Does anyone have a kid in violin lessons?

[Magpie]

My almost-13yo son has just started violin and he says he doesn't like his teacher.

I think he was expecting a teacher like his saxophone teacher, who is laid back and cool and makes lessons fun.

His violin teacher, on the other hand, is an old, white-haired lady from Eastern Europe who simply shows him what to do, then tells him to do it again and again until he has it perfect. So it's a whole half hour of, "Wrong. Do it again. Like that. Again. And again. Again!"

He's had one lesson and he's learned how to stand correctly, and play two notes, which isn't very exciting in his opinion. I will say, however, he does play those two notes VERY well. He doesn't squeak them at all.

Now my husband's knee-jerk reaction was, "If he doesn't like her, he doesn't have to take lessons with her!"

But there aren't any other violin teachers available at this time, and I'm not so sure my husband's right. The teacher is not raising her voice at him, and what my son sees as her being "mean", I see as just a different style of teaching. My boy is no delicate flower, and I think he could learn a lot from her.

So... does anyone have any experience with teachers like this? I'm inclined to tell him to tough it out. It's only once a week. He needs to learn a string instrument to get into a particular high school program. And not all his teachers are going to be warm and cuddly.

But am I running the risk he'll end up hating violin?

 

[golfgal]

Sounds like my violin teacher when I was in high school-darn right you learned how to play it RIGHT-but as a result, we had the best orchestra in the state Many of the kids in our high school orchestra took private lessons from her-3 of my classmates play in professional orchestras too. I would say that one lesson isn't enough time to really make a judgment on if she is good or not. I would keep up with it for several more lessons before doing anything.

 

[Magpie]

Sounds like my violin teacher when I was in high school-darn right you learned how to play it RIGHT-but as a result, we had the best orchestra in the state Many of the kids in our high school orchestra took private lessons from her-3 of my classmates play in professional orchestras too. I would say that one lesson isn't enough time to really make a judgment on if she is good or not. I would keep up with it for several more lessons before doing anything.

Since I don't play any kind of instrument myself - what would you be on the look out for? Both in terms of her being a good teacher and a not-so-good teacher?

 

[golfgal]

Since I don't play any kind of instrument myself - what would you be on the look out for? Both in terms of her being a good teacher and a not-so-good teacher?

Well, how well the kids learn from her would be the first one. Being strict does not make for a bad teacher but if your son doesn't want to practice, fights going to each lesson, etc. then maybe it is better to move on to another teacher but if your son is practicing hard trying to do it right, keep on with her. Kids often confuse "fun" with being a good teacher too. The Sax teacher might be fun, but is he learning anything?

If this teacher is someone recommended by his orchestra teacher at school they are usually good instructors.

 

[Magpie]

Well, how well the kids learn from her would be the first one. Being strict does not make for a bad teacher but if your son doesn't want to practice, fights going to each lesson, etc. then maybe it is better to move on to another teacher but if your son is practicing hard trying to do it right, keep on with her. Kids often confuse "fun" with being a good teacher too. The Sax teacher might be fun, but is he learning anything?

If this teacher is someone recommended by his orchestra teacher at school they are usually good instructors.

He hasn't fought me on practicing so far - it was pretty funny to listen to him down in the basement, sawing back and forth on his two notes last night.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on things!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Not every student teacher relationship is a good match. That being said I think your son should stick it out some more. I am a string player and she is teaching the right stuff. If you can't get the basics- and posture is a huge thing- then you are not going to advance very well. When all those things come together it makes the harder stuff much easier. Learning 2 notes sounds about right for a first lesson. She is teaching him to play. Not to just play songs. She is teaching him about tone and bow control. If you don't have those you will sound terrible. I would actually prefer a stricter teacher like that. If they complained I would tell them that obviously the teacher must know something if she can actually play the instrument. Unless the teacher was cruel or my child was not learning I would not have a problem with it.

 

[ilovepcot]

I think he was expecting a teacher like his saxophone teacher, who is laid back and cool and makes lessons fun.

This certainly isn't true for everyone, but in the 8 years I studied piano and voice, I didn't learn a darn thing from the teachers who made it "fun". They just didn't get down to business enough for me. I'm sure some students would learn very well from "fun" teachers...just not me.

 

[golfgal]

He hasn't fought me on practicing so far - it was pretty funny to listen to him down in the basement, sawing back and forth on his two notes last night.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on things!

Not that you can help him much not knowing how to play the violin but practicing right makes all the difference and if you aren't doing it RIGHT, you just learn sloppy habits so keep an eye on him to make sure he is holding his violin right, not resting the heal of his hand on the neck of the violin, holding the bow right, etc. We had to practice in front of a mirror so we could check these things. Also, he should be practicing standing up.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Not that you can help him much not knowing how to play the violin but practicing right makes all the difference and if you aren't doing it RIGHT, you just learn sloppy habits so keep an eye on him to make sure he is holding his violin right, not resting the heal of his hand on the neck of the violin, holding the bow right, etc. We had to practice in front of a mirror so we could check these things. Also, he should be practicing standing up.

This is so true. If you look at a school age orchestra the kids that are sitting towards the back -meaning they are not as good as the kids in the front- always have their violin or viola hanging down towrds their lap. Of course they can't play as well! They might as well lay down!

 

[Magpie]

Not every student teacher relationship is a good match. That being said I think your son should stick it out some more. I am a string player and she is teaching the right stuff. If you can't get the basics- and posture is a huge thing- then you are not going to advance very well. When all those things come together it makes the harder stuff much easier. Learning 2 notes sounds about right for a first lesson. She is teaching him to play. Not to just play songs. She is teaching him about tone and bow control. If you don't have those you will sound terrible. I would actually prefer a stricter teacher like that. If they complained I would tell them that obviously the teacher must know something if she can actually play the instrument. Unless the teacher was cruel or my child was not learning I would not have a problem with it.

Ah, okay! My father taught himself how to fiddle and he plays in bars, but he told us that our son shouldn't go down that same road. He told me, "Make sure he gets real lessons!"

I'm glad to hear that two notes is about right for a first lesson. That's reassuring to know. Do you happen to have any idea approximately when he will get around to learning his first songs?

I told him learning good posture through playing violin will save him from having to visit the chiropractor in the future.

Not that you can help him much not knowing how to play the violin but practicing right makes all the difference and if you aren't doing it RIGHT, you just learn sloppy habits so keep an eye on him to make sure he is holding his violin right, not resting the heal of his hand on the neck of the violin, holding the bow right, etc. We had to practice in front of a mirror so we could check these things. Also, he should be practicing standing up.

Oh, thank you! I'll make sure to keep an eye on that. I had no idea!

I apparently have to buy some sort of shoulder pad thingy for him before his next lesson. Do you know what that is? I'm hoping it won't be too expensive.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Ah, okay! My father taught himself how to fiddle and he plays in bars, but he told us that our son shouldn't go down that same road. He told me, "Make sure he gets real lessons!"

I'm glad to hear that two notes is about right for a first lesson. That's reassuring to know. Do you happen to have any idea approximately when he will get around to learning his first songs?

I told him learning good posture through playing violin will save him from having to visit the chiropractor in the future.

The more he practices the quicker he will learn something.

Oh, thank you! I'll make sure to keep an eye on that. I had no idea!

I apparently have to buy some sort of shoulder pad thingy for him before his next lesson. Do you know what that is? I'm hoping it won't be too expensive.

It is a shoulder rest and it is about $10.

 

[EeyoreEma]

My old violin teacher's favorite saying was "Practice doesn't make perfect, it makes permanent." Believe me, that went in lessons too. I learned more from my music teachers who were not all about fun. I had several that were "nice" but I didn't learn as much from them. My tougher teachers were nice, too, but they weren't going to let that get in the way of teaching. My last violin teacher, 9 times out of 10 I cried at some point during my lesson - but it truly was my fault since I hadn't practiced enough

 

[golfgal]

Something along this line is what he needs. Make sure you get the right "size". Does he have a full size violin, 3/4 size, etc.

 

[Magpie]

Something along this line is what he needs. Make sure you get the right "size". Does he have a full size violin, 3/4 size, etc.

He has a full size violin - just a basic "student" violin.

Is that all I need to know when I go to the store? Or do I need to drag the kid along with his instrument?

 

[golfgal]

He has a full size violin - just a basic "student" violin.

Is that all I need to know when I go to the store? Or do I need to drag the kid along with his instrument?

I would drag the kid and the instrument and try out different ones to find one that feels comfortable.

 

[Magpie]

I would drag the kid and the instrument and try out different ones to find one that feels comfortable.

Okay! I'll do that tomorrow. Thank you!