At what age should my child start taking violin lessons?

It really depends on the child, the parent, and the teacher.  It takes a really special, well-trained teacher to start a 4 year old beginner.  It takes a special kind of 4 year old to have the interest, attention span, fine motor control, and discipline to be successful.  And it takes a great deal of commitment and patience from the parent to help the young child practice.  I truly don’t believe middle school is “too late” to start.  I myself didn’t start until age 10.  But I know there are some kids who start at age 3 or 4 very successfully.  I suggest the parent observe lessons of other children of the same age as your child to get a feel for what will be expected.  Then the parent will have to decide.

How important are group lessons?

For the young student, group lessons are almost essential.  In middle school, the school orchestra program helps to serve as the group lesson, so I don’t feel it is quite as vital for that group.  But for the young 6 year old beginner, group lessons help encourage progress.  I, myself, teach such a variety of age groups and varying levels in my studio that it is not practical for me to offer group lessons.  For preschool or elementary school aged beginners, I strongly recommend the Indianapolis String Academy, which is a group of extremely well trained teachers who offer both private and group lessons, as well as frequent recital opportunities.

I noticed my son was playing out of tune in his last lesson and you didn’t fix it.  Why?

To the musical novice, intonation is probably the most obvious of mistakes in music playing.  But, it is only one of several problems that students may have.  When I am focusing on improving a student’s bow technique or teaching a new fingering, that will be my focus.  If I feel that the student can process both the main focus of our work, and a correction in intonation, I will make it.  However, many times I will temporarily let one area slide, while the student is concentrating on improving in another area.  Eventually, we’ll get to intonation, I promise.

How Do I Buy An Instrument for My Child?

First of all, make sure that you really do need to buy.  A student who is 8 years old and is playing on a ¼ size instrument will go through several more sizes before finally reaching a full sized instrument.  Many stores offer rental programs where you will be able to trade in your smaller instrument for a larger instrument when your child outgrows it.

If you are ready to purchase, don’t make an offer on eBay, or walk into a store and out with a shiny new violin.  A stringed instrument is an expensive purchase, and often the price does not reflect the sound.  Pricing of an instrument is based mostly on that instrument’s value as a piece of art, and secondly, on it’s sound.  So an instrument made by a famous maker that sounds terrible may be much more expensive than an instrument made an unknown maker that sounds fantastic.

Violin shops will usually let you take one or more instruments out on loan while you decide.  It’s a bit like test driving an used car.  You can keep it for a week, try it out with your teacher, try it in orchestra, etc.  Then you can decide.

Here is the process I suggest: First, expect that buying an instrument will take 2 weeks at the bare minimum.  Then, visit several local shops.  If you really want a good sample, send away for some instruments from shops in Chicago and elsewhere.  They will ship them to you at no cost (though you usually have to pay to ship them back.)  Try out instruments that are not only in your price range, but also above your price range.  Why?  This will give you a point of comparison, and will hopefully help you find a cheaper instrument that sounds as much like the better instruments as possible.

Select one or two from each shop, and take them home for a trial.  Bring them to your lesson.  Take them to your school orchestra director.  Do a blind “taste test” to be sure that you and/or your child aren’t just picking the one that s/he thinks looks the prettiest.  Then narrow it down and make your selection.

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