Enjoy Violin and Piano Tuition

Learning the Violin

Why learn with me? What's different about how I teach?

I am passionate about the violin. And enthusiastic about sharing my ‘passion‘ for the violin with others. This has led me to make a choice to ‘retire’ from professional orchestral playing and devote myself to teaching. In addition, in this way, I am able to share my knowledge and expertise gained at the hands of some of the world’s foremost violinists with the next generation(s) of budding young violinists.

Opening up the world of the violin to students of all ages and abilities inspires and motivates me. This encourages and inspires my students to develop an enthusiastic approach and interest for the violin themselves.

Violin beginners

My passion is in sharing the wonderful world of violin playing with every student - no matter whether they are of beginner or advanced ability. In particular, learning they can make a good sound even from the earliest stages inspires students to enjoy regularly playing the violin between lessons. My teaching focuses on supporting and encouraging the student to take enjoyment in learning to play and develop as an all-round musician - whilst developing a sound technique.

As I have chosen to specialise in teaching since 1999 rather than try to juggle professional playing and teaching my teaching therefore offers you the benefits of a highly skilled and experienced London orchestral professional/solo player without the downside of cancelled, rearranged or irregular lessons which come with the territory when learning with an active, ongoing professional player.

Why is ‘technique’ so important when learning violin?

Learning sound technique in the earliest stages makes the violin much easier and more enjoyable to play. In fact, a good, sound violin technique is vital; as it opens up the potential for the student to attain a higher and more enjoyable standard of playing much more easily. This is what most instrumental students really want. And why, when it ‘s too hard to achieve, many simply - and understandably - give up.

Enjoying the instrument - the key to progress and attainment

Unfortunately, many children/young people who take up an instrument falter or give up fairly quickly within the first few years. This can lead to an inability to achieve your musical potential as well as a long-standing feeling of failure or regret. Consequently, many come back to it later in life as adults. I believe that many such budding musical students give up playing because they’re not enjoying learning the instrument: this is in part due to teaching approaches as well as lack of sufficient practice needed to make the meaningful progress expected and hoped for.

This is due generally to:

• too much focus on reading music. Too often instrumental learning is reading -focused; this is like always reading from a book instead of just talking to other people! Music is a language we use to communicate.
• a ‘teaching to test’ approach focused on exclusively achieving exams results - at a cost to actually learning to enjoy playing the chosen instrument just for the fun of it without the demand of exam achievement
• because inadequate teaching/learning good violin technique means the student gets bogged down or stuck and is no longer able to make any more progress without painful and dispiriting remedial work

An important emphasis, therefore, is on developing good technique during the first vital few lessons in a fun, interesting way; this will support and underpin good, and enjoyable, future progress. Without this foundation, it’s a bit like expecting a child to speak a sentence without having first listened and tried to say separate words. Or trying to teach a child to read a book without first learning any letters. Playing the violin is like a toddler learning to speak a new language - while trying to walk at the same time! It takes time to co-ordinate the hands, fingers and arms to do the required action correctly to be able to produce the sound. Holding the violin and making a (nice) sound is just as challenging for children or adults as walking is for a toddler - but just as rewarding when we achieve it.

With good technical teaching put into practice by the student, making a reasonably nice sound on the violin within a few weeks is perfectly possible.

The screeching, scratchy, ‘cat on a tin roof’ sound associated with beginner violin playing is not a necessary or inevitable part of learning when the basics of sound production are taught to students and put into practice.

What about Musicianship?

In addition to this, enjoyment from musical ‘games’ helps to develop musicianship skills and allow physical and aural skills to develop naturally. Teaching the student to improvise (‘make up‘) simple musical phrases, or learn tunes without reading music (just as children learn songs/nursery rhymes) via singing and playing helps to develop these musicianship skills and make lessons and practice more fun.

Different styles of music (classical, pop and jazz) including improvisation are also included to provide a break from too much reading music; this also enables the student to develop complementary musical skills and allows faster progress. Focus is on learning to play well and enjoy the instrument - rather than a ‘teaching to test’ approach which will often create undue pressure and a dispirited approach to learning among many students; many of whom may be tempted to give up in order to avoid future exam stress. Preparation for exams is available where appropriate, but exams are approached as a side-effect rather than the primary goal. This approach has enabled me to achieve a zero failure rate with student exams over 25 years of teaching with the majority of students achieving merit or distinctions.

Intermediates/advanced level teaching

I specialise in teaching violin at an intermediate/advanced level. I have had over 15 years training with 5 internationally renowned, respected violinists who have performed at the highest levels. I have therefore learnt the ‘secrets’ of violin technique at the highest level. (see Violin training)

Focus is on refining and developing technique and sound production as well as developing musicality. I have prepared students for advanced level examinations and music college/university entrance. Additionally, as I have chosen to specialise in teaching since 1999 rather than try to juggle professional playing and teaching my teaching therefore offers you the benefits of a highly skilled and experienced London orchestral professional/solo player without the downside of cancelled, rearranged or irregular lessons which come with the territory when learning with an active, ongoing professional player.

Please take a look at my own experience learning with some of the most respected international violinists as well as my performing and teaching experience (see Violin experience)