Teach Me How to Play Violin – Sourcing a Teacher

Once you make the decision that you or your child are going to learn to play violin, the next decision you need to make is how you are going to learn. For more on how to decide which form of learning the violin is for you see the article, violin course choices. If you then decide that live lessons in a classroom setting is what you prefer, then read on for some tips on sourcing a violin teacher.

Look to Schools First

The first place to start is your child’s school, if you have children. Many schools offer music programs and as an adult student there may be adult classes offered or you may be able to slot in with some of the student group classes depending on your schedule. Failing that, the teachers of these programs may take private students and you may be able to approach them privately or through the music teacher of that school.

Networking

In the States in particular, most music teachers have to be qualified in several different instruments, so the chances are the head music teacher at your children’s school, or at your local community high school has many contacts in the music world. Music is a great community activity and it is almost a sure bet they would be happy to point you in the right direction for sourcing a violin teacher, if they themselves are not available or qualified to take you on.

Music Schools

Another place to look is music schools. These colleges specifically cater towards music training. It is unlikely you would be accepted into Julliard as a complete beginner however if you honestly have the passion, ambition and the courage to approach the best, you have nothing to lose and possibly everything to gain. At the least, they will likely offer you some advice on how to proceed or what steps you should take to build towards your more ambitious goals in music.

Test the Teacher

Now when sourcing a teacher it is important to get a feel for their flow. Are they a personality you can relate well too? Do you understand the way they communicate? If there are personality conflicts or you disagree with the way they teach you are unlikely to learn much. Ask if you can sit in on a lesson or two to get a feel for whether their teaching style would be a good match for you and don’t make a rush decision. At the end of the day, your teacher will have a huge influence over your motivation, your technique, and even the kind of music you end up playing.

There are some things to look for when sitting in on a lesson. How much time is spent on technique? On fingering the notes, finding the right hand positions, correcting the arm position for bowing, learning scales and arpeggios, judging pitch. There needs to be a balance of teaching technique on a regular basis, but not letting it steal the fun of playing music. At the end of the day a passion for music, a sense of melody and expression, and creating a positive atmosphere of fun are more important that getting every single note right.