Violin Lessons in Fresno, CA

Instruments: Violin

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Advice I have for practicing effectively is to have a consistent routine and try to practice for at least 30 minutes a day outside of lessons. I have also learned that recording yourself and listing can help with discovering intonation that can be improved. Also paying attention to the dynamics and articulation when practicing is important as well. One thing that I highly emphasize is the importance of practicing at a slower tempo just to make sure notes are in tune, fingerings are correct, and that bowings are correct as well. After all of that is perfected, try and raise the tempo higher until you are at the correct tempo of the song.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
Readiness for music is not defined by the age of the child. I have found that some children can be ready to begin at three years while some may not be ready for lessons at six years. Ensure that you check for signs of readiness before you enroll the child for music lessons. The first sign of mental readiness is if the child can tell between their left hand and their right hand. The violin is played using both of the hands. The violin notes are played on the left hand while the bowings are on the right hand. Thus, a child must distinguish which hands they will use. Patience is also another important aspect to consider in terms of mental readiness. Typically, your child must be able to sit still for at least 15 minutes at a time. It is why some children can begin lessons at three years while some have to wait until they are six years. Besides being able to sit/stand through a lesson, they will also need to sit/stand at home and practice. Although each teacher is different, I recommend that a lesson takes about 30 minutes and increases from there. Another important determinant is if the child can read. Although I have children who cannot read, learning the violin is usually much harder for them. Ensure that your child can identify the letters of the alphabet when they begin their lessons. The child does not have to know all the letters of the alphabet. Just the first seven, which are used as the musical alphabet. A,B,C,D,E,F,G. You can tell that a child is ready for music lessons if they can count. The note counts for beginner lesson go up to four. It is important that the child can count up to ten before they begin the violin lessons. Since music is based on a mathematical pattern, it will be easier on the child if they can count.

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