I would love to learn the violin.  Do you play any instruments?
I've played the violin for a few years, or as they like to say the fiddle. It's a lovely little wooden string instrument
Do you know how old the modern violin is?
It's about 400 years old. It's the smallest and highest pitched instrument that is regularly used.
Thats fascinating.  Do you think it is the most popular stringed instrument?
I don't know about most popular, but it is an important instrument in a wide variety of music genres.
I agree with you there.  Im thinking maybe guitar is the most popular with violin a close second.  I used to play the cello so I would be interested in trying violin.  Have you any tips?
strings, though it can also be played by plucking the strings with the fingers (pizzicato) and by striking the strings with the wooden side of the bow (col legno). 
Violins are important instruments in a wide variety of musical genres. They are most prominent in the Western classical tradition, both in ensembles (from chamber music to orchestras) and as solo instruments and in many varieties of folk music, including country music, bluegrass music and in jazz. Electric violins with solid bodies and piezoelectric pickups are used
who have God-given talent, say, "To hell with them." It doesn't make any difference, you know. And I want to say one more thing. From what I see what's happened since I was last here... what, 16 years ago? Twelve years ago. From what I've seen to happen with the type of news that they print in this town shocked me. And do you know what is devastating? It's old-fashioned. It was done in America and England