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Suzuki mom…others w/violin experience…
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Have you heard of this? http://www.theviolinbook.com/
Ds (9) has had about 3 yrs. of piano and is doing well…would now like to learn the violin. I’m looking into teachers, but haven’t heard back from my preferred one. I know it’s going to be pricey, but we can manage it if need be (and the christian school beginning orchestra is only $25/semester once he learns for a year and a half or so).
Just wondering if something like this is worth a shot, or if it might create bad habits? Thanks for any input:)
Well, here is my 2 cents…
my son has had 5 years of Suzuki violin training with a Suzuki certified instructor…. and still has bad habits…
I have looked at the samples of the books, and they look pretty good to me… I say go for it.
We have four violinists. I’m not familiar with the book. If you are willing to help out your son, I would highly recommend these dvds:
https://www.violinvirtuosity.com/products
Our son has played two and a half years – the others less – the majority of their instruction has been from these, though two of them have had some lessons for about nine months now.
They all went to a local festival in March and came home with piles of awards, plus one invitation to the provincial festival (not that the awards matter, I just tell you to show that the help from the dvds has had obvious results).
So there’s my two cents!
Thanks, Suzukimom…that’s good to hear…I know you’ve been at it for a while!
Houseofchaos, thanks so much for sharing! I listened to most of the sample…the teacher seems CM-ish. I really liked her and love that it’s visual. Definately considering this! Could you tell me about how much involvement this took (from you) for a beg. student? And could you share why some of your kids are now taking lessons elsewhere? Did they outgrow the books, or did you see an advantage of a live teacher?
Thanks again:) Gina
Oh sure, give me more options for learning the violin! LOL I’m sure that if I let myself, I could spend more money (and time!) on the violin than all my other books and curriculum combined! These do look very good, though. I’ll have to restrain myself.
I’m using the Suzuki Violin Books, “The Suzuki Violinist” and “Step by Step” (recommended by Suzukimom) and lots of youtube videos to teach myself and my daughter. And it’s actually on my schedule for tomorrow to build two box violins because my younger kids (ages 4 and 2) are asking to play now too. I’m also working on finding one smaller violin, and probably one larger than the one DD6 is about to outgrow, (darn growth spurts) without spending a fortune. Watch out! Once your family is hooked, it might take on a life of it’s own! Sure is fun, though!
Joanne
Joanne,
Do you ever shop at Shar Music? They have a Dutch Auction in August or September, and if you wait until the last week you can get some major discounts. Obviously picking one out in person is better, but they have a wide range of instruments, and you may get a splendid violin for a splendid price. If you don’t like it, you can return it.
Gina,
Valerie Gardner is such a wonderful lady! There is an old thread that discusses her & her videos here:
http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/topic/violin-instruction-at-home#post-31657
We continue to be in touch with her. I just sent a disc of the children playing last week, and am waiting for her much appreciated advice when she sees/hears it.
Our children still use the discs, particularly my son (14) and oldest daughter (12). They are old enough to use them mostly independently. The younger ones require a bit of help. If you have time to watch and learn the techniques, the actual helping time isn’t huge – just be consistent (help daily).
The discs give great teachings about correctly sizing a violin (most people – even ones with teachers – get one too big, which is a major problem for creating bad habits), choosing a proper shoulder rest, exercises to practice even before you have a violin to help with a correct bow hold and techniques, and so much more. They are such a treasure!
We found a somewhat local teacher last summer, with reasonable fees, and decided to try it out. Our son, 14, had been playing about a year and a half at the time, he wanted to try out a few lessons, and I wanted to see what a real person thought of his playing. Well, she was amazed. The foundation he had from the videos was so strong that she bought them herself – and she is working on her Grade 10 level in the RCM. She told me she that with the teaching from Mrs. Gardner, she has been able to fix at least one problem with her playing that her instructor, who plays with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, hasn’t been able to figure out.
We have continued on with lessons because our son loves it so much, and is so good at it, that he is now thinking he would like to be a violin teacher. To do so he will need to become a fine violinist. I’m not sure he can get THAT good just here at home in the living room. Our eleven year old daughter has some lessons also – she is also very good and enjoys it so much that some formal instruction seems like a good idea (I can also see her having violin as a major part of her life). We are planning to have them work through the RCM exams as long as they are still enjoying playing.
Our other two children who play are also very good, but I do not see them at this point needing (or wanting) anything more than home instruction – they are very happy playing for fun, playing in church, playing at a few local places when they are asked – but at this point have no desire to make violin a major part of their life.
So to answer your question, they have definitely not outgrown the teaching on the discs, but for the ambition level of some of the children, they just need more direction. But you can definitely learn a lot from them, and for a number of years. If you can apply these teachings correctly, you won’t be dealing with the bad habits that most people battle with. Two of Valerie’s mottoes are “practice makes permanent” and “perfect practice makes perfect” 🙂
The discs do not come with books.
For a beginner I would personally get a Don’t Fret
And a few books – we like these:
http://www.sharmusic.com/shop.axd/Search?keywords=sassmannshaus&fq=ATR_Instrument%3aViolin
Although, perhaps the violin books you were looking at would be great to go along – I haven’t looked at them.
Gaeleen
Thanks, Joanne….I’m intrigued that you’re making box violins:)
Gaeleen, thanks for the in-depth review. It sounds awesome, and if I don’t go the private instructor route I think this is what I’d like to do. Just fear I might not be consistent enough. Something about paying for lessons keeps up more motivated:) And I’m sorry, but what’s RCM? Thanks! Gina
They are wonderful – I don’t think you’d regret having them. RCM is Royal Conservatory of Music!
Joanne, how do you make box violins? I wonder if the younger set in our house would like them?
A box violin can be very easy to make. Our first one was an empty cake box, packed up with paper to make it a bit more firm, and a free paint stir-stick taped to it for the fingerboard. The box was wrapped in paper (some people do it like a gift – I printed off a picture of a violin body the right size…). Some teachers have the parent put a little treat inside of it – and then when the child graduates to the real violin, they get to open the box violin and get a treat.
That one worked for us for 2 children, but was looking really ratty – so for my 3rd (and 4th) – I traced a violin onto cardboard – then cut out 3 or 4 layters – and glueing them all together. I then taped it with duct tape, and then we printed a picture of a violin and put it on, taping it all with packing tape. It is the right size – and from a distance looks very real
Oh, for bows – the best is if you can get an old bow with no hair…. our first was a piece of dowl with an eraser glued/taped on for the frog. It was apparently too short though. Our second my dh made – it is the same size as the real bow…. it was also dowel, with extra dowl on it for the frog.
There is also instructions out there somewhere for a “paper” violin that looks realy good… used in some school somewhere.
I’m going to have to check out that dvd thing too – we aren’t doing violin lessons with a teacher next year…
Suzukimom, that sounds like a very interesting project! My son wants the real thing, but I think it would be great if I had youngers:)
Gaeleen, thanks for clarifying about RCM:) I’ve had trumpet and piano experience but feel totally clueless w/string instruments. My first thought when seeing books on proper ‘bowing’ techniques was that they were teaching how to bow properly…as in short vowel ‘bow,’ bending at the waist:) I have so much to learn! Gina
Yeah, a boxilin is used for kids around ages 2 to 5 to learn how to properly hold and handle a violin and bow before using the real one…. it doesn’t “hurt” the mom so much to have a boxilin hit the floor than a real violin!
Oh, I have preschoolers holding real violins…. they just have practiced on the boxilin for a couple of months first.
http://teachsuzuki.blogspot.ca/2011/02/how-to-make-box-violin.html
http://juneaumusicmatters.blogspot.ca/2010/09/paper-violin-process-venezuelan.html
These are the two sets of instructions that I’ve seen for a box violin. My plan is to use ideas from both. The second link has a very elaborate, realistic looking violin, but I’m going to use a box as the base just to be quicker. I bought some flat, square, wooden spoons at the dollar store that I’m going to use for the fingerboards – just a bit thicker than the paint stir sticks, and the spoon part will function as a chin rest. I also got some brown contact paper (self stick!) to cover them with. I’ll let you know how they turn out.
The point is to give the younger children something to practice holding in position and to learn to take care of. Then you don’t have to worry about them dropping a real instrument as they learn to hold it with their chin. I didn’t bother with this step with my DD who started when she was six. For my 2yo, however, it will be a good learning tool for a while. I’m going to make one for DS, who is almost 5yo, just to get started until I get a real instrument for him. Depending on how quickly he grows and how diligent he is at practicing, he may grow into DD6’s current violin soon enough to just use that.
Joanne
Our two and three year olds use a real violin also – I don’t think I could convince them to downgrade….
They actually do surprisingly well, although we had to have someone beside them constantly at first while they learned to play. We haven’t had any troubles with dropping the instrument if they have a decent shoulder rest. THROWING the violin is a different matter….. 😀
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