Finding A Teacher, Harder than I thought - for post grade 8? Options

[nellievic]

Hello,

I'm in the process of looking for a violin teacher after returning to violin playing after a 12 year break. I did grade 8 whilst still at school, and am now looking to regain my technical skills and more forward. I just posted a thread on repertoire, but I'm kind of the level working towards the DipABRSM (but not quite - very rusty!)

I'm finding it rather harder than I expected to find a teacher, and wondered whether this is a common problem. I found a list of local teachers, but when I called them they either didn't teach to that standard or said that did, but actually hadn't got any students at that level. One lady was very nice and said she could teach me, but when I found out a bit more about her, she had nothing more than grade 8 and didn't seem to actively play herself, just teach. Perhaps I'm being a bit picky, but I want a really GOOD teacher. I want someone who has shown their own ability to play and has good teaching experience at the level I am.

Another teacher suggested that I look at applying for a music degree if I was that interested. Well, I'm not. Been to Uni already - twice - and have a successfully career in a non-music related subject. Plus I have 3 young children, and anyway I don't want a career change, just want to play to the best of my ability for my own satisfaction.

I feel rather dismayed. Am I looking in the wrong place? I live in Berkshire, so its not a remote isolated area!

Thanks,
NellieVic.

[DiscoPants]

I think that if you want to find a really good teacher at this level you'll have to be prepared to travel.

[nellievic]

I think that if you want to find a really good teacher at this level you'll have to be prepared to travel.

Any tips on how to find someone - even if further away? Is there an A-Z of good teachers anywhere?

[Ayshah]

Approach your nearest Conservatoire, there may be a post grad studentwho can teach to that level or they can usually let you know of someone in your area.

Be prepared to travel. Be prepared tp pay.

[Cadence]

I'm having the same problem - I'm a pianist though, so it may be slightly different - but I have spent the past 2 months searching for teachers who are able to teach around LTCL standard, but to no avail - and I live in central London!

I emailed a couple of teachers, didn't get a reply from 1 and the other said that although they could teach the that standard and are qualified, they haven't actually had any students go further than DipABRSM/ATCL and so weren't sure whether they would be able to help me. That was a post-grad from RAM

I'm going next week to RCM to see if they can help or give me any recommendations, which I think is the best route to take. If that fails (which I hope to high heaven that it doesn't) then I'm a bit screwed!

[Flossie]

Try your nearest university music department. They may have a list of instrumental teachers whom they approve for students studying their performance modules. As most music students already have diplomas, you can be confident that the university approved teachers will teach to the level you need. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I think it's quite common to have problems finding teachers for diploma standard or above - a lot only teach up to either grade 6 or 8. I had problems finding a flute teacher as an adult returner, and I was only around grade 6 standard (having previously got to between grade 8 and diploma standard when I first learnt).

If possible, it's worth trying more than one teacher and seeing who you click with best. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[jojo]

I think my teacher does up to diploma level, but he's based in surrey (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[viola-mad]

Any tips on how to find someone - even if further away? Is there an A-Z of good teachers anywhere?

Have you had a look on the Music Teachers UK website? It isn't a guide to who's good and who's less good (word of mouth seems to be best for that), but most teachers registered with the site will give details of roughly where they are based, the level they are happy to teach up to and styles of music if they specialise. Good luck finding somebody.

[AmandaL]

when I found out a bit more about her, she had nothing more than grade 8 and didn't seem to actively play herself, just teach.

Ok, so she'd got no better paper qualifications in music than you, but, don't discount everyone on paper qualifications alone. Some of the best teachers are not necessarily the best performers or indeed the most highly paper qualified. The best performers don't necessarily make the best teachers and in some cases neither do all of those with a list of qualifications as long as your arm, in fact, you'll often find that those who are are the top of the performing game are not the best to approach for lessons. Players in that league are generally only interested in those of a similar ability to themselves and teaching at diploma level is more about guidance on interpretation etc. rather than actually teaching.

Perhaps I'm being a bit picky, but I want a really GOOD teacher. I want someone who has shown their own ability to play and has good teaching experience at the level I am.

I would suggest you have a few consultation lessons with people whom you think are suitable. Apart from their teaching technique, personality clashes are also more likely at advanced levels. I know, because I've been through it myself.

Conservatoires are a good place to start your enquiries, but as others have already mentioned, you need to be prepared to travel and pay a premium rate if you want a teacher with a 'name'.

EDIT: How much time do you realistically have for intensive practice? You mention that you have three young children. If you are paying a top teacher for lessons, they will expect you to be putting in at least two solid hours of practice a day and for the lesson fee you'll pay, you'll want to put in all the hours you can find.

[BerkshireMum]

I feel rather dismayed. Am I looking in the wrong place? I live in Berkshire, so its not a remote isolated area!

Thanks,
NellieVic.

Have you tried contacting Berkshire Maestros? It's the county music service for schools, but they will have a list of good teachers, some of whom will take private pupils as well.

I don't know much about the violin teachers, but my son had clarinet lessons through Maestros and I know his teacher (who helped him pass DipABRSM with Distinction last July) takes private pupils, so I'm assuming violin will be similar. It can't hurt to enquire.

[all ears]

You mentioned that there were some teachers who could teach to post-grade 8 level, though they didn't have any post-grade 8 students at the time.

Considering the difficulty of finding the perfect teacher (and I know that it's hard!), the fact that you have a young family, and that you say you are a bit rusty, what about approaching one or two of those teachers?

Could a teacher who has sharp ears and is very good at getting to the root of things and explaining/demonstrating keep you busy with technical work and "standard" major repertoire for a year or two, whether or not they have any post-grade 8 students?

As an adult, you also have better analytical skills to take responsibility for improvement on techniques your teacher identifies as needing work, and you are able to get hold of books or CDs to study more for yourself - a good clear recording can tell you a lot about bowing or even which notes are fingered or open etc. Son likes Szeryng's recordings for study - affordable, available, and the guy is just never wrong!

Good hunting, and please keep us all posted, as it's an evergreen topic.

[Libitina]

I feel rather dismayed. Am I looking in the wrong place? I live in Berkshire, so its not a remote isolated area!

Thanks,
NellieVic.

Have you tried this lady.

READING,
BERKSHIRE
Berkshire
RG1 6QQ
Home Phone: 07968942153
Instruments: Violin
Ability Levels: Beginners to Advanced
Genre/Style(s): Classical Violin
Qualifications: BMus (Hons)-Royal Academy of Music,London
LRAM-Teaching diploma,Royal Academy of Music,London
DipRAM-Postgraduate performance diploma,Royal Academy of Music,London
Fee (30 minutes): £15.00
Fee (60 minutes): £30.00
Notes: Years of experience.
Also available to teach outside Berkshire area.

she may go beyond advanced, worth a call if you haven't already

A link for you with a LONG list of teachers all around berkshire.

http://www.musicteachers.co.uk/search?mode...&image.y=17

Rachel

[Debra]

Hi, I found my teacher simple by luck and turns out to be really great. But, you could find out who plays at your local professional (GOOD) orchestra and see if any of these poeple teach as well. So why not go to one and have a chat with one or two of the violinists there. Also in the programes they often give a small summary of their study and experience, which should give you some idea. Good luck.

[karslima]

Do you have a good standard amateur orchestra in your area? It could be worth giving them a ring, or going along to their rehearsals and asking around. I found my teacher that way - through word of mouth. I just realised that is what Debra has said!

[1stviolin]

A combination of the last two responses...

Do go along to your local amateur orchestra - and JOIN!! If it's anything like mine you will be made very welcome as a Grade 8+ violin player and the experience will be very beneficial to your playing all-round (sight-reading, playing lots of absurd leger lines, stamina etc ) as well as enjoyable and hopefully will put on concerts which your children will enjoy watching YOU perform in (revenge for all those school nativities....). It will provide a focus for some practice as well to see how much you really can manage in the week.

Then you can ask around - possibly one of the players may be a peri teacher themselves, or have contacts in the local music service (there is a lot of cross-over between the amateur/ semi-pro / professional music world). Our orchestra has regular coaching sessions from players in the CBSO (when we can afford it!) and if you can find a contact in your nearest equivalent professional orchestra that would be another good avenue.

As for the two hours a day....??? Well as a working parent of three myself I can see that's probably not going to happen in a hurry, but there would certainly be no harm in approaching a potential teacher explaining your situation, with the long-term aim of working on Diploma level repertoire, polishing up technique, maybe a slot in a local festival, with perhaps longer lessons once a month (especially if there is travelling) which should be enjoyable and enable you to see some worthwhile improvement.

Good luck with this - I have toyed with the idea of having more post Grade 8 lessons myself (violin or piano) : although watching the amount my son had to do to pass his piano diploma has opened my eyes to the amount of work that would be necessary, now my children are older (only one left at home) it might be possible.....