Suzuki Violin - Discussion

[dasalo]

karmeleon:

By the way, I just use a pencil grip. S$2+ for packet of 6 or 8.
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The front grip is to guide the thumb placement, and the back grip near the screw is for the pinky finger. Personally I prefer to use only the back one to remind pinkie-placement. Easy to take off/on. The pencil grip fits my little one's slim small violin bow snugly.

Brilliant!

[r2010]

phankao:

r2010:

where to buy second hand violin?

Music essentials takes in violins that were previously bought from them as \"trade-ins\". And the boss said that they then sell the violins as 2nd-hand. You can check with them?

Thanks. Will check them oute

[butterflybee]

i am looking for a good, female (must be patient and encouraging) violin tr who can come to my home to teach my 2 kids using SUZUKI method. Any recommendation? I am also look for pre-own violins - synwin or prillante for 1/4 and 3/4. If you have one that you have no need of and in good condition (no breakage before, not dropped), i would be interested.

[TwettyKS]

Any recommendation which is a better music school for violin 1-to-1 for my kid (6 yrs):

- Mandeville
- Wolfgang Violin
- The Music & Ballet School
- Any other?

I am interested on an accelerated Violin program with dedicated teachers.

[smurf]

oe anyone know where to buy suzuki violin book 1 CD? DS1 lost the CD.

[micollh]

hi suzuki parents, any website or school that i can check out for suzuki violin ? Thanks

[sweetpea44]

smurf:

does anyone buy a violin (for own play) just to accompany your child along?

I did, as it was required for Suzuki violin lesson- accompanied parent has to have to violin too, to practise with the child during lesson and during home practice.

In the end, I took up violin lessons on my own and took the ABRSM grade 1 exam and scored Distinction

[Koolmama]

If you are looking for a Suzuki programme, Mac's classes at Mac's Music School is good (though expensive).


If you are looking to learn the traditional way, I recommend getting a good 1-2-1 private teacher.

My younger child attended Wolfgang for a few lessons but she did not like the programme (she was in Baby Beats). Pedagogically, I find them weak and a bit inconsistent. And I don't like the fact that they are using many \"cheap\" foreign staff to teach in the school. About 90% of their staff are Filipino or Lao/Myanmarese(?)

Their 1-2-1 lessons are also heavily overpriced. For $50 per half hour (and $60 registration fee, restricted make-up lessons) you get their filipino trainee teacher who looks like she just learnt violin in secondary school. My older child's (local) private teacher is ex-SSO and has played for dignitaries and performed for the President, PM, etc and he charges only $30 per half hour... If you want Mrs Lee to teach your child, she only teaches in groups of 3 students (i.e. you are paying about $50 per half hour to get 1/3 of her attention! Oh my!)

And if you don't get the Filipino admin staff (on the phone) who always talks like she doesn't understand your question, you get the other local girl who sounds too stuck-up :slapshead:

After I pulled my child out, I found out that a few of my friends had attended Baby Beats too but they did not continue for the second term.

TwettyKS:

Any recommendation which is a better music school for violin 1-to-1 for my kid (6 yrs):
- Mandeville
- Wolfgang Violin
- The Music & Ballet School
- Any other?

I am interested on an accelerated Violin program with dedicated teachers.

[Koolmama]

Actually I don't understand why parents want to go to music schools for 1-2-1 lessons. It is so much better learning from a private teacher in his house or your own house. At music schools, you have to pay registration fees, parking fees and rescheduling of make up lessons is often difficult or sometimes not even allowed. They also tend to sell violins at marked up prices (Wolfgang, for example, sell their cheapest violins at $280 whereas you can get the same quality from Synwin for only $120+). My child's private teacher is contactable via SMS 24 hours a day whenever we need to ask him any questions, and he even gives us advice on how to choose violins, bows etc (he is very knowledgeable about pedagogical issues and instrument-related issues) He will even come with you to help you choose and buy a violin, and help you get discounts. There are no registration fees to pay and his own fees are cheaper-per-minute when compared to those charged by music schools, And, he is also better qualified than most teachers I've seen in many music schools!


Just giving my honest feedback here

[phankao]

Koolmama:

My younger child attended Wolfgang for a few lessons but she did not like the programme (she was in Baby Beats). Pedagogically, I find them weak and a bit inconsistent. And I don't like the fact that they are using many \"cheap\" foreign staff to teach in the school. About 90% of their staff are Filipino or Lao/Myanmarese(?)

....And if you don't get the Filipino admin staff (on the phone) who always talks like she doesn't understand your question, you get the other local girl who sounds too stuck-up :slapshead:

My youngest did Baby Beats for 2 terms. I liked it when Teacher Annie taught. The Filipino teacher is alright. I liked the stress-free intro to violin. You CANNOT consider Baby Beats as a violin class at all. It's just a music playgroup with music dynamics & rhythm, just that violin is the focus for a few minutes of the class. There are some useful components like \"Bow Rocket\", \"Bow Bunny\", \"Finger Rock\", \"Windshield wiper\" ... etc. HOWEVER, like you've observed, they are not consistent. They should expand on these very useful finger/arm exercise sections that are focussed on future violin playing, but they only do it like once in a every few weeks. *sad*.

The stuck-up one you are referring to is probably \"Shien\". One of the Lee sisters. The youngest one, I think?!