About David Expertise I mainly aim to answer questions about playing techniques--intonation,
vibrato, bowing etc. I am somewhat familiar with Baroque and Classical music, though not as much with Romantic. I am unable to answer questions about advanced music theory, violin crafters/brands or the monetary value of a violin.
Experience I have played the violin about nine discontinuous years. Most of my work has been orchestral, with some soloing throughout. I was principal 2nd violinist of the Disney Honors Orchestra in 1998, a six-time All-State Orchestra violinist, a two-time assistant concertmaster and two-time concertmaster of my All-County Orchestra. I also have perfect pitch, which I believe can be learned (though I do not claim to know how to teach it).
Since starting medical school in 2004, I have had fewer chances to play, but I hope to someday resume on a regular basis.
Question Hi there,
Pretty basic question, I took violin for about 5 years and fiddle for another 5, and learned to play both competently. Now a neigbor wishes me to give her basic lessons in violin. My question is, what should one focus on for a raw beginner? Teach her to learn the note positions? Bow hold? Thanks.
Answer Hi James,
I'm going to answer the question as though your neighbor has no prior instrumental experience. I would definitely recommend focusing first on holding the violin and bow in the proper positions. That will pay dividends in the future when your new student avoids preventable bad habits because she learned the correct positioning early on. Focus on relaxed/precise bow hold, good angle of the violin, and be certain that she knows she needs to be able to hold up the violin without the aid of her left arm. If she depends on her left arm to support the violin then that will hinder fingering, shifting and vibrato. When you start moving to finger positioning then don't be shy about placing tape. At first it is important that she learn what the note should SOUND like, and learning correct finger positioning will follow once she knows what an in-tune note sounds like. Having the tape there means she won't have to worry that much about where to place her finger and can focus on hearing the pitch. Early on you should also teach her some basic music theory because it is very important that she know how to sight read music. It is especially critical for a violinist, because of orchestral settings that violinists often participate in.
It may seem obvious but definitely don't teach vibrato early on, though when you do teach it, make sure that she avoids the temptation to bend her wrist in and out while keeping her finger in the exact same position - I saw many early learners make this blunder and because the sound had some "vibration" to it, they were reinforced by this and continued. The wrist should be a pivot point and the wrist joint itself should not really move during vibrato (unless perhaps it's arm vibrato which is less commonly used or needed).
Hope this helps, good luck in teaching, it is very fulfilling.
--David
