Violin with Richard C.

I have studied the violin since I was six and have played for several decades in professional symphony orchestras, opera companies, and musicals. I've also attended many chamber music workshops and have played as a soloist at restaurants, weddings, and retirement communities. I began teaching violin in 1977. It's hard to play the violin in tune, and ten years ago I began to compose studies for my students that help them proactively to learn to play in tune. I call this approach The Pitchfixer Method, and it's based on principles of motor memory. I've used this approach with dozens of students with great results; it forms the core of the curriculum for the first several years. My current students include young children, teenagers, young adults, and mature adult beginners. *** Lesson Details *** My approach to teaching is based on helping students become aware of their motor movements, particularly in their arms, wrists, hands, and fingers. This rigorous training in violin technique is accompanied by precise instructions on how the student should move around on the violin. This helps to assure that the student learns right from the start how to play in tune. Within several weeks of starting out, students are able to play short pieces for their families and friends. I also have a great sense of humor and am a very good communicator. In addition to the three volumes of solo studies I have composed, I assign duets to students, including 24 of my own compositions. Duets allow students to play alongside me and discover how to match their harmonies and rhythms with mine. As students advance, I also assign them bowing and double-stop exercises. My method teaches students to read music gradually, introducing a few notes at a time. For all of the studies that I have written (which form the core of the curriculum), I provide students with access to Mp3 files on the Internet so that they can listen to the pieces. This allows them to learn the pieces by ear, to complement their music reading skills. *** Studio Equipment *** For students who come to my home studio, I provide a quiet place in which we can work, free from distractions. There are chairs and music stands, a piano, and a vast library of violin music. *** Travel Equipment *** A music stand and music. I expect my students to have their own instruments. *** Specialties *** I have developed studies based on principles of motor memory to help students learn to play in tune. I am primarily a classical violinist but also play and teach popular tunes and improvisation.