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

[miss sooky]

Exciting times Jo - I love the way you take control of your music and think your commitment is inspirational. I sometimes worry that I am so attached to my cello teacher. it would be like a bereavement if she were to move on! Seriously, I have had three teachers and the first two were, for various reasons excellent in their field but not a good fit for me, so I know well both the anticipation and apprehension of moving to a new teacher. I really look forward to hearing about your progress both with the new teacher and on Gandalf!

[jojo]

Exciting times Jo - I love the way you take control of your music and think your commitment is inspirational. I sometimes worry that I am so attached to my cello teacher. it would be like a bereavement if she were to move on! Seriously, I have had three teachers and the first two were, for various reasons excellent in their field but not a good fit for me, so I know well both the anticipation and apprehension of moving to a new teacher. I really look forward to hearing about your progress both with the new teacher and on Gandalf!

Thank you Miss Sooky, I can tell you this new violin teacher will work me to the ground!!! But I am ready for it and will stand back up to take more!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I like that he seemed to treat me 'seriously' and was really pushing me like I was some music college teenage prodigy who was training to become the next famoust soloist! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
Although I will not be the next Sarah Chang it is nice to be given some 'welly' and taught things properly and seriously, not just 'fluffing about' as you're 40 years old work full time and you'll never make it anywhere with the violin so be grateful to just about play a tune or two (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) (sorry for my sarcasm, but I guess I was feeling a little let down by my previous teacher, that after I was honest with him and told him I wanted to learn 'seriously' etc he just refused to.).

As for Gandalf, check out the lower strings thread, my teacher seems to be VERY positive that she will get me playing grade 5 tunes in the next one to two months and join an orchestra with the bass by november! (she seems to forget I already told her I cannot join 2 orchestras, am already struggling attending one!) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[fayewolf]

Jojo, I'm so happy for you!!! This is THE teacher you want and I can tell that you'll learn alot from him!! Yes, we are adults, and for most of us, this is a hobby, we aint' going to curtis or Julliard, but we want to do well too!! I don't like it that some teachers view adults differently. I totally understand and agree that they need to talk tous differently, and use different ways to commnicate or teach us things, but don't neglect all the technical exercises/scales just because we are not the next Sarah Chang!!

Today, I had a tough lesson, but it made me so happy. My teacher spent the whole lesson tearing my Vivaldi G minor concerto down, criticizing the phrasing, every note. She asked me to watch videos on youtube of my favorite violinist and watch how they use the bow to make one quarter note different from another. Use alot of dynamics.. etc. I was exhausted but I felt like she's treating me like any of her other students. Makes me super happy!

How is your orchestra rehearsal going btw?

[Violin Hero]

I love teachers who criticize even the smallest tinyest error with a piece. This i a sign of a quality teacher in my mind.

Also can't believe you never did scales for 2.5 years! You must have sensed something lacking in your lessons.

I also do scales evry lesson

20 mins scales.
20 min piece(s).
20 mins theory. If I wern't doing grade 5 thory I would probably just do more work on pieces.

[jojo]

I love teachers who criticize even the smallest tinyest error with a piece. This i a sign of a quality teacher in my mind.

Also can't believe you never did scales for 2.5 years! You must have sensed something lacking in your lessons.

I also do scales evry lesson

20 mins scales.
20 min piece(s).
20 mins theory. If I wern't doing grade 5 thory I would probably just do more work on pieces.

Violin Hero, is the break-down above (three 20 minutes slots) what you do in your daily practice or in your lessons with teacher?
I try to practice an hour every day (6 days a week mostly) and not sure how I will spend it, but probably half of that on sevcik/shifting exercises/scales then 25 minutes on exam piece/pieces and last 5 minutes playing something 'from the past'

How often do you have lessons? I am going to have an hour lesson a week with this new teacher.

And yes, never did scales in 2 and a half years, not joking, actually, did them in just ONE lesson and that was the lesson before my grade 1 exam back in June 2007 (exam I entered on my own accord, teacher never mentioned any exam, I got a distinction but not thanks to him as I did theory on my own and aural with a piano teacher).

[Violin Hero]

That was my general lesson layout.

In practice I will do 2 15 minute sessions on scales per day. I find scales a bit boring so break it down in the 2 sessions.

Then I will probably do 30 minutes min a day on pieces. Will play throuh slowly stpping to correct out of tune notes or work any ou where i don't recognise what fingering to do etc...

I will always have a day off every week. The day varies depending on which days I am busy on.

[jojo]

That was my general lesson layout.

In practice I will do 2 15 minute sessions on scales per day. I find scales a bit boring so break it down in the 2 sessions.

Then I will probably do 30 minutes min a day on pieces. Will play throuh slowly stpping to correct out of tune notes or work any ou where i don't recognise what fingering to do etc...

I will always have a day off every week. The day varies depending on which days I am busy on.

Sounds like we have similar practice sessions then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[jojo]

Jojo, I'm so happy for you!!! This is THE teacher you want and I can tell that you'll learn alot from him!! Yes, we are adults, and for most of us, this is a hobby, we aint' going to curtis or Julliard, but we want to do well too!!

How is your orchestra rehearsal going btw?

Had my 2nd lesson with my new teacher today.
A few days ago I bought Sevcik op 1 part 1 and Kreutzer 42 studies/caprices for violin, showed them to him and he was 'delighted', he quickly got them on the music stand and 'prescribed me' a few exercises from sevcik for intonation/smoothing fingers out and kreutzer for bowing technique (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) He checked on what I did over the past week and he said he could hear improvement in my intonation already.
I showed him this 'chromatic tuner' I have and told him that sometimes I use it to check if I am 'in the right place', he shook his head and said 'no no no' don't use that! use your ears and check against open strings instead! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

At the end of the lesson I said to him I chose my pieces for grade 5 exam as that is my next 'short term target', to sit grade 5. I said to him: 'is it alright I chose the pieces? the syllabus is good until 2011 and I should be able to sit grade 5 by 2011??', he said: 'You will do that in December' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif)
THAT made me really happy as apparently he is a very strict teacher and all his students get distinctions as he only 'lets them' enter for the exam when they are really ready for it. So that must give me reassurance that I must be at the level I thought I was, sometimes I wondered if I was 'kidding myself' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

So....I guess I have found myself a new teacher (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

He's really good, he got his LRSM diploma at age 16, I feel quite honoured to have him as a teacher. He certainly knows lots of things from front to back, he would just recall any studies just like that, what number they are, at what page and what notes I am supposed to play NEXT without even looking at the book (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) so obviously a very good memory too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

My orchestral rehearsal are on hold, orchestra is having 'summer vacation' now and we don't meet again until first week in september (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[BerkshireMum]

That's lovely, jojo! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Finding a teacher can be such a headache, but you seem to have found just the right person for you. It sounds as though he wll make you work hard, but that's good because that's what achieves results.

[moon]

He sounds like fantastic teacher, I'm happy that you've found the right teacher for you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Your post about shifting (last time I asked you do you shift) - I know what you mean! I use to guess where to shift to (i got into a bad habit) and my teacher told me I should use guide notes and don't just jump to a note. I was surprised that my old teacher never spotted my bad habit.

Your teacher sounds really good! I should do more technical exercises as well, I'm quite lazy with my practice, you put me to shame!

Have fun practicing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

By the way, just curious, are you paying more money for this teacher? I'm paying the same price for my old and new teacher. My lessons are £30 per hour. I know some people who pays £22 for half an hour or £40 per hour for a lesson. I'm in London, so those prices are reasonable but personally I find £40 per hour quite expensive! But if the teacher is good, it's definitely worth it.

[jojo]

Your teacher sounds really good! I should do more technical exercises as well, I'm quite lazy with my practice, you put me to shame!

Have fun practicing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

By the way, just curious, are you paying more money for this teacher? I'm paying the same price for my old and new teacher. My lessons are £30 per hour. I know some people who pays £22 for half an hour or £40 per hour for a lesson. I'm in London, so those prices are reasonable but personally I find £40 per hour quite expensive! But if the teacher is good, it's definitely worth it.

I think my new teacher 'is' good (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I even received an email from him today just re-capping what he wants me to practice over this week, loved it when I received it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
but I don't know how I can put you to shame, I only practice an hour a day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)
I am really really 'eager' to get to grade 8 that I am now going parhanoid with my practice, I just HAVE to practice no matter how tired I am or how late it is in the day! (I have been pushing it a bit playing Double bass from 9 to 10pm (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) ), I just keep telling myself it will be 'many more years' to grade 8 if I dare to 'skip' my practice LOL (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) It will still probably take a few years anyway, but will take longer without 'good/constructive' and regular practice!

I pay £34 p/hour and do an hour a week

my previous teacher was £26 p/hour

But my current teacher charges more I think for post-grade 8 (I think, will tell you when I get there LOL), he will also charge more if you have the 'occasional consultation' rather than regular lessons.

[Violin Hero]

Th price is fairly high at 34p/h. However a good uality teacher is always worth the expenditure as long as you continue playing for several years.

I pay £30 p/h which is certainly worth it. Especially as he often makes a trip to my house specialy to teach me. I think he just likes to see my mums house! Compared to his one bed flat it is a palace.

[jojo]

Th price is fairly high at 34p/h. However a good uality teacher is always worth the expenditure as long as you continue playing for several years.

I pay £30 p/h which is certainly worth it. Especially as he often makes a trip to my house specialy to teach me. I think he just likes to see my mums house! Compared to his one bed flat it is a palace.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) now I want to see your mum's house too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
On that basis I don't understand why my teacher teaches from his base, his flat is not very 'entertaining' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) BUT, his lessons are SO interesting you soon forget where you are, you could be absolutely anywhere you, just see yourself, the music stand and him, he really keeps your attention focused!

About the price I don't know to be honest, some tell me he's 'cheap' some tell me he's 'dear', when I look at other teachers advertising fees (on music teachers website) some charge more (not many though), it seems the most 'regular price' or 'popular' around london (for grade 1 to 8 standard of playing/teaching) is between £25 and £40 per hour the majority between £25 and £30.

[rosfrog]

I don't think that 36 per hour is excessive at all. I charge considerably more than that for singing lessons and my own fiddle teacher charges 50 euro per hour. As students we should strive to understand that our teachers need to make a living and that out of 36 and hour, the teacher probably ends up with (at least in France - I don't know about English fiscality any more) a little less than half of that.

People who say 'oh that's expensive' often mean 'oh that appears to be lots more than I earn' - however a teacher isn't working 35 hours a week and doesn't keep anywhere near the full amount paid, nor do they get paid during the holidays.

Mini rant, I know, but I get tired of the 'how much is costing me per minute' brigade and much prefer the 'how much is it costing me per result' approach.

VH - perhaps if you teacher dared charge more he wouldn't be so in awe of your home?

[Violin Hero]

My teacher is freelance and the only cost to him is travel. This is why he now charges £30 as opposed to £27 when I used to go t his flat before he moved. There is nobody else taking a cut of his pay.

Of course he supplements the private teaching with classroom teacher twice a week and sometimes does concerts etc.