Hi, new to the forum - searching for a violin teacher in the Leeds area
I'm a mature student & a complete novice wishing to learn how to play the violin (folk/Irish/Scottish) - can anyone help - thanks

As a start you could try Music Teachers UK although I don't know if they'll specify if they teach mainly in the styles that you like. Other than that try asking in local music shops.

Good luck with your playing .

Hi, thanks for the reply - tried Music teachers UK - got some phone numbers but all the numbers in my area were no longer recogised !!

Also tried the local music shop & guess what the same thing happened !

So, I'll keep on trying - I do have a good DVD, but feel that you cannot replace a good teacher

Cheers

If you are particularly interested in scottish/irish/folk music, you might want to contact local bands to see if any of their members teach fiddle, one way of finding the bands is through dance societies, eg Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) which have branches in your area. They regularly employ bands to play for their dances and might be able to pass on some contact details for you.

Alternatively there are a couple of learning orchestras in Leeds where you could learn the basics of violin playing, get to meet other adult learners and then move on to develop your folk playing once you have got the basics secure. This is the route that I am currently taking - I am learning to play viola with ELLSO (East London Late Starters Orchestra - sister orchestra to Yorkshire Late Starters Strings based in Leeds) while still developing my scottish fiddle playing using tune books from Scottish Fiddle Music and joining in the occassional session, when I can.

Check out the YLSS website and see what you think. Good luck - and keep us posted on how you get on.

Thanks ever so much Onion - just what I was looking for!
Still looking for a one to one (don't want to show myself up in public) but what a great start !

Cheers,

Paul

I would definitely second getting in touch with YLSS. Even if you can't do the Saturday morning sessions (which are great) I am sure there must be people there who can find you a violin teacher in Leeds.

In fact George Kennaway from YLSS recommended my teacher for me in Sheffield, and I've never looked back.

Jane

Paul, don't worry about making a fool of yourself - that's all part of the fun and most adult learners are very understanding of mistakes. (I still work on the theory that mistakes are how new music is created!)

As Jane suggests, they will be able to recommend a tutor to approach. I don't know about the tutors in YLLS but certainly the tutors at ELLSO represent a wide variety of styles of music.

Enjoy your playing.

Lis

Thanks again Lis (Onion) and comments from Jane - gave them a call yesterday - will go pay a visit this Saturday -

Cheers Paul

Great
Let us know how you get on, and if Kwaker's there give him a pat from me

Jane

Will do, its the least I can do!

Paul

so... how did it go?

lis

Did'nt make it, my daughter dislocated her shoulder Saturday morning ! so had to take her to the hospital !

I'll try again!

Cheers Paul

ouchy - hope that daughter is doing ok - and being spoilt rotten this weekend!!!

Good luck getting to visit with YLSS sometime soon.

lis

Joy oh joy - finally got myself a music teacher (teaches Folk/Irish) just what I wanted - first lesson is on Friday !

Just to let people know!

Paul

O that's good. Do let us all know how you get on.

Liz

Hurrah.

Its all coming together now

Good for you!

Good luck. How did you find your tutor?

lis

Hi, Onion, Jane & Liz - had my first lession ever last friday evening!
- nice chap - got me playing already - I must admit I did'nt think I would playing
-ist strings (sound like a cat at present !) so soon

- it was a 30 minute session - next ones next Friday - he left me a couple of pieces to practice and wants them perfiect for when he arrives on friday

I've got the first one sorted, but the second is a little harder going from the A string over to the D string with various pitches! hope I get them sorted - I guess practice is the key word here - however I keep trying to hold the neck with my thumb and my wrist flat, woops - hope I get out of that habit soon

What are your thoughts re the first lession, I'm interested to hear what you think

Cheers, Paul

WoW!! That sounds great. You're playing already AND string crossing. Wonderful stuff.

Take it really really slowly and listen to the tone all the time. If it sounds crummy (which if you are anything like me it will for a long time) then try and isolate what the cause is. (Here's a hint....it is 99.9999% of the time the bow) If it sounds good or better try to work out what you did differently and do it again, (bow faster / slower, straighter, more / less weight for eg) This way you can build on the good habits and eliminate bad habits before they start.

It is sooo easy to practise in bad habits and then you have a real job getting rid of them

I can understand you supporting the violin with the left hand on the neck as for a start it feels so un-natural. So also practise holding it under the chin with no hands until it starts to feel the most natural thing in the world to have it there. (Like you could get on with the rest of your life with it there and not drop it, ever!). If it still feels like you need to support it when you practice then practise over the bed, and don't support it, so you are not scared of it dropping on a hard floor.

Keep us informed of progress.

Oh BTW some great fairly easy music which you can play with your teacher are the Bartok 44 duos. They start easy and gradually get more tricky as you go on, but very rewarding as it is REAL music.

Good Luck

Jane

Hi Jane Thanks ever so much for your imput - it certainly helps -

I must admit the shoulder rest feels a bit strange, trying to get used to it - have practiced over the bed though, just in case!

You are quite right - the bow - to hard on my part - Ouchee ! my poor ears

Thanks for the info re BTW

Do you think my teacher is getting me to things fast ? I must admit I was quite surprised at the speed at which things went - mind I surpose its good to be pushed a bit.

Cheers, Paul

Shoulder rests etc are a very personal thing and it might be an idea to try several different sorts until you feel comfortable. Every person is a different shape, with different length necks etc, and there is also the big argument over whether to use a shoulder rest at all (though personally I couldn't play without one as I would be definitely dropping it!).

Maybe Liz can help with this, you may be able to try different sorts to see how it suits you. Its a good idea to experiment until you feel comfortable, and you may want to change your chin rest too.

Perlman just pushes a piece of foam under his jacket (and he seems to play OK ), and Anne Sophie-Mutter has no shoulder rest but a very tall chin rest.

If you feel your teacher is pushing you too fast then just talk to him / her, but I would think that your teacher knows what's best for you. However it is always good (and I do this now before starting my practice) to play some long slow bows on open strings and just listen to the tone and concentrate on what my bow is doing. Try looking in a mirror to make sure it is straight and not wavering about on the string (ie keeping it on the same soundpoint).

Oh such a lot to do!!!

Jx

Hi Jane,

Ha Ha, such a lot to do - well I could live a quiet life, but no I chose to learn to play the violin, and why not !

I'm a teacher myself (Tae Kwon-Do) - so its good to be pushed, and as you say he knows better - I'll talk to him re shoulder rests and have a look at Liz's website.

Again Thanks for all the imput

Cheers Paul

Paul, it sounds as if you're doing fine.

Liz

Hi I've been looking for a fiddle teacher in leeds too, is there any chance you could give me the number of yours please, all i can find is classical and I'm looking for Irish/Scottish folk style fiddle.

Thanks.