School and work weren’t the only things to move online last year.
Prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, many violin teachers began offering virtual lessons—using Zoom, or other video conferencing tools—to help their students progress despite physical distancing requirements. Of course, violin teachers seeking a broader student base had already been teaching virtual lessons long before “COVID” entered the general lexicon.
One example: Salt Lake City-based violinist and entrepreneur Jesse Massey. An experienced virtual violin teacher, Jesse now specializes in helping musicians define and promote themselves online. As teachers evaluate whether to continue or start offering virtual violin lessons, we talked with Jesse about how they can set their students and themselves up for success.
Now that pandemic restrictions are easing, under what circumstances might violin teachers still want to teach virtual lessons?
“A couple scenarios come to mind. First, if you're living in a geographically isolated place and there's not a market to teach students. Second, if you want to invest in a nice studio, mic and camera and create a virtual violin syllabus. There’s a very real demographic who don’t have the money for hourly lessons, or who live in an isolated area and are looking for resources.”
How do you know if a student is a good fit for virtual lessons?
“A student who’s a good fit for virtual lessons has a strong family structure at home to support practicing. Something a lot of students and teachers run into with virtual lessons and school—it's not the same experience. It's harder to focus than with an in-person experience. To bolster that, a vocabulary has to exist on the parents end and there needs to be a schedule in place to ensure follow-through.”
How can violin teachers better vet their students?
“I recommend inviting potential students to observe a month's worth of lessons with another student. At the end of the observation, have an honest conversation about whether your teaching style makes sense for them. It can also be helpful to send a questionnaire that mentions, ‘Are you willing to practice on a daily basis even if your child doesn't want to? Are you willing to prioritize performances and lessons over other activities?’”
A Violin Practice Partner student uses her Twinkle Mat to stay focused during virtual lessons.
How else can violin teachers support parents with students enrolled in virtual lessons?
“Make sure that you're consistently communicating what's working and not working with lessons on a monthly basis. Schedule a call with the parents, make it part of the teaching package. That way it’s non-emotional, everyone knows it's coming.
“Something nice about in-person is that when everyone is in the same room, you can read the body language and vibe in the room. This isn’t true with online lessons—the student and parent don’t always know what the teacher is thinking. A regular call helps keep everyone on the same page.”
What can violin teachers do to engage their virtual students?
“The teacher can make sure the hardware side on their end looks good. Good lighting, a colorful background. Something that catches a student's eye and helps them focus, as you’d do in digital marketing. It’s also important to have a strong lesson plan that's consistent from in-person to virtual lessons. Know exactly what you're going to hit, how long you're going to spend on each goal, elements you're going to spend more time on.”
How have you adjusted your teaching style for virtual lessons?
“The biggest thing I learned is to be much more direct and concise with the way I describe the things I need from the student. You want to be comprehensive enough that they understand, but still concise because if you keep talking, you lose interest and concentration.”
How does the virtual connection impact your perception of the student’s playing?
“You learn what to listen to, what to let go of. If you hear one note warped, you can blame it on the connection. A bigger issue is that all of the violin sound can cause the laptop microphone to peak out. It’s not a connection problem, it’s a mic problem.
“If your student is serious about virtual lessons, it’s important to have a conversation to make sure they’re willing to buy the proper hardware. Some tools I recommend include the Rode NT1A Microphone and the FocusRight Interface 2i2, which allows you to connect your microphone into your computer.”
Thank you, Jesse! Looking for more ways to elevate your virtual violin lessons? Learn more about our Twinkle Mat violin practice mats that help anchor and focus students, whether they're across from you or across the world.
]]>It’s time! Your beginning violin student has outgrown their practice instrument and is ready for the real thing. As you search for—and introduce your student to—the right violin, there are many important questions to consider.
Master luthier Adam Day of Adam Day Violins in Utah answered our top queries and shared why your student’s first violin could be the most significant musical purchase you make.
Should I Rent or Buy a Violin?
According to Adam, students who buy a quality instrument from the start are more likely to stick with lessons. "The interest level increases dramatically with a good instrument," he said. "The cost will typically be $400-$500 and you can trade them up as your child grows."
With rental violins—and even violins purchased online—you get what you pay for, Adam cautioned. “People bring me dot-com violins needing to be fixed, even requiring hundreds of dollars of work. The bridge shape is often cut really flat, strings not evenly spaced and the nut cut way too high so the students have a hard time learning the basics."
How Do I Choose the Right Violin Size?
Adam uses two simple metrics to gauge the correct violin size. “The pinky should be able to reach over to the G string to play a D without any strain," he said. "The left arm should also be at a 90 degree angle or less in first position. That’s a strong shape for your arm, and it’s easier to hold up the violin. If your arm and pinky can meet these two requirements, that’s the size for you.”
What Should I Look for in a Quality Beginner Violin?
Adam spends up to 200 hours crafting his professional level violins. So when it comes to quality, his senses are finely tuned. Adam’s top five characteristics to look for in a beginner violin include:
Beautiful tone. According to Adam, even the smallest violins can sound beautiful if made right. “Tone is critical and that's why I do what I do with our smallest instruments," he said. "I want them to sound free, open and as clear as possible. They must also respond quickly to bow strokes.”
High quality strings. Adam knows the power of a good set of strings and has developed a unique service called a "String Analysis" to help every violin achieve a balanced sound. “Some violins come in sounding really tinny, harsh or unbalanced,” he said. “People say, ‘I don't want to spend $70 plus on a set of strings because it's a cheap violin.’ But if we're able to at least convince them to experiment with strings, they're always floored and say, ‘I can't believe how much better it sounds.’" To learn more about a String Analysis, contact his shop.
Perfect fitting sound post. You may not be able to see it from the outside, but a perfect fitting sound post is critical for your violin to make a clear, ringing sound. “The sound post needs to be seamless and placed in a specific spot,” Adam said. “We make sure every instrument regardless of the level and size is set up in this way. This makes us unique in our industry as many shops don’t give beginner instruments this amount of detailed work and attention.”
Hand-carved. Adam takes pride in each of the hand-carved violins he sells, starting with the Kreutzer models for young students. “Hand-carved is a big indicator of quality,” he said. “If the violin is handmade, there is more tonal work done to the top and back plates of the violin. But beware, not all handmade violins are created equally. I’ve played and sifted through thousands of instruments at conventions from all over the world, I try everything I can get my hands on. The Kreutzer models we sell are insanely good and in my opinion provide the best value for beginning students.”
Dry wood. Finally, you might not think about it, but the age of your violin's wood has a significant impact on its sound. “You need a violin that has at least three-year aged wood,” Adam said. “If the violin wood is too moist, it garbles the sound. The violin is more free to vibrate when it’s dry. As you go up levels, they're aged longer.”
Caring For Your New Violin
As you teach your child to care for their new instrument, Adam suggested thinking of it as a dessert. “The fingernails cause the most damage to the violin’s varnish, which is soft. So, think of your instrument like a birthday cake and don’t stick your fingers in it,” he said.
A couple more pro tips:
Watch the temperature. “Never leave your violin on or by a heater vent or in a car," Adam said. "I've seen cracks because of those two big things. The instrument should be kept in a room temperature environment.”
Store your violin in sight. “In order to increase practice, research has shown that the violin should hang on the wall and not be stored in a case," Adam said. "A wall in your living room or bedroom are good options. It's important to choose a temperature-controlled wall rather than an exterior-facing surface."
The Far-Reaching Benefits of Music
Adam's philosophy with violin making and violin lessons could be summed up as "do it right from the very beginning." The impact, he believes, is life-long.
“If it's to check a box and get a grade, violin isn't for you," he said. "If it's to learn a beautiful language, then it's the right move. Music is an extension of your soul, there's only so much you can say with words. But with music you can really dig deep and express yourself the way God wants us to.”
Ready to start your violin student on the right foot? Learn more about our Twinkle Mat practice mats, thoughtfully designed with violin teacher input, and our Twinkl'in foam violins for the youngest students.
]]>My Twinkle Mat owners Kathleen Montgomery (at piano) and Paige Vogt (with violin)
Guiding your child through their daily violin practice can be joyful—but if you feel more frustrated than fantastic, you're not alone. Based on over twenty years of raising string musicians through the Suzuki method, here are my five reasons your child might be struggling with violin practice and strategies for parents (and teachers) to start bringing the joy back into music time.
1. IT DOESN'T SOUND GOOD TO YOUR CHILD (OR YOU)
Squeaks, scratches and off-pitch notes are all part of learning to play a new instrument, and it can be frustrating for both parent and child. But your young violinist can create beautiful sounds from the start if your approach is right.
Strategy: Start Small. A knowledgeable teacher will give your child bite-sized chunks allowing you to focus on perfecting that very small part, even if it's just a few notes. By narrowing your scope, you set your child up to succeed which helps motivate them to continue learning and growing. Celebrate the small wins!
Strategy: Create Harmony. Consider accompanying your child as they play. You don't have to be a professional musician to do this! By playing along on the piano, or even something as simple as a rhythm shaker, you can help them feel they're contributing to a beautiful musical whole, inspiring them to keep going.
2. YOUR PRACTICE SPACE IS DISTRACTING
Messes, noise, and an inconsistent practice spot can make practice time something you and your child both avoid.
Strategy: Designate Your Music Space. It's important to designate a certain room or corner your "music space"—preferably somewhere away from household traffic and noise—and make it a place of refuge and organization. Create a home for all of your music and practice supplies and consider hanging a piece of music-themed art on the wall.
Strategy: Utilize Your Practice Mat. Your Twinkle Mat is also an important tool to help your child transition to practice time. When you unroll your practice mat each day, you establish a ritual that signals to your child that it’s time to focus.
3. YOUR CHILD DOESN'T FEEL OWNERSHIP IN THEIR MUSIC EXPERIENCE
Sometimes your child simply doesn’t want to practice. This is one of the greatest challenges as a practice parent: How can I motivate my child without coercion or guilt trips? While punishments might work in the short-term, they don’t help your child take ownership of their musical development or foster a lifelong love for music.
Strategy: Create pockets of inspiration. Igniting interest is more powerful than punishment. A home or car filled with classical music will help them appreciate its beauty and value. Attending live performances (with treats after), and seeking opportunities for your child to play and perform with others are two other powerful motivators.
Strategy: Make practice personal. Help your child choose some “just for fun” pieces they’d like to learn. Give them the responsibility of unrolling their Twinkle Mat at the beginning of each practice session. Together define short and long term milestones they’re excited about, such as a performance, a new song, or a celebratory pizza party.
And if it’s still not a great practice day, that’s ok. Meet your child where they are, and try again the next day. One successful practice session after another will add up to a magnificent musician. The goal is help your child love to practice and play forever, not just until you aren’t around to force them.
4. YOUR PRACTICE TIME IS TOO RUSHED
If you're feeling rushed or stressed during practice time, chances are your child will too.
Strategy: Hit Reset. Before we began to practice I found it essential to take the time to finish what I was doing and emotionally reset. Your child needs your patience, focus and positivity to effectively learn.
Strategy: Schedule a Buffer. To help create a relaxed environment, consider creating a buffer around your practice time. For example, if your child has 30 minutes of practice, block out up to an hour-and-a-half to accomplish it. This allows you both to take breaks and go at the pace you need without stress.
Strategy: Put Child Over Checklist. Move away from a “checklist mentality.” Remember your child is more important than the practice items that day and be willing to adapt to your child’s needs and accept that you may not get to everything on your practice list that day.
5. THEY'RE AFRAID OF FAILING OR NOT MEETING YOUR STANDARDS
Even if it’s not our intention, sometimes practice parents’ high expectations can make their violin students feel intense pressure to succeed. I don’t think parents should lower their standards—musical excellence is a wonderful goal. Just be sure your goals are appropriate for your child’s age and ability level.
Strategy: Define Excellence Day-by-Day. Perhaps you define excellence on one practice day as playing one line of music in tune and staying calm and positive throughout the practice session. If you break down trouble spots to the appropriate size, your child should always be able to be successful.
Strategy: Emphasize Effort. Make it clear to your child that you value their effort above all else. Let them know that your love for them is not dependent on how they play a piece. The most successful practice days are grounded in unconditional love and appreciation of your child’s effort, no matter how small.
One of the greatest blessings of working with my children through music over the years is to now see their ability to tackle hard things, break them down, work at them consistently and keep going until they have created something beautiful. May you experience this joy as well.
Ready to create a focused and joyful practice space? Learn more about our Twinkle Mat practice mats, thoughtfully designed for teachers, students and parents like you.
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