Information about violin lessons
Violin lessons are $30/ lesson. Lessons are 30 minutes in length.
Lessons are scheduled weekly.
Parents/Students will be billed at the beginning of the month.
Be on time for your lesson. *I cannot extend a lesson if you do not make your lesson on time. It is unfair to students following your scheduled time.
Please communicate with me if you need to cancel a lesson or you will be late. *A 24 hour cancelation notice is required.
Parents/Students are encouraged to stay for the lesson & take notes. This way parents are able to help their student in case s/he forgets what I taught during a lesson. *Refer to your PRACTICE SPACE app!
SPRING RECITAL: there will be one (1) recital for the year. It will be scheduled for the first part of May. Each student will be performing two (2) pieces. Location, date & time TBA.
FAQ
NEW VIOLIN STUDENT’S GUIDELINES & INFORMATION
WHERE TO GET VIOLINS FIXED?
The Fiddle Doctor is a good place to start if I cannot fix your violin. Please talk to me first, so we can hash out a plan.
The Fiddle Doctor (Doug)
605 White Spar Rd.
Prescott, AZ 86303
(928) 778-9287 |
HOURS OPEN: 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday-Saturday | https://www.danielsguitarshop.com|
EMAIL: fiddledoc330@gmail.com
VIOLIN ACCESSORIES: I have some accessories, such as: rosin cakes, and strings at my studio, but another reliable place is Shar Music. Please consult me as to where to buy items.
SHAR PRODUCTS COMPANY
2465 S. Industrial Hwy.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
1- 800.248.7427
https://www.sharmusic.com/
VERMONT VIOLINS
5 Green Tree Drive Unit B
South Berlington, VT 05403
(802) 862-0349
HOW LONG SHOULD STUDENTS PRACTICE?
How long a student practices on a daily basis depends largely on the age & attention span of the student. Here are some suggested guidelines:
3 years to 6 years: 15-25 minutes
7 years to 9 years: 20-30 minutes
10 years to 12 years: 25-35 minutes
12 years to 14 years: 35-45 minutes
14 years to adult: 45 minutes to 60 minutes
These recommended practice times are not etched in stone. Some days are more hectic than others & maybe you can only fit in a 10-minute practice. Try to make up that time slowly throughout the week.
VIOLIN CARE:
NEVER store your violin by a heater, fireplace or someplace cold like a car in the winter. The extreme temperatures will majorly impact the tone of the violin. Your violin will get out of tune quicker, the strings will pop in colder weather, the wood will crack or separate in warmer or hotter temperatures. A room that is 65-70 degrees is preferable.
NEVER get your violin wet or wash it with soap & water or any liquid. *Pat it dry with a dry cloth & let me know. My main concern is the finish on the wood of the violin.
NEVER chew gum or eat candy or food while playing the violin.
NEVER play the violin if you have dirty or wet hands.
KEEP your fingernails SHORT. You cannot place your fingers on the fingerboard properly with long nails & the sound will not be the best.
NEVER leave your violin out where it can be sat or stepped on. ALWAYS put it back in the case, even if you have to run to the bathroom for a few minutes.
NEVER think your bow is a sword & start sword fighting with the bow or any other such games. It is NOT a back, butt or nose scratcher. The violin is an instrument, NOT a TOY.
ALWAYS treat your violin with TLC (tender loving care), like a fragile egg.
ALWAYS use a polishing cloth to clean the rosin residue from the violin & the stick of the bow.
NO ONE but your violin teacher (that’s me), violinist & parents would handle your instrument. NO ONE!
TUNING THE VIOLIN:
If parents are comfortable tuning the violin, I can show them how. There are electric tuners & pipe tuners. I recommend the electric tuner, it is more accurate. This is the same type of tuner used by guitarists. There are also tuners you can download on your phone, tablet or iPad.
HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?
Parents are your child’s first teacher. It is VERY important that you are a vital part of your child’s music journey. Without you, your child will not progress as they should & reach their full musical potential.
Parents can help by setting aside an allotted daily time & place to practice. Practice should occur 5-6 days in a week.
Parents NEED TO BE present during practice times in order to insure practice is happening & the child is practicing the correct music assignments. Be in the same room or close by. If something doesn’t sound right, let your child know in a gentle & loving way.
It is NOT a good practice to tell your child to go to their room & practice. We all know how that ends.
Make sure the TV/radio/computers/music are OFF & find a quiet place to practice with no distractions.
ALL electronic devices need to be put away. The ONLY exception is when you are using the PRACTICE SPACE APP. DO NOT get distracted. Parents should be in control of the PRACTICE SPACE app.
Encourage your student to keep practicing. It may not sound great at first, but believe me, with consistent daily practice, it WILL get better & BETTER!
Parents can create a sticker chart of their child’s weekly practice. Post this chart so your child can see his or her progress.
I check the PRACTICE SPACE app, so I know if you are practicing or not.
IS THERE ROOM FOR ADVANCEMENT? Yes! Please ask me how.
MY EXPERIENCE:
I have been playing the for 49 years. My violin teachers include Jolynn Kerinen, Marilyn Savolinen & Maria Allison. I have been classically trained using the Suzuki Method, & I continue using this method to instruct my students, BUT emphasize sight reading later on as well as writing music. I also play & teach Irish, Scottish & Country Western fiddle to my intermediate & advanced students. I have played with the Negaunee High School Orchestra in Michigan, the Northern Michigan Youth Orchestra, the Kenai Peninsula Youth Orchestra in Alaska and a few high school musicals. I have 31 years of classroom experience grades 1-8 in the KPBSD.
After teaching for 31 years in the classroom (grades 3-8), I wanted to share my passion for playing the violin. This is my fifth year as an official violin studio.
An app that was recommended by other music teachers is PRACTICE SPACE. I expect students to use the PRACTICE SPACE app. This app is FREE to parents/students. As a violin instructor, I must pay a monthly fee. After lessons, I will outline what students need to work on for their next lesson verbally & upload drills & songs on the PRACTICE SPACE app. I will provide comparative recordings, audio memos, images, links &/or attachments to help students practice. Students are also able to message me questions, record themselves & send the recording to me for analysis. Parents can help their younger students log into the PRACTICE SPACE app & navigate through the app. *Initially, I will send students their username and password. PRACTICE SPACE provides everything you or your child need to practice at home after your lesson, so there are NO questions as to what needs to be practiced.
I look forward to working with you & your child. Open communication is the key to any successful relationship. Please let me know when you have a question or concern right away & we will work together to come up with a plan that is best for your child or yourself.
A three way communication system regarding progress, & behavior allows us to maintain an open dialogue & collaborative support for the success of your child’s learning journey.
-LindaZ
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Linda Zimmerman
Chino Valley, AZ 86323
(907) 398-7129 (mobile number)
EMAIL: aklindazstudio@gmail.com