Going To Meet A Prospective New Violin Teacher, Am I a 'freak' (please read post) Options

[moon]

I'm lucky that I found a viola teacher who's experienced at teaching adults.

My first year of learning, I had adult group lessons, there were about 5 of us in a class and I really enjoyed it. But I never went back for the second year because I just didn't have time for weekly group lessons. So I started looking for a private teacher. I must have tried about 3 or 4 different teachers and none of them worked out. I had about 2 lessons each with the teacher and then gave up on them, I just didn't like their teaching style, maybe it was because they're use to teaching children and didn't know how to go about teaching me. I felt like I was leading the lesson, they would ask me what I want to do that lesson - how am I suppose to know what I'm suppose to be learning! Their attitude was "oh she's not going to get anywhere with it, just let her play what she wants and take it from there".

I got fed up of looking for a teacher, so I stuck with this particular teacher for about 6 months as she was okay. But my lessons were quite boring, she didn't really motivate or push me, I didn't want to do grade exams, so we just played through the pieces, she would never give me anything extra too learn ie. suggest technical studies or exercises. Lessons were repetitive and I didn't make much progress. Plus sometimes she would forget what she taught me in the last lesson! I'm not saying she's a bad teacher, but her style just wasn't right for me.

Then luckily earlier this year, a friend recommended a teacher to me who's experienced in teaching adults. I knew she was the right teacher after my first lesson, I went home feeling enthusiastic and felt like I learnt a lot. She would recommend books, recommend studies, let me borrow her books or music, she was feeding me with information and motivating me to learn. For example, in my grade 4 book of music, there's something in the 2nd position, my old teacher wouldn't give me extra study material, we would just learn that piece of music and that was it. Whereas my new teacher would be enthusiastic and say "I've got some good exercises for 2nd position, let me give you that." She's brilliant. I really feel like I'm learning. But then another friend has a lesson with my teacher and found her a bit overwhelming and intensive. So at the end of the day, everyone is different. You should try a few teachers and see how you get on. It's good that you know what you're looking for.

Good luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[jojo]

So at the end of the day, everyone is different. You should try a few teachers and see how you get on. It's good that you know what you're looking for.

Good luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

You are indeed right Moon,
having spent 2 and a half years with a teacher who only gets me to play pieces, never asks me to play ONE scale, refuses to help me play technical studies/exercises as he says I should be practicing 3 hours a day to have time to dedicate to those (I think like your teacher he thinks being an adult means you can only want or can achieve playing a few pieces and nothing more), I now KNOW very well that what I want/need is a teacher who treats me like a person who wants to SERIOUSLY learn to play the violin WELL, just like a music college student. I too want to learn a solid technique etc, I don't care I am 40 this year and I might be 60 by the time I am ready to study at diploma level, it is that I am achieving for!
So this new teacher sounds just like the right medication for me!
I have heard from a student of his that he is exactly what I am looking for!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Terra]

My teacher is pretty good with technical stuff. She knows that I want to do exams as well as be a well rounded player. So although we have done exam pieces I have also worked on other things. We do scales every lesson and then work on pieces.

[jojo]

My teacher is pretty good with technical stuff. She knows that I want to do exams as well as be a well rounded player. So although we have done exam pieces I have also worked on other things. We do scales every lesson and then work on pieces.

that sounds like a normal teacher to me Terra (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
thought there was nothing out of place with my one not asking me to play one scale EVER in 2 and a half years!

[Terra]

My teacher is pretty good with technical stuff. She knows that I want to do exams as well as be a well rounded player. So although we have done exam pieces I have also worked on other things. We do scales every lesson and then work on pieces.

that sounds like a normal teacher to me Terra (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
thought there was nothing out of place with my one not asking me to play one scale EVER in 2 and a half years!

I do think it's a bit strange that your teacher didn't ask you to play them. I would have been confused as most teachers want you to play scales.

[rosfrog]

I think it depends on the system, really.

In France scales are very uncommon in violin tuition to begin with - generally after the end of the regional conservatoire system (grade 8 ish) students will begin serious scale studies and work on them in depth.

This approach doesn't seem to stop people becoming great violinists over here.

However, as JoJo's teacher was supposedly preparing her for ABRSM exams in which scales are a requirement, it does seem very odd to me indeed!

Hope your new teacher is better for you JoJo and well done on the clip on Youtube - when do we get a Gandalf one?

[jojo]

Hope your new teacher is better for you JoJo and well done on the clip on Youtube - when do we get a Gandalf one?

You want more ???? now that's what I call 'sadistic' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

seriously though, I did think about putting one on with Gandalf, will do it in the next few days, promise (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
but now I really want to buy a good microphone, this one didnt do my violin any justice, sounded like a tin-toy!

[Terra]

Hope your new teacher is better for you JoJo and well done on the clip on Youtube - when do we get a Gandalf one?

You want more ???? now that's what I call 'sadistic' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

seriously though, I did think about putting one on with Gandalf, will do it in the next few days, promise (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
but now I really want to buy a good microphone, this one didnt do my violin any justice, sounded like a tin-toy!

You could tell it was the microphone and not you! You did really well!

[Jacobi]

Hope your new teacher is better for you JoJo and well done on the clip on Youtube - when do we get a Gandalf one?

You want more ???? now that's what I call 'sadistic' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

seriously though, I did think about putting one on with Gandalf, will do it in the next few days, promise (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
but now I really want to buy a good microphone, this one didnt do my violin any justice, sounded like a tin-toy!

Well done for you youtube clip (very brave!), I look forward to the Gandalf one! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I think I learned the A major scale in my first lesson (admittedly that one is very easy!). I find scales are useful to check and work on my tuning it would be even harder without them!

[jojo]

Ok, I am EXHAUSTED! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
we had an hour today (with my new teacher).
He like the fact I gave him a list with my long term and short term goals on it.
He said he will enjoy teaching me as I 'use my brain' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
What did we do?
He asked me to play G major 3 octaves and I did, from there he was OFF!
He corrected the way I shift, I get my notes right, I just don't shift the right way (with the right technique) so he taught me that and I remember my previous teacher telling me about it, only once he told me about it he then let me do it the wrong way without ever revisiting that!
He was VERY picky and would not let me off with anything which wasn't 'perfect', my brain was HURTING! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
he then went on make me play scales on one string only shifting first with my first and second finger only then my second and third only then my third and fourth only
Then I played my grade 5 B3 piece for him (sicilienne) and he showed me different shifting/fingering for that, now I have to practice the 'correct way' to shift in my B3 piece.
Sent me away with homework:
Sevcik op1 part 2 exercise 12 just the first 2 bars, to then practice my scales on one string only with the correct shifting as above and then practice sicilienne with new fingering/shifting and just go over Giga A5 piece as he wants to do a bit of that next week.
I can see he will work me hard!
I certainly need that as I've been left to 'fluff about' for too long.
He also gave me a simple exercise to help my 'thumb positioning' throughout the fingerboad, my thumb was not doing the right thing apparently (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)
asked me to get (if I can) sevcik op 1 part 1, which I will
Next lesson friday evening, 1 hour.
I will stick religiously to what he told me every day.
Suddenly I don't care anymore if I am going to sit grade 5 in december, I just want to do the homework he gave me, I trust that if I do what he says my playing will improve heaps.

[moon]

That sounds like a good lesson! I always like a lesson that makes me feel excited and enthusiastic about learning (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Glad your lesson went well.

Just wondering, what is the "correct" way of shifting. I've tried lots of teachers and I've been told different things. My current teacher is happy with my shifting as she shifts in the same way i.e. move the whole hand and fingers in one movement, but I've been told by other teachers to move the thumb first.

Keep up the good work and I'm sure you'll see big improvements! I really should do more practice, I'm so terrible.

[Terra]

Ok, I am EXHAUSTED! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
we had an hour today (with my new teacher).
He like the fact I gave him a list with my long term and short term goals on it.
He said he will enjoy teaching me as I 'use my brain' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
What did we do?
He asked me to play G major 3 octaves and I did, from there he was OFF!
He corrected the way I shift, I get my notes right, I just don't shift the right way (with the right technique) so he taught me that and I remember my previous teacher telling me about it, only once he told me about it he then let me do it the wrong way without ever revisiting that!
He was VERY picky and would not let me off with anything which wasn't 'perfect', my brain was HURTING! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
he then went on make me play scales on one string only shifting first with my first and second finger only then my second and third only then my third and fourth only
Then I played my grade 5 B3 piece for him (sicilienne) and he showed me different shifting/fingering for that, now I have to practice the 'correct way' to shift in my B3 piece.
Sent me away with homework:
Sevcik op1 part 2 exercise 12 just the first 2 bars, to then practice my scales on one string only with the correct shifting as above and then practice sicilienne with new fingering/shifting and just go over Giga A5 piece as he wants to do a bit of that next week.
I can see he will work me hard!
I certainly need that as I've been left to 'fluff about' for too long.
He also gave me a simple exercise to help my 'thumb positioning' throughout the fingerboad, my thumb was not doing the right thing apparently (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)
asked me to get (if I can) sevcik op 1 part 1, which I will
Next lesson friday evening, 1 hour.
I will stick religiously to what he told me every day.
Suddenly I don't care anymore if I am going to sit grade 5 in december, I just want to do the homework he gave me, I trust that if I do what he says my playing will improve heaps.

Glad you like your new teacher and hope that you now feel more possitive about the move!

[jojo]

Just wondering, what is the "correct" way of shifting. I've tried lots of teachers and I've been told different things. My current teacher is happy with my shifting as she shifts in the same way i.e. move the whole hand and fingers in one movement, but I've been told by other teachers to move the thumb first.

oh, now you got me! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) the 'correct way of shifting'....
well, what I meant with my experience today is that I was just going from one note to another without any 'logic' into it.
He reminded me about 'guide notes' when you shift, ie:
going from E in 3rd position on A string (using 2nd finger) down to B in 1st position (1st finger), I was just going from E to B straight without using the 'guide note'. So he made me do E (2nd finger in 3rd position) down to Csharp (2nd finger 1st position) and then play B with my first finger.
So your 2nd finger is the 'guide note' (he called it the 'walking stick), you slide down to first position with that finger then play your note (in this case B) with first finger (not sure if I am explaining this right (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) )
when you first do this you practice so that you hear your second finger slide down to Csharp, when you hear Csharp you raise your second finger put down your first to play B (the note you were intending to play). As you practice and get better the slide will eventually 'disappear' so that you are still doing the movement with your hand/fingers but don't hear the slide anymore nor Csharp.

am I making any sense here???? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif)

Anyway, I think this is a basic technique all violinists learn at first and then it becomes second nature.
He said there should not be any 'guess work' when shifting but all based on the above technique.

Anyway, I better go and eat my dinner now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[lottie]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) Yes it makes sense Jo but it's all news to me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

I've always just had to guess... even when in fourth position on my viola (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) and it's always a bit hairy!

[Jacobi]

It all sounds positive news to me! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) glad everything went well!

I haven't a clue about shifting, that's something for later on for me I think!