Joyymum:

Anyone applied DSA to ACSI via music and got CO or WL?


Can share more details on the audition/ interview part?

Thanks!

My boy applied via music/violin. He attended an audition cum short interview.

Other schools like ri and ch, will include a written music theory exam (45min to 1hour) on top of those.

Even bows come in different size range. When you draw a bow straight (must be straight), and with an almost fully stretched right arm, that point on the bow (may not be the tip), is the full bow point for you at that moment. You can try putting a sticker or indicator there, so that your child knows that he should play to that point for a full bow. There was once a professor even put a paper clip on my boy’s bow hair at that point, to prevent him from playing beyond and trying to reach the tip.

waiyean:

How long does a 1/2 size violin last? My girl's 1/4 size violin lasted for 1.5 years, and now it's time to upgrade to the next size. What comes after 1/2 size... 3/4? Do most students go to 3/4 or do they go full size directly?

Just sharing from personal point of view, I think its advisable that kids should only play violins of the right size. From experience, using an oversized or undersized (not as much but will affect intonation) violin, increases the risk of negatively affecting their posture, left hand shape, muscle development. It can affect the development of their vibrato since the fingerboard will be thicker in a bigger violin. For the players who are playing intermediate to advanced repertoire at a younger age especially, it can restrict their \"free-ness\" and ability to vibrate well in high positions unless they have big hands and long fingers.

The rate of upsizing depends on the growth rate of the child and can differ from year to year. I have seen younger kids than mine upsizing much faster and playing bigger instrument. My boy plays 1/2 size for almost 3 years till he is p3. Even within a particular size, the violin sizes come in a range, use the violin back and overall lengths to gauge. There are bigger 1/2 and smaller 1/2, same goes for all other sizes.

Also don't forget the bow. It should be of the right size too and my personal view is that it don't necessarily have to follow the upsizing rate of the violin. I think playing an oversized bow is undesirable for a proper bow hold and bow control. Playing bow that is not of the right balance can place too much pressure on their developing arms and fingers. The balance of the bow and the weight it felt to the child is important. Perhaps can try changing violin and then eventually bow.

muska,


thanks for the compliment.

Imami,


To me, a good teacher is one who is strict/firm (and he must have the right technique himself) and yet very patient and encouraging. A good posture and right technique lays the foundation for future advanced repertoire.

The young beginner will definitely not be able to get it right easily, thus teacher and parents must both be very encouraging and kept reminding him every day. Its a journey.

You do not need to settle for less. If you are not satisfied with the first teacher that is constantly cancelling class and not correcting vital posture/technique problem, or the one that is showing impatience and may be discouraging your son, look for others. There are good teachers around definitely and they made the world of difference in how far your son will go on this instrument. One guide to know the teacher, is to see his fruits. Listen to how his other students who had been with him for sometimes are playing and how far they had gone. And to know how a good player should play like, one way may be to search the youtube for young talented players… and u will see what the end result should look like.

The most important is that in order to stay and do well in this instrument, vital foundation in posture and technique must be laid right from the first day. With a good teacher, the child can stay very interested yet progress well. Pushing through foundation steps hastily will one day cause road blocks that is very very hard to overcome.

And how long a child takes to complete suzuki book 1 is dependent on the child’s age when he begins, how developed his motor skills are at that point, his practise time, your involvement and his hearing ability, and how good the teacher wants each piece to sound like and of course the posture built up. So it varies from person to person. My son took around 1 year to complete suzuki book 1 when he started at around 2+. After that, the progress became very fast, he finishes book 2 and 3 in a year or less…

Hope this helps.

Hi, it would be great if your son's teacher can select the violin for him. Sometimes among the lower cost range violins, you can find one with a nice tone, volume, strength and well worth the price. As these are so called factory made normally, the skill of the maker can differ much Depending on the repertoire that he is playing, he will have different need on the violin. The teacher would know best if you are not experienced in instrument selection.

phankao:

Really need so expensive instrument to do Diploma, meh? What if the student cannot afford? Never hear my son's teacher comment that the lower-priced instrument cannot be used? Mine used S$2.5k violin and now S$1.4k viola for diploma....

For exams, probably not so particular, especially since most full size violins naturally have better tone/volume than fractional violins already. The small little exam room do not need such projection and brightness. Depending on the venue, some small rooms even aids resonance. Examiners with their experience, also would probably take into account that we are not playing professional grade instruments.

But of course a violin with a slight differential sweeter tone, definitely makes the hours of practice sessions more enjoyable. Other people who are buying more professional instruments are playing in big concert halls or competitions. It helps to project in a big room.

What's not discussed here is finding a good bow. I think a good bow would be important when preparing for grade 8/dip.

Dream,


I came across a site in German called Corilon. 30 days trial and 100% trade in value. Generally selling trade violins from France and Germany in the 1900s. They have sound sample and the owner do make recommendations too. Check it out.

Full size maybe can also try gramercy? They do stock full size European violin.

Dino,


Which is the online shop you had bought from?

Dino,


Depends where you buy it online. It’s hard to determine how good the violin is online and without playing it. Labels are not accurate in determine authenticity cos its known to be transferred or copied. At least look for those with guaranteed trial period.