Choosing a violin teacher is an important step in your learning experience. Your teacher will not only show you the mechanics of playing the violin, but can also have an impact on how much you enjoy the learning experience.
Many students start with an internet search, but don’t investigate further. This can be overwhelming, but can also lead to bookings with a teacher who might not be a good fit for you. With so many profiles online, where to begin? Let’s look at how to choose a violin teacher that’s not only a great instructor in general, but is the right fit for you in particular.
Choose Between Online & In-Person Lessons
First, decide if you are going to take violin lessons in person or online. If you are going to choose in-person lessons, distance may become a big factor in your immediate search. You’ll need to find out which violin teachers are in your immediate area. If you elect to pursue online lessons, distance is no longer a consideration, and you can take lessons with an instructor just about anywhere in the world.
Consider Your Learning Style
Next, you need to think about what you would like to learn and how you learn best. Are you interested in learning general technique, or do you have a specific piece in mind that you are practicing already? Would you like your focus to be on one genre of music or many? Are you a “try it out first and then ask for feedback” person? Or do you learn best by seeing the technique demonstrated first? Once you have these answers, you are ready to start looking at different profiles!
The TakeLessons Profile features a picture of the teacher, so you know who you will be working with, a summary of the teacher’s subject areas, their experience and bio, and lastly, availability. When reviewing profiles, check out that the teacher’s experiences and background.
Some Questions to Answer When Looking at a Teacher’s Profile:
- What makes this teacher love the violin so much?
- How long has he or she played?
- Does the teacher outline his or her approach to teaching?
- How does their approach resonate with you? Does it make sense for how you learn and what you want to learn?
Once you find the profile of a TakeLessons teacher that you would think would be a good fit, reach out to him or her on the messenger. Explain where you are with your studies and your interest in the violin.
Check Availability & Consider Time Zone
It also doesn’t hurt to ask about his or her availability. Even though TakeLessons Teachers keep their availability updated in their profile, many teachers may be able to fit you into an available time if someone has canceled. This way, you can get started learning the violin sooner!
Sending a couple messages back and forth is a great way to make first contact with a teacher. This will also help you get a sense of the violin teacher’s personality, find out their commitment level to their craft, and can confirm your belief that they will be a good match for you.
The Best Teachers Truly Love Their Work
In my experience, the best violin teachers are the ones who are most excited about getting to know you and teaching the violin. While learning the violin can be a lot of hard work, that doesn’t mean it can’t also be fun. If you’re wondering how to choose a violin teacher, simply follow these simple steps. Your effort will pay off in the long run, because with the right violin teacher, learning the violin won’t feel like work at all!
About the Author
Lisa has been playing stringed instruments for over 20 years. She teaches the violin, the viola, and the cell to students of all ages and levels. When Lisa isn’t teaching, she plays the violin with different local orchestras. She enjoys writing about the violin as much as she loves playing it, and likes to play a variety of genres including classical, rock, and fiddle. You can connect with Lisa at her TakeLessons profile.