All About Violin Classes and Teachers

[Dreamaurora]

r2010:

Thanks for replying at my query. I don't have music background so have to rely on others....


He is very motivated learner and I think as he is already Sec1 and next year sec 2 so he is more serious on his learning. As I do not have any music background, so I told him that he must be serius if not it will be a waste of time and money.

Hi phankoa,
If he takes grade 5 - do he need to take the theory exams first. Can I register him to take theory exam in this February - March? The reason why I was thinking of grade 4 in next July-Sept because he has not taken theory grade 5 yet and I thought without theory grade 5, you cannot take practical grade 5. Really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks

Hi Dreamaurora,

If you read my post I said he has passed his grade 2 after learning for 5 months. Now I am deciding on which grade to take for Jul-Sept, which mean he has about 10 months to 1 year to practice. I am not sure what you are puzzled at.

Let me just ask you a couple questions to clarify my doubts as I am really still puzzled:
1. Did your son take grade 2 ABRSM or the exam is an internal/mock one?
2. Did you register your son for grade 2 exam even before starting any violin lessons?

Older beginners like your son generally can pick up an instrument much faster, especially if they have some music exposure e.g. choir, band. For violin, there are quite a few cases of grade 5 within one year that I heard. For piano, rare, but still doable. Your son is sec 1 going to sec 2. Students this age are normally quite self-motivated and will want to do well. My teenagers and adults students actually request to take exams to challenge themselves. So I suggest you let the decision rests with him and his teacher. You can express your wish to him and his teacher, but ultimately he must be willing to push himself.

[phankao]

Dreamaurora:

1. Did your son take grade 2 ABRSM or the exam is an internal/mock one?
2. Did you register your son for grade 2 exam even before starting any violin lessons?.

I suspect that the son started lessons in Feb, and then teacher though why not register for g2 exam. A sec 2 should be able to handle. So by the time he took exam in July/Aug, it was 5mths or at most 5+mths, lor.

[Dreamaurora]

phankao:

Dreamaurora:

1. Did your son take grade 2 ABRSM or the exam is an internal/mock one?
2. Did you register your son for grade 2 exam even before starting any violin lessons?.

I suspect that the son started lessons in Feb, and then teacher though why not register for g2 exam. A sec 2 should be able to handle. So by the time he took exam in July/Aug, it was 5mths or at most 5+mths, lor.

Possible I guess, although personally I will not attempt to enter students for exams immediately after starting lessons as normally I have strict requirements of what has to be completed before registration closes. But I guess some teachers like take risks.

[phankao]

Dreamaurora:

phankao:

[quote=\"Dreamaurora\"]
1. Did your son take grade 2 ABRSM or the exam is an internal/mock one?
2. Did you register your son for grade 2 exam even before starting any violin lessons?.

I suspect that the son started lessons in Feb, and then teacher though why not register for g2 exam. A sec 2 should be able to handle. So by the time he took exam in July/Aug, it was 5mths or at most 5+mths, lor.

Possible I guess, although personally I will not attempt to enter students for exams immediately after starting lessons as normally I have strict requirements of what has to be completed before registration closes. But I guess some teachers like take risks.[/quote]My son's teacher entered him for g4 violin exam shortly after starting to teach him in Feb too last time (5yrs ago already - haha). I was quite shocked. But then again, my son was not a new to the violin, having learnt 1yr then. Only that he just started taking lessons with this teacher.

[Dreamaurora]

phankao:

My son's teacher entered him for g4 violin exam shortly after starting to teach him in Feb too last time (5yrs ago already - haha). I was quite shocked. But then again, my son was not a new to the violin, having learnt 1yr then. Only that he just started taking lessons with this teacher.

One of violinists I know say that if you are talented in violin, you can easily clear grade 5 from beginner within one year. I guess can see why he said that.

[phankao]

Dreamaurora:

phankao:

My son's teacher entered him for g4 violin exam shortly after starting to teach him in Feb too last time (5yrs ago already - haha). I was quite shocked. But then again, my son was not a new to the violin, having learnt 1yr then. Only that he just started taking lessons with this teacher.

One of violinists I know say that if you are talented in violin, you can easily clear grade 5 from beginner within one year. I guess can see why he said that.

It may actually not be as easy as it seems lah. Grade 1 & 2 are all played in 1st position. I'm not sure - but I think Grade 3 also 1st position, or maybe some easy position change only. Definitely by Grade 4 have to change Left Hand positions. Grade 5 need to add in vibrato. It may not be that easy to acquire a natural vibrato within a few months to handle the grade 5 pieces.

That being said, it depends on how the teacher structures the lessons in guiding the student to progress well. I've seen the difference between my son's 1st violin teacher who taught him for over a year and his 2nd teacher who continued teaching him for past 5 yrs until now.

[billymarsh123]

Just something to keep in mind: Here in MN, it seems like a few violin teachers (at least the ones I’ve met) charge upfront for a block of 10 lessons or so. It made it easier than having to get paid each session. I think I paid $200 for a block of 10 30-minute lessons a few years ago, but the teacher was pretty inexperienced.

[littleolde]

Hi there,


I do not seem to wish I am advertising but if you are looking for a qualified vioin teacher, please do refer to http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=41505

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries.

Warmest regards
Mr Kwek

[HyperKiasu]

billymarsh123:

Just something to keep in mind: Here in MN, it seems like a few violin teachers (at least the ones I've met) charge upfront for a block of 10 lessons or so. It made it easier than having to get paid each session. I think I paid $200 for a block of 10 30-minute lessons a few years ago, but the teacher was pretty inexperienced.

a parent told me she paid $180 per 30mins for her DD's violin lesson...... i was :yikes:
perhaps if the kids are talented, then it warrant a good teacher and the $...

[joyofmusic]

Every kid warrants a good teacher.

You won’t know if your kid is talented unless he has been taught well. In other words, if your kid is actually talented but you sent him to a so-so teacher because you thought he was not talented, he will remain just so-so and you will always think him not talented. A good teacher can maximise the potential of a child. However, a good teacher need not be exorbitant.I am sure there are good teachers out there whose fees are less than $180 for 30 min.