This article is good for anyone who is looking for a Teacher or looking to change their Teacher, it also could be a useful read on how to better your relationship or learning journey with your Teacher. If you are looking to take up the violin, I would strongly suggest some formal lessons with a good teacher even if you are just deciding to take it up as a hobby. Some good and professional advice could really point you to the right direction. However, it is also important to find a Good Teacher to nurture this interest For most, you have no idea what to expect and what your own learning achievements might be when you first begin. A Good Teacher would know how to bring out the best ability at a good pace, which in turn your level of satisfaction in learning the instrument; time, money invested in lessons and practise would also be put to good use.
As a teacher who frequently sends in students for music competitions many times a year and adjudicating an upcoming Music competition, here are some ways I would like to share to prepare for a Music Competition which I hope would be useful if you have signed up for a music competition or considering to do so, here are some ways and tips you could prepare for them better than just good old practise. As Belcanto Violins Music Studios specialises in violin studies, this article is more for string players though if you are playing other instruments or singing, some points may be relevant to you as well.
Most Student Violins come as a set with a case, bow, rosin and violin in a ready to play set up mode. It is not surprising to know that most would neglect knowing proper care for the bow which can be very vulnerable as it is just a long wooden stick.
Some updates on Covid 2019
Of late due to the Covid-19 Virus, a lot has changed around the world affecting the way that we work, study and interact. In order to move on with the times and not to put our lives on hold, we need to adjust and adapt to some of these changes even if it means being uncomfortable and experimental. Here is an entry from me about adapting some of my teaching styles in the past 24 years to finally transitioning to a complete non physical contact with my students.
Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing for my upcoming book, violist Dr Michael Hall who is an active soloist and currently teaches at Vandercook College of Music.
At our recent Concert Finale 2017, a student of mine came up to me and said that she would not perform again (this is her second performance on the violin) and may quit her violin if part of our music course were to entail her performance again in our next bi-annual concert in 2018.
This was my first ever time speaking about my Career officially at any event so I was not sure what to expect. We had a couple of speakers for the different art groups, for music it was just my fellow Alumni Lin Si Tong (Instagram linsitong, is a Chinese lyricist and Music Producer for Dramas and other Mandarin Songs) and I.