FAQs
Do I have to Practice? I just want My lessons to Be fun!
Daily practice, or near daily practice, is necessary to make progress on any instrument. Although practicing can be tedious at times, it actually makes the instrument more fun! The more skills you learn, and the better you sound, the more you will come to love to play the instrument.
Students who practice inconsistently often struggle to remember how to do assignments, meaning that the next lesson will be a repeat of the previous lesson. They may start to forget previously learned skills, especially in the early stages of learning to play violin.
For musical enrichment activities that do not require daily practice, enroll your child in early childhood music classes and take them to concerts.
How Much Should I practice?
Students new to the violin and viola may practice 5-10 minutes per day, and gradually increase to 20-40 minutes per day. It is not uncommon for very advanced students to practice several hours per day.
For new beginners, consistency is more important than the amount of time. Try to practice every day, even if only a little bit.
Is It better to rent or buy My Instrument?
For young students, it is typically more economical to rent, rather than to buy an instrument. A 6 year old child may go through 3-4 different sizes before reaching the 4/4 size violin (typically around age 10-13). A student-grade violin outfit (such as Eastman brand) will cost around $1100, while renting is typically $17-20 a month.
Once the student has finished growing, it makes sense to buy an instrument, or enroll in a rent-to-buy program. The student can still trade in the violin later for a finer model.
Where Can I get a Violin or Viola?
It is always better to rent or buy your instrument from a violin shop (e.g. Violin Shop of Old Carmel or Indianapolis Violins) than from a big all-purpose music store (e.g. Music and Arts, Guitar Center). Violin shops know how to maintain the violins properly, how to choose the proper size, and are not more expensive than the big stores. Typically big stores are staffed by sales people rather than musicians, and will often make mistakes (like providing the wrong size instrument) or sell the student products that are unnecessary. Do not purchase or rent a violin from an online store!
Repairs and maintenance should always take place at a violin shop, never at a corporate music store.
Books and supplies can be bought at big music stores (when you already know what you are looking for), at the violin shop, or online. Shar Music, Johnson Strings, and Southwest Strings usually have better prices than Amazon for most violin accessories and supplies.
What is the Right Age to begin lessons?
There is no right age to start violin lessons. You can start at almost any age!
Ages 6 and under: It is not unheard of for students to begin lessons as early as 2 and a half. I usually do not recommend beginning lessons before age 4-6. Students under 6 typically require significant parental involvement.
Ages 6-10: A wonderful age to begin to learn violin (or any instrument). The child is usually emotionally ready for one-on-one lessons with a grown-up, shows enthusiasm for the instrument but is not terribly self-conscious, and can learn to practice on their own. Some parental involvement is occasionally necessary to guide practicing and help with more difficult skills, like tuning.
Ages 11-18: It is absolutely possible to begin lessons at this age. In my experience, preteens and teens can become frustrated and self-conscious more easily than small children. Sometimes they have friends that began lessons at much younger ages, and can feel that they are being treated “like a baby.” However, it is absolutely possible for students to begin as teens and still achieve a high level of playing. Do not be discouraged from enrolling a teenager in beginning lessons if they show enthusiasm!
Adults: I have taught beginning adults of all ages, from college students to those in their 70s.
Do I need to Be Able to Read music to Have Lessons?
No, you do not need to have any note-reading skills to begin lessons! Some students have already had lessons on another instrument like the piano, and may already have reading skills. Either way, we will initially learn our first songs and exercises by ear. The early lessons will focus on placing the fingers and drawing the bow correctly, rather than note-reading. Once the student has some grasp of violin mechanics, we will gradually introduce note-reading. Students will get worksheets as homework to practice reading skills.
It is not uncommon for teachers to delay note-reading until the student has already been playing violin for several years and has learned their songs by ear. I do not follow this approach as I think it is usually detrimental to the students progress to withhold reading skills for so long.
The best instrument for learning note-reading from scratch is the piano. This is because the note-reading system that we use is based on the keyboard configuration. I do not require my students to also take piano lessons (however it is encouraged if you have the time!) We will sometimes do keyboard time during the lesson to explain note-reading concepts.
Why Do My fingernails need to be short?
Short fingernails are essential to violin technique. We need our fingertips for precision and proper hand formation. Students should remember to clip their nails every week or so. Just like your wouldn’t wear high heels to go for a jog, you can’t have long fashion nails to play the violin!
For students for whom having long fashion nails is a priority, I recommend choir or dance as alternate activities.
Should I participate in My School’s ensemble if I’m already taking private lessons?
Yes, participation in school orchestra and outside ensembles is highly encouraged! Advanced students may also be encouraged to audition for more elite ensembles, such as the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra or the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra.
I am considering taking lessons in more than one instrument. Will that hinder my progress?
No, taking lessons on more than one instrument will not impede progress! The most common second instruments for violinists are the piano and the viola. Piano, in particular, is a great springboard for learning any instrument. However, it does become difficult to keep up lessons on two instruments as the student becomes increasingly committed to music. Most students will prefer one instrument over the other, and decide to focus on one.
I have a conflict with my regular lesson time! Now what?
Students should plan to have their lesson at the same day and time each week. Of course, that is not always possible. If you have a one-time conflict with your lesson, you can make it up any time in the future. 24 hours notice is required to receive the make-up lesson (exceptions may be made, such as with sudden illness or emergency).
If you need a new permanent day and time for your lesson, you may request a new time once per semester.
Can I have lessons every other week, or monthly, instead of every week?
Just as regular practicing is important to continue making progress and prevent regression, regular weekly lessons are also necessary. However, students preparing for a big audition or recital may sometimes request twice-weekly lessons.
Do I have to attend lessons with my child and help them practice?
Children 5 and under: parent/guardian should be present for the lessons, and be prepared to assist the child in practicing at home.
Children 6 and up: Parent/guardian should be present for the first several lessons. Parents should help students schedule practice time at home and give reminders. Parents may need to assist students in tuning the violin. Some students may benefit from parents being in the lessons, taking notes, and assisting with practice at home. Other students may prefer to be self-directed.