Choosing a Violin Teacher

Video Transcript

"Hi! I’m J-Adam Smith with Fiddle Team USA and Violin from the Heart, talking on behalf of Expert Village. Right now, we’re going to be talking about choosing a teacher. Now, choosing a teacher is kind of choosing a pair of shoes. Each day there is a different teacher for a different type of day. There is a different teacher for a different type of style. There is a different teacher for the age. I’m not going to wear a five-year-old’s shoes and they’re not going to wear my adult shoes. So, understand that there are a lot of different teachers out there and sometimes it’s going to be a search for you to find the right one. Here are just little things to think about when you are looking for a teacher. What kind of style you are looking for? Are you trying to have someone to help your child while they are playing in an orchestra? Well, if you are looking for that kind of teacher, technique, background information. Do they play the orchestras? Where are they at in orchestra? How is their technique? Do they have any degrees backing what they are teaching? What methods do they teach? Are they teaching popular methods? I can tell you, I’ve had some students of mine that go and have to leave town and find another teacher and found out that this other teacher does not given them what they need in different areas, such as reading. Sometimes they can be degrading to the child. So if you notice that a child is loosing interest, lack of interest, does not want to play anymore. Again, some of that is going to be depending on their age and things like that. But also, look at the teacher. They may not be clicking with that teacher. I, for example, have a lot of students, and they would like my kookiness. They like how I use analogies a lot when I teach and such. Then also, you have to be friendly, very, very friendly with the children. Children have to have incentives and enjoy who is instructing them. Now fiddle teacher, is a different type of shoes also. If you are looking just jam and learn some techniques like that, you may not even have to read music. Now, I would suggest that. I would not suggest that you try to play any instrument without understanding all the different styles. At least, the beginning aspects of it and then branching off from that point. But, again every teacher is a little bit different and you have to be willing to check that out. Now, also, one little extra thing to think about, understand that one student is a shadow of many other teachers. I did not get one instructor in my lifetime. I have had seven, eight and ten different instructors. Each one is going to be vital to you and your playing. Try him out, leave him, go to another one if they are not working out. I’ll catch you again."