If you are looking to start violin lessons, it will be wise to find out what exactly will be covered during the first few three to six months of classes. This is so that you can be mentally and physically prepared when you eventually sign up and start lessons.
Here, let me cover the key areas which a great violin teacher will cover, for a beginner violin student in the initial stage. This is the stage which foundation is built:
Proper posture. This includes how to hold the violin and the violin bow, how to stand in relation to the music stand. A good tactic which I use is to position my students in front of a mirror during violin classes. I dissuade my students from looking down at where the violin bow is, when playing on the violin. This is because the perspective from the eye level towards the violin, is not accurate. Instead, looking into the mirror will help the student judge if the bowing angle is correct and whether the violin bow sweeps across the violin strings laterally. Any mistakes can be reflected clearly by looking into the mirror.
Strengthening the right hand. Sometimes, students who are left handed ask me if they can hold the violin with their right hand and the violin bow with the left hand. My answer is — we use two hands to play the violin. Both hands are equally important. There is no dominant hand when we play any bowed strings instrument. If you go to a classical concert performed by any orchestra, all the bowed strings players hold the bow with the right hand and the left hand fingers run across the fingerboard. So, back to strengthening the right hand to hold the violin bow. A typical violin bow weighs between fifty seven to sixty five grams. A novice will find that it can be quite tiring to hold the bow for extended time period. As such there are a few exercises which I go through with my students during violin lessons, targeting to strengthen the right hand so the grip will be strong. When the right hand is stronger, I will make further adjustments to refine the bow ho.d. This will help the student to create good tone.
How to take care of the violin and the violin bow. This is usually covered during the first violin lesson Singapore. Points covered will include: ensure that the violin and bow are not placed under direct sunlight, getting a dehumidifier for the room where you store the violin and bow so as to ensure that the wood does not absorb too much moisture, refraining from touching the violin bow with our hands as we may transfer oil residue in the process in doing so, not to tighten the bow until the horse hard is over stretched, to ensure that the violin bow is loosened before placing it in the violin case.
During the initial violin class Singapore, music theory will also be taught. This is the universal language of music. As a music student, one must be acquainted with music note value, rest values, note reading on the treble clef and bass clef, the concept of barlines and bar, basic articulation terms in Italian such as forte (loud) or piano (soft), time signatures and key signatures. All these may sound mind boggling for a novice student, but with proper guidance, the student will understand these concept and apply it on playing the violin.
Rhythmic training. This is an important concept for beginner level music students, no matter which music instrument one learns. During violin class Singapore, The teacher will use a metronome to assist the student in counting the beats in a bar, and then demo by clapping a particular rhythm in a section of a song. Concepts such as semi breve (four counts), minum (two counts), crochet (one count), quaver (half a count) and semi quaver (one quarted count) is then internalised by the student. Some students pick this up faster, some take a slightly longer time to do so.
Basic scales and arpeggio. These will be drilled by the teacher during violin classes and it helps the student to firm up the finger positions on the fingerboard accordingly.
If you are looking to start violin lessons Singapore, look for one of the best violin schools — Stradivari Strings. Contact us at +65-98137769. We can arrange lessons at your location, teacher’s location or at our music studios located at sultan plaza.
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Michael has been with the SSO since 1990 and is now Associate Principal of the Second Violin. He was born in Kuala Lumpur and started studies on the violin at the age of nine. After obtaining his Performer’s Diploma, he left for Germany to study with Professor Igor Ozim at the Music University of Cologne. Upon graduation Michael worked with the Beisel Ensemble and the Rhine Chamber Orchestra. In 1983 Michael was a prize-winner of the Junior Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition in Folkstone, Kent, United Kingdom.
Born in Singapore, Yeo Teow Meng commenced studies on the violin at the age of eight. Awarded a scholarship by the Public Service Commission (Singapore) in 1982, he furthered his studies with Lyndall Hendrickson and Gunnar Crantz in Adelaide at the South Australian College of Advanced Education. Upon graduation he worked with the State Opera of South Australia as well as various chambers groups and has been with the SSO since 1986.
A professional level violin teacher, Joanne graduated from Northeast Nornal University (Chang Chun of China) in 2001, attaining Bachelors degree in music teaching. She is also familiar with the ABRSM (Associated Board of Royal School of Music) and Trinity exam board grading system, having attained ABRSM.grade 8 (Distinction) in 2006, In 2020, she graduated from NAFA (Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts) obtaining music diploma in teaching.
Joanne started coaching in 2001, with a combination of private violin students as well as students in various music schools. Since 2015 she is also an approved MOE (Ministry of Education) CCA Music instructor for various government schools. These include: MGS Primary School, MAris Stella Primary, Punggol Green Primary, Northland Primary, Frontier Primary, ACS Primary, Raffles Girls Primary, Guang Yang Primary, Dunman Secondary.
Joanne can coach violin practical beginner to diploma level, also music theory from grade 1 to grade 8.
Local violinist, Clement Lim has been teaching in Singapore as a full time violin instructor since 1995.
Born in 1972, Mr. Lim started his journey in practical violin at the age of 8. He had received his violin training with several renowned violinists. Among were Pavel Prantl (first SSO concertmaster); Chua Lik Wuk; Kong Zhao Hui – members of SSO. Lynette Lim.
As a teaching instructor, Mr. Lim has taught both as individual freelance teacher as well as group teacher among local schools. Schools that he has taught inclusive of Nanyang Primary; Catholic High Primary; Methodist Girls School; Maha Bohdi Primary and others. He is currently also an MOE approved AMIS instructor.
Mr Lim was a member of the Singapore Youth Orchestra (1986-88) , and had participated twice in ASEAN Music Workshop as orchestral player (both in Brunei and Jakarta) as one of representatives of our local nation.
Mr. Lim attained certification under ABRSM Practical Violin Grade 8 (1992) and ABRSM Advanced Certificate in Violin Performance (1995).
Siak Lee achieved ABRSM grade 8 qualification in violin and piano. She is currently pursuing Diploma qualifications in both music instruments. She has ABRSM grade 5 qualification in music theory and currently pursuing ABRSM grade 8 theory.
She started coaching violin and piano in 2015. She scored Gold in the National Music Strings Orchestra Competition as a violinist and soloist. In 2016, she was selected to attend Clement Curtin Violin masterclasses and was recognized for her skills. In 2018 she was awarded Silver in Euroasia Competition.
Yi Jia attained DipABRSM in Violin Performance. He is also proficient in the study of piano.
He has been involved in classical music since 2007, playing as first violin of River Valley High String Ensemble and leading as conductor and music director on different occasions.
He possess a deep understanding of the inner workings of classical music and the pedagogies on violin and piano.
Yi jia is also a first violinist at the NUS Symphony Orchestra.
Tevy graduated from La Salle Singapore & Kingston University (DIP. BA in violin music performance, Hons upper 2nd Division) in 1998. He also has piano as minor study for his Dip. BA. He has 9 years of solid coaching experience with private students as well as in music schools.
Tevy’s appreciation of western classical music originated from his coaches from Singapore and UK. Notably, he took master classes from Mr Jonathan Rees (a recipient of the BBC Award violinist in 1978).
He has performed in numerous ensemble and orchestra in both countries. He has also performed with the London Korean Community Orchestra in the 1990’s. As such he has a cosmopolitan and international outlook.Tevy’s students come from all walks of life, from 4 year old to adults. He also performed with his students at Woodlands Regional Library Recital Hall, Singapore Chinese Girl’s School (2015), and at the ABRSM High Scorer’s concert at Suntec City (1999).
