Starting to play the violin might seem daunting, reaching a basic level of proficiency to match your performance goals is possible with the right tools, teacher, and plan. If you are interested in learning how to play the violin, starting violin lessons in Miami with Lessons In Your Home will be a great first experience in this instrument.
Find an Instrument, Equipment, and Materials
To begin violin lessons, you need a violin. Lisle Violins and Amati Violins are the most popular violin stores in Houston and are located around Rice Village. The employees in both stores will be able to help you find an instrument that fits your needs and size. The violins you can buy from a store are usually higher quality than the ones you can get online. In addition, violin stores often have a rental program where you can either rent or rent to buy instruments. This is especially helpful when you need a smaller instrument, since most rental programs allow you to upgrade to a bigger size when needed.
In addition to the instrument, most Miami violin teachers recommend using a shoulder rest, which can be found either online or in the violin stores. For younger students, a sponge is often used in place of a shoulder rest. For older students, a shoulder rest will add height and stability to the violin, allowing students to hold the violin much more comfortably. Another item that you will most likely want to get is a music stand. A music stand can come in a variety of styles, but the purpose is to hold your music at the right height, either when you are sitting or standing to practice. A simple wire stand is the most common type and is very affordable.
You will also need a lesson book or lesson materials. The most popular method books for violin are the Suzuki Method or Essential Elements series. Your teacher will recommend the best one to meet your goals. Be sure to talk to your teacher before purchasing a lesson book, because they will know exactly which method book you will use.
Find a Teacher Who Matches Your Needs
Finding the right teacher is one of the most important aspects of learning the violin. There are many things to look for in a violin instructor. With Lessons in Your Home, we work to match students with the right teacher to meet the students’ goals. Teachers have different approaches to teaching and use a variety of method books. To help you find the right teacher, talk to our staff about your goals and learning styles so they can pair you with a teacher that will help make lessons successful.
Lessons and Practice Routines
After you find an instrument, set up lessons and establish a practice routine. Having a lesson once a week is the most common schedule, although some students take lessons twice a week or every other week, depending on their needs and schedules. Practicing assignments and playing for fun almost every day is highly encouraged.
The more regular your practice routine is, the faster you will progress. Practicing every day is ideal, but only practicing four or five days a week will still help you progress at a healthy rate. The amount of time spent practicing will also vary, but the average in the beginning stages ranges from 15 to 30 minutes for each practice session.
What to Expect for the First Few Months
The first few lessons will most likely focus on how to hold the violin and playing open strings. Some teachers will introduce plucking to make the first sound on your violin, while others introduce the bow and exercises to work on the bow hold. Most teachers incorporate using fingers on the left hand after a few weeks to a few months, depending on how lessons have been progressing. The first few weeks of lessons might seem slow, but mastering the fundamentals early on will help you succeed when lessons cover more complex pieces.
If you are interested in violin lessons, contact us for more information or to set up lessons with one of our teachers! We will assign a teacher to match your goals and help you get started on your musical journey. Our teachers will come right to your home for every lesson, plus we offer virtual music lessons, too. Our online music lessons are taught by local music teachers who plan their lessons to suit your child.
By Abigail Bracewell