What to expect in your first violin lesson
Although I cannot speak for every teacher, here’s what students can expect in their very first violin lesson with me. This assumes that the student is a complete beginner.
When first connecting with a potential student, I ask to set up a time to chat, either over the phone or via Zoom. This is an opportunity for both of us to get a feel for each other, discuss all the details of lessons, and address any questions the student may have. Many times, students decide to enter my studio right after this initial meeting, but some want a trial lesson before committing, which I totally understand. I personally do not offer free trial lessons anymore; I used to, and found that more often than not I was being taken advantage of for a free lesson, but I do offer a discount.
First, I’ll begin by going over the parts of the violin. This is important to know because they will be referenced in lessons to come. Next, I’ll go over how to hold the bow. I’ll help the student find the placement of each finger a few times, and then ask them to go through the process by themselves to check for understanding. After that, we’ll go over how to hold the violin. I like to take my time with this step and make sure that we find a position that is comfortable for the student. Next, I’ll do one of two things. If the student is a child or has no prior musical experience, I’ll start with the Twinkle rhythms from the Suzuki method. This helps students solidify the bowing movement, keep the bow straight, and produce a good sound. If the student is an adult or has previous experience on another instrument, I’ll jump straight into long bows. The goal of these are the same, but they are a bit harder to achieve. We’ll practice bowing either the Twinkle rhythm or long bows on open strings. Sometimes, that’s all we have time for! If there’s any time left, I’ll move into an A Major scale. We’ll practice the scale with just the left hand at first to understand the sequence and proper left hand posture, and then we’ll incorporate the bow. That is plenty to fill 30 minutes! Please keep in mind, this is just my process so your very first lesson might be slightly different, but I’d bet money that you’ll be going over posture and open strings 😉
If you’re interested in trying out a lesson with me either in person in New Jersey or online, apply here.
Do you remember your first violin lesson? What was it like? Leave a comment and let me know!
