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1-on-1 Violin Lessons With a Symphony Musician (Beginner/Intermediate)

In this 1-on-1 class, students will learn how to play the violin through scales, etudes, and solo pieces.
Geena Salway
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(1)
Class

What's included

Meets on Demand
schedule meetings as needed
30 mins
per session
Teacher support
Homework
2-4 hours per week. Students are expected to practice daily between weekly lessons. Practice sessions should mirror the lesson format; beginning with a scale or warm-up, and then working on the pieces. While the exact amount of practice time varies greatly depending on age, the number of years of playing, and the child's individual learning style, try to aim for 15-20 minutes per day as a minimum. Students who have been playing for 3 years or more should aim for 30-45 minutes per day. Ultimately, quality is better than quantity. If your child only has the time or focus to practice 10 minutes consistently every day, that's better than practicing 30 minutes every second or third day. I do not require students to submit practice journals, however, students and parents may find it helpful to log practice sessions for the purpose of accountability and building a daily practice routine. Parents of younger learners (under 12 years old) should be supervising all practice sessions.
Assessment
There will be no formal exams or written assessments, but students will receive verbal feedback throughout the duration of the lesson. Students should keep this feedback in mind during their individual practice sessions.

Class Experience

Are you ready to go on a musical journey? Me too!

In this 1-on-1 class, students will receive private instruction on the violin. Whether you're playing your first notes or have been playing for a few years already, I'll be here to help you every step of the way. Please note that this class is for 30-minute lesson times only. Please note this course was formerly listed as Violin/Viola lessons, so if you're looking for viola lessons for your child, please refer to my new listing "1-on-1 Viola Lessons With a Symphony Musician (Beginner/Intermediate)".

The lesson format will vary slightly from student to student, but will typically begin with a scale or warm-up exercise. From there, we will work on a solo piece for the remainder of the lesson.

I will have my violin in hand for each lesson to demonstrate the concept and have the student replicate it on their instrument. 

Beginners and younger students will be learning primarily by rote. Intermediate and older students will gradually learn about music theory and note-reading as new notes come up in their pieces. 

I teach in a classical style. My students learn and perform pieces from the Suzuki books, but I may recommend other pieces or books in addition to Suzuki depending on the student's age and level. I also give the opportunity for students to learn music from other genres, such as fiddle, pop, or film music. Sometimes your favourite tunes can be just as challenging (if not more challenging) than classical repertoire. 

A beginner student should expect to be working on the "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Variations" for approximately 1-2 months when they first start. These pieces are essential for developing the fundamentals of technique and rhythmic precision. I will encourage students to listen and play along to recordings on YouTube during their practice time to facilitate the learning process.

After that, the progression through the Suzuki book 1 will depend highly on the individual student's learning style. Generally, we can cover 2-3 pieces per month in the early Suzuki book (numbers 2-12), but the later pieces may take one month or more to learn and polish (numbers 13-17). Listening to the pieces will always be an important part of the daily practice routine. 

For students who have previously taken lessons, I will use the first lesson to assess their current skills/levels and work together to develop a learning plan from there. Generally, it's best to pick up from where they last left off in the Suzuki Book series. 

I will also welcome students who are looking to take only a few lessons to prepare for an audition, concert, or competition. In these situations, I will focus on dynamics, phrasing, intonation, rhythmic accuracy, and sound production to elevate the overall performance quality. I will also give concrete practice strategies and suggestions for continued work after the lessons are completed.

In my lessons, I encourage students of all ages and levels to be analytical and learn how to be their own teacher. A 30-minute lesson goes by in the blink of an eye, so effective practice sessions are essential to retaining the skills taught during lessons.

For younger learners (under 12 years old), I recommend that parents and guardians sit in on the lessons off-camera to assist the student with setting up the Zoom meeting and to help them with their technique/posture. However, as per Outschool policies, the child must be the active participant in the class and the parent/guardian cannot sign on to the class through another device.

In addition, parents of younger learners should supervise individual practice sessions and take an active role in monitoring the child's progress. Auditing lessons will allow you to keep the child on track and reinforce what was taught in the lesson.

In order for me to properly assess a student's violin technique, they will need to keep their camera on for the duration of the lesson. Students do not need to show their face beyond the initial check-in and verification, but their instrument, bow, and hands should be clearly visible in the frame.

I currently have minimum notice for bookings set for 4 days in advance. If you would like to have lessons sooner than that, please message me. 

*NOTE: If you schedule lessons on Wednesdays or Thursdays after 6:15pm EST, I may occasionally have a symphony rehearsal during your lesson time. I know these specific dates ahead of time and already have them blocked off on my calendar so you will not be scheduled or charged for lessons on these dates. I will also give a heads up at least one week in advance so you can plan accordingly. Rescheduling lessons may be possible on these symphony weeks, but NOT guaranteed.
Learning Goals
Students will learn the fundamentals of violin technique and broaden their understanding of music theory.
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Students will be asked to watch video recordings of the pieces they are learning on YouTube, both during class and as part of their practicing routine. No YouTube account will be required to access these videos. Please supervise your child when watching the YouTube videos as I cannot guarantee the content that may show up in the ads or recommended video feeds.
Pre-Requisites
No prior musical experience is necessary, however, learners should be able to follow verbal instructions and listen to feedback on how they can improve their skills.
Supply List
*All prices are my best estimates in CAD*

-A violin and bow in good working condition. I recommend purchasing or renting an instrument from a local music store or online through a reputable music store. Instruments from places like Walmart or Amazon cannot be guaranteed for quality and aren't suitable for regular practice. A good quality student instrument will vary in price, but expect to spend around $300-$500 or more.
-A music stand ($20-$50)
-A tuner and metronome. You can purchase a physical one ($20-$45) or download a smartphone/tablet app (Free with possible paid features).
-Rosin for the bow ($15-$30)
-If you've never played before, Suzuki Violin School Volume 1 ($20-$30)
-If you've played violin before, please come prepared to play a scale and solo piece of your choice for the first lesson. Let me know which method books you've used in the past and we'll go from there.
-As your child progresses on the violin, be prepared to purchase additional method books and music.
 2 files available upon enrollment
Joined October, 2023
5.0
1reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
I've had a private teaching studio since Fall 2020 and did a practicum at an after-school music program during my master's degree. In that time, I have worked with many students of various ages and levels on both the violin and the viola.

Reviews

Live 1-on-1 Lessons
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$33

per session
Meets on demand
30 min

Completed by 15 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 6-18

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