String Teachers? CD or Real Life ?

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Permalink Reply by Joel C. on February 24, 2009 at 8:11am

I know I'm younger, but I'd still prefer the regular lessons. There is no human interaction learning from a CD, there aren't any immediate reactions to playing, or constructive criticism. If you have a good instructor, the money is well worth it. Best of luck!

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Permalink Reply by Michael on February 24, 2009 at 8:37am

Yeah but. There ar soo many string peole plugging thire cd's out there. Is this the dramatic end for future music instructors? Have seen them? Thier sales pitch is good, and thier product maybe too gimicky?
Of course the classroom cannot be beat ! I'll agree there.

Joel C. said:

I know I'm younger, but I'd still prefer the regular lessons. There is no human interaction learning from a CD, there aren't any immediate reactions to playing, or constructive criticism. If you have a good instructor, the money is well worth it. Best of luck!

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Permalink Reply by Joel C. on February 24, 2009 at 8:46am

I think the future will be in lessons via video conferencing! The technology has progressed at a high rate. Even I video chat with my buddy in Lübeck nearly every other day. Reminds me of sci-fi movies!

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Permalink Reply by John Harding on March 21, 2009 at 3:41am

I am one of those who has produced - or rather am producing, because it's still in the process of evaluation, revision and expansion - a course with CDs. It has been conceived around the lifetime experience of a teacher of violin and viola who is the author of another fairly well-known beginners' book. All the music has been specially composed or arranged, over more than 5 years, with the aim of making it both maximally effective in developing technique and also musically enjoyable. I honestly believe it is as good as they get. It's being used in evening classes, with good results.

My advice: go to a teacher.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Light on March 23, 2009 at 6:10pm

OK, Michael. I don't know what your financial situation is like, but if you're in a position to commit to a weekly session with a live teacher, DO IT! In my case, it's $25 for one hour on a Saturday morning, and it's worth every penny. Joel has an excellent point, as well: video conferencing has the advantage over CD's (no disrepect, John!) of being "interactive", as the computer types like to say. That's what I love about Saturday mornings: all the give and take between me and the teacher. The hour, unfortunately, just flies by!

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Permalink Reply by Michael on March 25, 2009 at 10:08am

Hay David,So where about would this saturday be?It is never learnig the learning that is.I might be interested.Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Dave Light on March 27, 2009 at 5:31am

Sorry, Michael. The "Saturday morning" I'm referring to is my private lesson time. Where? Right here in my living room (my teacher makes house calls!)

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Permalink Reply by Michael on March 30, 2009 at 9:53am

My guess, as a long time seems like forever beginner?CD 's are ok because it's with you always, bu live not memorwx is nothing better than a real hand shake and a atta b. after all done and over.
Mike

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Permalink Reply by Gail Tivendale on July 24, 2009 at 4:53am

What Janice has said about intonation is good. A teacher can also ensure you begin with good technique. Most bad playing comes from a bad set up - hands/arms/fingers/instrument positioned incorrectly, faulty bowhold or bowing technique. I teach a few students who have come from other teachers and correcting bad technique is a something I'm always addressing with these particular students. So my suggestion is to find a good teacher, get a few lessons, maybe a years worth and by all means supplement it with CDs and DVDs. You might like to check out Michael Hopkins String Pedagogy Notebook (http://www.uvm.edu/~mhopkins/string/pedagogical.htm) in the meantime just to see how important good technique is.

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Permalink Reply by Michael on July 24, 2009 at 6:52am

Thanks, Janice, Old habits are hard to forget. But then too much encouragement for all those the bad habits is more worser.I'll chevck out the link, but when i was listening to Yo Yo, the other day his quiet medative bowing got me to slow it all down a wee bit. Too much in too short of time.Mike

Gail Tivendale said:

What Janice has said about intonation is good. A teacher can also ensure you begin with good technique. Most bad playing comes from a bad set up - hands/arms/fingers/instrument positioned incorrectly, faulty bowhold or bowing technique. I teach a few students who have come from other teachers and correcting bad technique is a something I'm always addressing with these particular students. So my suggestion is to find a good teacher, get a few lessons, maybe a years worth and by all means supplement it with CDs and DVDs. You might like to check out Michael Hopkins String Pedagogy Notebook (http://www.uvm.edu/~mhopkins/string/pedagogical.htm) in the meantime just to see how important good technique is.

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Permalink Reply by Ann Marie Cordial on August 13, 2009 at 11:51am

Hi Michael -

I'm in Maryland also, but a bit north of you. I thank goodness every week for my instructor, because without him I'd probably sound like I'm strangling a cat on my violin. I have to say that the regular lessons 'saved' me, cause in the beginning, I'd listen to my teacher play the lesson, and I'd make a mental note of recording what he played in my head. Then I'd simply play it back for him. I didn't realize it, but I was cheating - playing by ear - and this went on for about 6 weeks until one day he pointed to the middle of the page and said,"Start here."

Busted.

I think if I didn't have him there to push me, and he DOES push, I wouldn't be anywhere near playing the repertoire I play today.

---Ann Marie

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Permalink Reply by Ruth Brons on August 31, 2009 at 7:07am

In one of the promo videos for SmartMusic, Wynton Marsalis points out that nobody got to the NBA just by shooting hoops alone in the drive-way. While the weekly private lesson is the tried and true cornerstone to learn music, it is not the whole package. Practice is required for progress, but practicing alone in a room is not going to give you external motivation or support. Suzuki students get support from their parents and have peer motivation and reivew from their group classes. School-program kids have their orchestra teacher for review and classmates for peer motivation.

So, to maximize your progress for your investment in lessons:

1. Practice your new lesson material
2. Review EASY material with SmartMusic [www.smartmusic.com], which is good because it is interactive, or a CD/DVD
3. Pre-View more advanced material. www.violinmasterclass.com has GREAT short video clips, or use a CD/DVD, or YouTube.
4. Find others to play live with -- ask your teacher, local youth orchestra [some allow adults], community orchestra, or the Chamber Music Network [www.acmp.net]

Ruth Brons
Inventor of Bow Hold Buddies[tm] Instant Bow Hold bow accessory for violin/viola, and
CelloPhant[tm] Instant Bow Hold bow accessory for cello
www.things4strings.com

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