I Don't Replace Your Child's Violin Teacher
This is not another violin lesson.
Your child's teacher remains their teacher. I don't change their assignments, contradict their instructor, or introduce a competing method.
If their teacher says, "Work on this passage," that's what we'll work on.
If their teacher assigns scales, exercises, Suzuki repertoire, orchestra music, or audition material, that's what we'll practice.
This is for the student who already has a violin teacher but needs help making better use of practice time.
It can be especially helpful if your child:
-
Gets home from a lesson and doesn't know where to start.
-
Knows what they're supposed to practice but has trouble getting started.
-
Gets frustrated when working on difficult passages.
Learn How to Practice the Violin
Good violin practice is more than playing a piece from beginning to end several times.
We can slow difficult passages down. Use a metronome. Isolate a few notes. Repeat a shift. Work on bow distribution. Review scales. Break a difficult passage into smaller sections. Practice slowly before increasing the tempo. Gain confidence in a passage that wasn't secure last week.
For younger students we'll even turn practicing into a game. We'll use dice, cards, coins, crayons, and anything else that makes practicing FUN.
Perfect for all levels and students learning Traditional Methods and the Suzuki Method
Let's take the thing you're supposed to practice and work on it together.
Suzuki Violin Books
I can also help students who are using the Suzuki Violin School method through book 10, including Suzuki Violin Book 1.
Suzuki students often have a substantial amount of practice and review to manage at home. If your child's Suzuki teacher has assigned Twinkle Variations, Lightly Row, Song of the Wind, Long Long Ago, Minuet, Gavotte, or another piece from Book 1, we can work directly from the assignment your teacher has given you.
Let's work on your review list together!!
I can also help students practice repertoire and techniques covered in books 2-10.
I won't replace your Suzuki teacher.
Preparing for an Audition?
This is another place where a Practice Coach can make a difference.
Maybe your child has an orchestra audition coming up. Maybe they're preparing for All-State. Maybe they're getting ready for a state orchestra audition, music festival, competition, a contest, or performance.
They may already know what they need to play. They may already have a violin teacher helping them prepare.
But they still need to practice.
We can use Practice Coaching sessions to focus specifically on the material that needs to be ready.
-
Need help practicing for your audition?
-
Need help preparing for All-State?
-
Need help practicing for an orchestra audition?
-
Need help preparing for a competition or contest?
Bring the music and the assignment. We'll work on it together.
Stop Being the Violin Practice Police
Parents want their children to succeed.
But there is a big difference between supporting your child's practice and having to constantly tell them to practice.
"Did you practice?"
"Did you practice your scales?"
"Go practice your violin."
"How many times did you play that?"
"You're supposed to practice that part."
Practice can become a source of conflict between parent and child.
It doesn't have to be that way.
Let me be the person sitting beside them during practice.
Your Practice Coach
My name is David
I am a patient and detail-oriented violin coach. I graduated from The New England Conservatory of Music and received an Honorary Doctorate from Champlain College. I received my Suzuki certification through book 10 with Mark Bjork and studied traditional violin pedagogy with Sally O’Reilly and Almita Vamos.
I was the teaching assistant to Roland Vamos; helping his student practice all the assignments and techniques required for their upcoming lessons. I am the author of How to Teach the Violin and Bow Exercises for the Expressive Violinist.
I have taught in the United States, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Mexico, and Bermuda. I have given masterclasses at The University of Guanajuato and The University of Veracruz.
I was the Concertmaster of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra and have performed with the Bermuda Philharmonic, the Wichita Symphony, the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, the Sphinx Symphony, and the LaCrosse Symphony.
My former students have graduated from The Curtis Institute of Music, the University of Minnesota, and The Catholic University of America.
Cynthia, mother of student
in Bermuda
"David's approach to teaching was admirable because he could be stern but fun and interesting all at the same time."
Davide, student in California
"Amazing teacher! Very patient and detailed in his explanation and technique. Truly invested in his student's progress and overall amazing guy.”
Tremeisha, mother of student in
Washington, DC
“David is an exceptional instructor. My daughter enjoys working with him and has improved a great deal"
