| Author | |
DianaC
Forum Pro
Joined: March 27 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 404
|
| Posted: Feb 26 2009 at 10:50am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
My daughter is in her second year of violin lessons and she has long since lost all interest in them. She loves the violin as an instrument and loves the music, so I'm wondering if it is just the technique or style of the lesson that has contributed to her deep rut.
Her teacher is very stern and I have to admit that there is no joy in the lesson itself. And it seems to be turning into a nasty cycle: my dd has lost her enthusiasm and doesn't progress well with her practices, then her teacher shows her disappointment and shows no encouragement.
Also, since she is playing alone, in contrast to playing with a school group, she never gets to hear a violin being played (as a live, single instrument). Her teacher had brought out her violin and played with my dd maybe two or three times last year, but hasn't played at all this year.
Is this the typical format for lessons, or could I expect to find a more dynamic lesson approach?
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
PDyer
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 25 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1043
|
| Posted: Feb 26 2009 at 12:38pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Both my kids play the violin. We started out with both kids taking lessons from a Suzuki-inspired teacher who played with them through their entire lesson. My daughter is still taking lessons from this teacher. I think she's in her third year (she's seven).
My son (age 12) has since moved on (due to scheduling constraints, not a problem with the original teacher) to a classical violin teacher. This teacher also has his violin out during the lesson, but he doesn't play everything with Matthew. Instead, he demonstrates a piece or technique for my son, and my son repeats the demonstration (to the best of his ability  ). Sometimes they play duets. The approach is much different than the other teacher's, but he does play during Matthew's lessons.
I hope this helps.
__________________
Patty
Mom of ds (7/96) and dd (9/01) and two angels (8/95 and 6/08)
Life at Home
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Alison
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 15 2005
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 165
|
| Posted: Feb 27 2009 at 12:47am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Our three youngest children learn violin with a Suzuki trained teacher. Their teacher has a seeing-eye dog which was a great novelty for the youngest when he started.it was also good for the second oldest as I could point out that their teacher had to overcome obstacles to learn to play(the reward of perseverance!!)
She is a Christian and holds a concert once a year for the older people in her church. The local suzuki organisation also has several concerts throughout the year. So the children play and also get to listen to others, both beginners and those who are now teachers in their own right!
Every lesson their teacher will play along with them some part of what they are learning. With my daughter this now involves them playing different parts of a piece(did I say that right!).Their teacher is a very quiet person and does not relish playing solos at concerts but she has started to do this more to encourage her pupils...and they love her for it. Actually we all love our violin lessons, there have been times when difficulties have arisen, boredom sometimes, technique at others but they have become part of what we do as a family!
One term when my husband had been out of work for ages our teacher even forfeited payment of fees(when she found we were going to skip that term!)I know that last bit is not really relevant to yur question but we like our teacher so much we wish everyone had a teacher like her!!
Alison
http://homeschoolingdownunder.blogspot.com/
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Marcia
Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 20 2007
Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 437
|
| Posted: Feb 27 2009 at 9:08pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Suzuki trained teacher for my three violinists. They get to play along with him during their lesson. Very enjoyable 1 1/2 hour session for three kids. (and one very busy toddler)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
donnalynn
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 24 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 581
|
| Posted: March 03 2009 at 1:09pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Our teacher is also Suzuki inspired and she is the founder of the local youth orchestra. Our orchestra experience has been fantastic - with the older students helping with the two younger prepatory orchestras. Dd is in the second prepartory orchestra and helps with the youngest students. The three different levels each play their own music which is chosen based on ability.
Our teacher is also such a character you can't help but love her! it is always an adventure.
She works with several homeschooling families and overlaps the lessons so that the students can play together a bit. We are up to a 45 minute lesson which we split 30 minutes for my dd and 15 minutes for my youngest (age 6) who just started.
__________________
donnalynn
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SusanJ
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 25 2007
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1347
|
| Posted: March 03 2009 at 1:21pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I don't play violin but I was a flute major in college and taught lessons for a few years. I would find a teacher who has his/her instrument out during the lesson. Playing everything all the time doesn't seem necessary but techniques need to be demonstrated! And duets are not only a lot of fun but an important part of learning to be a musician. My teachers were never Suzuki trained but all the teachers I had through all my years of lessons always had a flute out during the lesson.
__________________
Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
happymama
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 05 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 410
|
| Posted: March 04 2009 at 10:07am | IP Logged
|
|
|
My son started out with private lessons but soon lost interest in the violin and wouldn't play. We switched over to a group Suzuki class (5 kids total) and he loves it now (same teacher). I think mainly it's an environment with more for him to absorb and he can see and hear that the other children struggle with the instrument also. He used to get frustrated because he couldn't do it "perfectly" but now he sees that progress is the goal. I think it's great that he's learning to play as part of a group. i.e., you slip up during a song, you just have to jump back in.
That said, most "progress" comes from daily practice. I have to help him during practice. We have 2 music books that he plays from, and both have CD's of all the songs - we listen to them before we play them. I think that's a huge part of learning an instrument at a young age! Good luck to you.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
DianaC
Forum Pro
Joined: March 27 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 404
|
| Posted: March 09 2009 at 10:02am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks for verifying that it would not be out of the ordinary to have lessons with the teacher accompanying the student.
I have hired a high school student who is a very good violinist to tutor/practice with my dd during the week. This has inspired a renewed interest and excitement in her playing and practicing. I think this will be a perfect transition until we find an instructor who is a better fit for my dd.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: What are your violin lessons like?
