Archive for Violin Teaching
Playing Fifths
Yesterday, I was asked to play the ‘Lark Ascending’ during a wedding ceremony, accompanied by a piano. It was a beautiful occasion and whilst we played it, the wedding guests sat spellbound. This is such an evocative piece and quite an unusual request but it was absolutely exquisite on this occasion.
The piece contains many ‘fifths’ [...]
Adjudicating a string prize….
Yesterday, I did something that was completely new to me - I was asked to adjudicate a string competition at my old school. I remember vividly entering this same competition myself over 20 years ago and playing the ‘Praeludium’ from Bach’s E major Partita - and I think I won a book token!
Interestingly, I started [...]
Deputising for teaching….
It’s always been the case that a lot of professional musicians regularly teach as well as perform - either privately or at schools or music colleges. Due to the sometimes erratic nature of work, it’s not always 100% possible for full time players to meet their teaching commitments, and they will often ask a trusted [...]
The Power of Words when teaching a stringed instrument
Over the last few years, in my own journey of learning the violin and the viola, I have been very privileged to take lessons with a wonderful teacher - the Hungarian violinist, Kato Havas. One area in which she has given me much to think about - especially with regard to the way I teach my own [...]
Teaching Adults the Violin or Viola
I’ve taught many adult violinist and violists, some who have come to me as a total beginner (perhaps who had always wanted to learn a stringed instrument but had never had the time or opportunity before), and others who have played for many years or wish to take it up again after a long break. [...]