Kids & Teens
Ages 4 – 18
Children who can stand still on a mat and focus on the teacher are ready to study violin. This is typically around 4-6 years old, but could be earlier or later. A parent must initially participate in lessons by having a full-size (4/4) violin.
Note-reading and music theory will be introduced gradually.
Aural skills will be emphasized in books 1 and 2.
Parents attend their child’s lesson and take notes until the child is old enough to drive themselves to a lesson. The adult in attendance should be the one who will supervise practice sessions at home.
Siblings are allowed at lessons as long as they are not a distraction to either the learner or the note-taking parent and should arrive with quiet, non-electronic toys to keep themselves busy. No food or drinks in the studio.
Weekly lessons
30 minutes is usually a good length for beginners. The parent’s mini lesson will be first, followed by the child’s. Your lesson time will be yours for the entire semester.
Supplies List
We’ll discuss all needed supplies at the first lesson. The activities in the first lesson won’t require an instrument. Please don’t rent, purchase, or modify an instrument without discussing it with the teacher. In the meantime you can purchase the Suzuki book 1, international edition with recordings by Hilary Hahn and begin listening to the recordings daily.
Hands-on activities
Lesson activities will be fun, engaging, and varied to keep your child’s attention. They won’t even realize that they are repeating the same skills in a different way!
Group lessons present the concepts already learned in lessons in a fun, new way and add the exciting element of engaging with their peers.
Daily Practice
Skills are presented at lessons and they must be repeated at home in order to become a lasting skill. Parents will leave the lesson with a list of skills and exercises to practice and it is important to do these daily.
The home should have a dedicated practice space that cues the child’s brain that it is “practice time.” Practice time may need to be divided and should stay positive. Please let the teacher know if practice is a struggle.
Daily listening of the recordings is also critical to the child internalizing the music. A child who listens to the music at home knows what the next note sounds like and recognizes when they play it out of tune. It takes 20 minutes to listen to all of the book 1 recordings. I recommend obtaining a digital copy and playing it in the background while they get ready in the morning, in the car after school, and before bed.
“Children learn to smile from their parents.”
-Shinichi Suzuki
A parent is the most important person in a child’s life and the child will want to mimic what they do. That is why parent involvement is so important, especially for younger children. A parent’s attendance and attention at a lesson shows the child “This is important. I’m here for you.”
$114/Month
Child/Kid/Teen Beginner lessons
Covers 30 minute lessons, group lessons, and studio supplies. Prorated for students who join after the beginning of the semester.