All About Violin Classes and Teachers

[phankao]

meiah:

Think 2 yr old can lah. but maybe no tune. My 2-yr dd tried with a plastic violin. whenever my ds violin tr come to our house, she will take the toy, stuff it under her neck and use the bow to move on the strings and move her little bum left n right. After that. got no sound, gave it to the tr to tune!!

I don't want to give plastic violin lah. Spoil their expectation, I think(!). How much does a 1/64 violin cost? 2yo can't be using 1/32 violin, can they? I don't have small violins at home.

[metz]

meiah:

Think 2 yr old can lah. but maybe no tune. My 2-yr dd tried with a plastic violin. whenever my ds violin tr come to our house, she will take the toy, stuff it under her neck and use the bow to move on the strings and move her little bum left n right. After that. got no sound, gave it to the tr to tune!!

The moving bum really got me. :lol: Very cute girl you have there.
[quote]My ds1 started violin at end of p1 (7 yo) and now going grade5. Ds2 took piano at 6 but he like got no hope. last year switch to violin but also like no hope... so i suppose if not musically inclined, whatever age also maybe a bit difficult.[/quote]Actually I read that some smart kids may not do well in music. They tend to be fast learners but not patient, aka not hardworking, enough to perfect their skills. So, maybe your ds2 falls under this category.

[meiah]

chamonix:

The moving bum really got me. :lol: Very cute girl you have there.

Actually I read that some smart kids may not do well in music. They tend to be fast learners but not patient, aka not hardworking, enough to perfect their skills. So, maybe your ds2 falls under this category.

Ds2.. hmm... actually, he's really hardworking and serious in his work but also very slow. Take long time to understand academic stuff, esp maths. For music, I think even worse, 1 yr plus on the piano, he can only play jingle bells!

My dd really handful lor. Dun want to go sch will hide sch bag! Or else is stand and pretend to sleep. 3 adults at home can't get her to sch for 4 days this wk already!!!
[quote]I don't want to give plastic violin lah. Spoil their expectation, I think(!). How much does a 1/64 violin cost? 2yo can't be using 1/32 violin, can they? I don't have small violins at home. [/quote] My toy violin, she found it in the toy box. Not intended for her to try violin like that lah. Actually hope she will do piano next time, my piano still waiting for a player!! Actually, my dizi and elect guitar also looking for hopeful musicians in my house! I think the violin size they must go measure arm length. A bit hard to say what size to use. Price also depend on make. Some of those cheaper ones, press the strings already fingers very pain. I paid $280 for 1/4 violin. maybe 1/64 cheaper? Not sure abt that cos never check that size b4.

[fristrom]

My 4.5 yrs old daughter has been with a private teacher for about 6 months: not suzuki method, but using suzuki book. She is almost at the end of suzuki book 1 (Etude) and learnt grade 1 scale + arpeggio.


What I like to know is whether this progress is "normal". She has recently been introduced to sight reading but as she can’t really read notes, I found it quite stressful.

[phankao]

chamonix:

Try this music school, http://www.wolfgangviolin.com/class.html , by Min Lee and her mom.

So anyone try this wolfgang? I enquired and they don't actually have classes for 2yo, only music playgroup. But then they go around advertising that Min Lee started violin at 2yo ... :?

[metz]

phankao:

chamonix:

Try this music school, http://www.wolfgangviolin.com/class.html , by Min Lee and her mom.

So anyone try this wolfgang? I enquired and they don't actually have classes for 2yo, only music playgroup. But then they go around advertising that Min Lee started violin at 2yo ... :?

Min Lee's mother plays the violin herself, so it's no wonder Min Lee started at 2 (think 2.5 years old, to be exact http://www.yale.edu/opa/arc-ybc/v28.n15/story3.html).
Mr Kang ever mentioned teaching her when she was just a little girl. Erm, he still calls her by the name Huei Min.

[metz]

fristrom:

My 4.5 yrs old daughter has been with a private teacher for about 6 months: not suzuki method, but using suzuki book. She is almost at the end of suzuki book 1 (Etude) and learnt grade 1 scale + arpeggio.


What I like to know is whether this progress is \"normal\". She has recently been introduced to sight reading but as she can't really read notes, I found it quite stressful.

Hi fristrom,

I went through your stage too, wondering what the normal progress is. After 2 years, I realised it all depends on what your objectives are.

For Suzuki Book 1, a child may take about a year (plus or minus a few months) to complete the entire book, depending on the teachers. Some teachers may use the book as beginner material while others may expect more than just playing out the notes (especially the last few songs) from their students.

The speed in completing the book is not important. What's more important are areas such as posture, bowing techniques (is she able to bow straight while playing? Or does her bow move like a wiper? scratchy bowing, bouncing etc), intonation, fingerings, pitch and so forth.

For young kids, hearing is important in the beginning, less so as they progress. So, it's important that you train your daughter to sight read well.

[fristrom]

Hi chamonix,


Thanks for your reply. Guess I was not clear when I asked the question.

My daughter is now at the stage that if there are fingerings with the notes, she can play through without much problem. But if you ask her to name the notes, she can’t tell C from E.

Sight reading is a frustrating experience when you can’t read the notes and my concern is whether her teacher is going too fast. I am still tossing between trusting the teacher’s experience or my gut feeling.

regards,
fristrom

[doristan77]

hi, anyone has contact for a violin teacher who is patient & good with children?


I’m fine with going to the teacher’s house if its around town or bishan/toa payoh area, or it will be better that the teacher can come to my place in town area…

[Starrenee]

Hi. Can anyone recommend a good violin teacher who can come to house to do 1 to 1? My gal is 6yo. I live at the east near Parkway. Pls pm me. Thanks in advance.