Violin lessons are a special experience for students of all ages. The first squeak on a violin can make a child light up with excitement. Playing her first song can convince a mom of four that it’s never too late to follow a dream. These small moments build the foundations that we all need to be successful – confidence, patience, appreciation, and joy.

Preparing for your violin lessons

To start with, you’ll need an instrument. You can either buy or rent your violin – I suggest renting for anyone who isn’t finished growing or is new to the instrument.

Additionally, I’ve always found it helpful to keep a music bag that has all my materials together in one spot. Pack your bag with any music you’re working on, a pencil, rosin, and a notebook. You can get inexpensive and effective rosin for less than $10 at most music stores.

Snapshot of a violin lesson

Because each student is different and has different needs, I use a variety of teaching methods. Violin lessons are heavily influenced by Suzuki Methods, Essential Elements for Strings, Kodaly, and Solfege. Students of all ages begin their lessons with scales and exercises designed to develop a strong sense of pitch and healthy muscle memory. Then, as students build confidence and skills on the violin, they progress through increasingly challenging music.