youth?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

In his youth, Arnold Schoenberg learned to play several string instruments, which facilitated his early interest in composition. Before the age of nine, he began playing the violin, composing small pieces for two violins to perform with his teacher or a cousin.1

Later, encouraged by his friend and mentor Oskar Adler, Schoenberg learned to play the cello so that his circle of friends could perform string quartets. He continued to play the cello in the amateur orchestra Polyhymnia, where he met the composer and conductor Alexander von Zemlinsky.1