Comments on: What's the best way to teach a child how to play the violin? http://violinlessonsonvideo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-teach-a-child-how-to-play-the-violin Learn to play Violin in every style imaginable Wed, 23 Feb 2011 05:11:38 +0000 hourly 1 By: Bartimaeus http://violinlessonsonvideo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-teach-a-child-how-to-play-the-violin/comment-page-1#comment-3546 Bartimaeus Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:45:19 +0000 http://violinlessonsonvideo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-teach-a-child-how-to-play-the-violin#comment-3546 Going along with the above answer with the Suzuki reference. Suzuki is great for children beginning the violin. Personally, I would teach posture first, and the various parts of the instrument to the child, so that he or she becomes acquainted with the instrument. Teach the open strings and then just build upon that by using some choices from the 1st suzuki book. I learned most of my early songs by ear, but it's still a good idea to introduce the child to sight-reading so they eventually become comfortable with the treble clef. When learning a more difficult song, choose more challenging sections out of the song to go over with the child. This helps the child learn the hard parts of a song before learning the rest of the song. It is best to use tapes on the fingerboard to mark the first, second and third finger placements for 1st position. Do not worry about 4th finger until a little bit later. According to the A string, the tapes should be lined up to fit B natural, C sharp and D natural. Tapes on the bow may also be used to teach the child to use the whole bow. Most children have a bad habit of only using the lower or upper halves of the bow. Teach the child to stand up straight, and to not allow their left elbow to rest on their waist. Good posture is important to teach early on. Really, there is no 'easiest way' to teach a child the violin. It really depends on how fast the child picks up the skill. Always remind them to practice! And it is always helpful for the child's parent to take notes while sitting in on the lesson. This will help them keep a structured practice, and the presence of a parent will help the child feel more secure with you as a new teacher. Going along with the above answer with the Suzuki reference. Suzuki is great for children beginning the violin. Personally, I would teach posture first, and the various parts of the instrument to the child, so that he or she becomes acquainted with the instrument. Teach the open strings and then just build upon that by using some choices from the 1st suzuki book. I learned most of my early songs by ear, but it’s still a good idea to introduce the child to sight-reading so they eventually become comfortable with the treble clef. When learning a more difficult song, choose more challenging sections out of the song to go over with the child. This helps the child learn the hard parts of a song before learning the rest of the song. It is best to use tapes on the fingerboard to mark the first, second and third finger placements for 1st position. Do not worry about 4th finger until a little bit later. According to the A string, the tapes should be lined up to fit B natural, C sharp and D natural. Tapes on the bow may also be used to teach the child to use the whole bow. Most children have a bad habit of only using the lower or upper halves of the bow. Teach the child to stand up straight, and to not allow their left elbow to rest on their waist. Good posture is important to teach early on.
Really, there is no ‘easiest way’ to teach a child the violin. It really depends on how fast the child picks up the skill. Always remind them to practice! And it is always helpful for the child’s parent to take notes while sitting in on the lesson. This will help them keep a structured practice, and the presence of a parent will help the child feel more secure with you as a new teacher.

]]> By: techfiddle http://violinlessonsonvideo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-teach-a-child-how-to-play-the-violin/comment-page-1#comment-3547 techfiddle Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:45:19 +0000 http://violinlessonsonvideo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-teach-a-child-how-to-play-the-violin#comment-3547 The easiest way is for you to take extensive training, yourself. Certainly an undergraduate degree in violin, and better, a Masters in violin performance (MM), along with some Suzuki training. If you have orchestral and chamber music experience, that helps also. The easiest way is for you to take extensive training, yourself. Certainly an undergraduate degree in violin, and better, a Masters in violin performance (MM), along with some Suzuki training. If you have orchestral and chamber music experience, that helps also.

]]> By: musicbethefruitoflove http://violinlessonsonvideo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-teach-a-child-how-to-play-the-violin/comment-page-1#comment-3548 musicbethefruitoflove Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:45:19 +0000 http://violinlessonsonvideo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-teach-a-child-how-to-play-the-violin#comment-3548 As a certified and "tried and true" suzuki teacher, don't attempt to do suzuki with this child if you haven't studied the method. I strongly believe that this is why suzuki gets a bad rap is when people who don't truely understand the method try to teach it. UGH. Try the Sassmannshaus method. I don't know much about it...but I think it would be more comfortable for you to use and the books are more readily available. The child is 6 so she'll be able to make the reading connection easily. As a certified and "tried and true" suzuki teacher, don’t attempt to do suzuki with this child if you haven’t studied the method. I strongly believe that this is why suzuki gets a bad rap is when people who don’t truely understand the method try to teach it. UGH.

Try the Sassmannshaus method. I don’t know much about it…but I think it would be more comfortable for you to use and the books are more readily available. The child is 6 so she’ll be able to make the reading connection easily.

]]> By: Psycho http://violinlessonsonvideo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-teach-a-child-how-to-play-the-violin/comment-page-1#comment-3549 Psycho Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:45:19 +0000 http://violinlessonsonvideo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-teach-a-child-how-to-play-the-violin#comment-3549 I started playing the cello when I was 5 (11 years). When I did, my mother found lessons from a tutor, and then after 3 years I mastered it, pretty much. My mom never forced me to practice. But learning an instrument took a lot of patients for me (I was only 5). I first learned playing position, then my notes: D, A, E, F#, G, B, C#, and G. Then I learned the D Major scale. After that, I learned the G Major scale, and after that, the C Major scale. Then I learned shifting (1st position, 2nd position, 3rd position... ect). I learned the 2 octave C major and 2 octave G major, and after that 3 octave C major. That's what I learned first. I started playing the cello when I was 5 (11 years). When I did, my mother found lessons from a tutor, and then after 3 years I mastered it, pretty much.

My mom never forced me to practice. But learning an instrument took a lot of patients for me (I was only 5).

I first learned playing position, then my notes: D, A, E, F#, G, B, C#, and G. Then I learned the D Major scale. After that, I learned the G Major scale, and after that, the C Major scale.

Then I learned shifting (1st position, 2nd position, 3rd position… ect). I learned the 2 octave C major and 2 octave G major, and after that 3 octave C major.

That’s what I learned first.

]]> By: cchamp27 http://violinlessonsonvideo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-teach-a-child-how-to-play-the-violin/comment-page-1#comment-3550 cchamp27 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:45:19 +0000 http://violinlessonsonvideo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-teach-a-child-how-to-play-the-violin#comment-3550 I agree with Bartimaeus except for 2 points. 1) It's not necessary to put tape on the fingerboard right off the bat. This is more a method for the public school teacher who's dealing with group lessons because if there's an intonation problem he/she can visually point it out and move on without losing time to hear everyone individually. If someone is starting privately, it's actually quite rare that the tape would in fact be necessary. You can't learn the fingerboard with your eyes anyway. 2) I would introduce the 4th finger sooner than the Suzuki method does, via some type of supplement. The 4th finger really helps shape the left hand correctly and will prevent - somewhat - establishing an early habit of the fourth finger flying aorund and curling up that will need to be corrected later Also no one has mentioned the fact that in the beginning, first start with pizzicato. This is very important because remembering wha tto do with both hands right away is extremely confusing and the finer points to remember for each hand will be forgotten. Let the student focus on the left hand first, and learn the first piece pizzicato before even talking about the bow. Then introduce bowing first with open strings I agree with Bartimaeus except for 2 points.

1) It’s not necessary to put tape on the fingerboard right off the bat. This is more a method for the public school teacher who’s dealing with group lessons because if there’s an intonation problem he/she can visually point it out and move on without losing time to hear everyone individually. If someone is starting privately, it’s actually quite rare that the tape would in fact be necessary. You can’t learn the fingerboard with your eyes anyway.

2) I would introduce the 4th finger sooner than the Suzuki method does, via some type of supplement. The 4th finger really helps shape the left hand correctly and will prevent – somewhat – establishing an early habit of the fourth finger flying aorund and curling up that will need to be corrected later

Also no one has mentioned the fact that in the beginning, first start with pizzicato. This is very important because remembering wha tto do with both hands right away is extremely confusing and the finer points to remember for each hand will be forgotten. Let the student focus on the left hand first, and learn the first piece pizzicato before even talking about the bow. Then introduce bowing first with open strings

]]>