Seeking Violin Lessons for My Daughter!!

L.,
I am a private violin teacher and performer. I live in The Colony, and teach from my home. I also teach at the Dallas Suzuki Academy in Dallas 1 day a week. This is different than the DSI.
I can give you teacher recommendations if you would like. I would need to know what area you live in. I am a freelance performer and play in the Dallas Opera Orchestra, so I know many musicians. Let me know if i can help! By the way, I think 6 is a great age to start! I use a Suzuki/traditional combination approach, by the way.
K. J

Lifesong Studio in Grapevine offers violin lessons. Their phone # is ###-###-####.

You might try Magic Music (www.magicmusic.com). They will come to your house to give lessons, which I find to be a huge help. My 2 kids get lessons from them - 2 different instructors on 2 different instruments.

Recommending Shana Druffner. Her contact information is: ###-###-#### (phone), ###-###-#### (fax), and ____@____.com. Check out her website: http://www.theviolinist.com/. She is an extremely accomplished violinist and is great with teaching kids.

Hi, L.!

We are at Suzuki Institute of Dallas as well, and I echo what Alice A said below. We have been there since my son was 4 (he's almost 11) and we have been thrilled with the teachers and the program. My daughter (age 6) is a Suzuki flute student there as well. I'm a Suzuki piano kid myself (decades ago!) and the Suzuki philosophy/method is excellent, but you do have to invest the time at home as a parent. It's absolutely worthwhile, though -- we love making music as a family (even though practice time is not always the favorite activity!), and it's something we'll continue to do in the years to come.

A couple of great sources for beginning violins are Young Musicians (www.ymonline.com, based in Keller, TX - they ship) and Shar Music Company (www.sharmusic.com). The teacher you end up working with can determine the size violin she needs...the smaller violins, in general, do not have a fantastic sound, so don't feel like you have to spend a huge amount buying one for a beginner because it doesn't make much difference. The Suzuki Nagoya brand/model is a very nice one to start with, and Young Musicians has a monthly rental program that is a great deal -- they outgrow the violins every 12-18 months or so, and YM will trade up. (I'm sure other places have similar programs, but we started with YM and had a positive experience.) I have also bought a couple of instruments off eBay -- one was a beautiful used violin from another Suzuki family and the other was a cheapie new violin that sounded pretty pathetic but was OK at the time (my son started at 3 with the rental, and the cheapie one was violin #2!).

Good luck! Please e-mail me if you have any questions - I'd be happy to answer them! If Suzuki Institute is more than you want to do (time, money, etc.), please let me know and I will give you some ideas about finding other Suzuki teachers in the area.

--M.

I started taking violin lessons at 7 and was taught the Suzuki method. Although I didn't grow up in TX, I'm sure you can find individual teachers who use this terrific method and don't have all the additional classes. I had one lesson a week. I do recommend the Suzuki method! I can still play, even though I haven't done it regularly in YEARS. My son, who's 4, is now showing an interest in violin and I will start him using the Suzuki method also.

go to www.takelessons.com they helped me find dance classes for my daughter, but they can find all types of lessons for what you are looking for.

I recommend Young Musicians in Keller. Their phone# is ###-###-####. (I believe they are in the phone book) We moved to the area last summer. My 14-yr. old son played the viola for 2 years before we moved and wanted to try to play the cello. We heard about Yound Musicians and made an appointment to rent a cello. They are very affordable. They will measure and figure out what size your daughter needs. They can also recommend a teacher in the area. I still need to call about a teacher, I wanted to make sure my son would pick up the new instrument quickly and want to continue. Good luck!

Hi I have two children who take lessons at the Suzuki Institute of Dallas in Richardson. My 7 year old boy takes violin suzuki method and my 4 year old takes piano also suzuki method. We have been very pleased with the Institute and with our teachers. My violin kid started right before he was 6 and has made progress quite nicely though it has not always been easy particularly establishing good practice routines.

Pros and Cond of Suzuki method:
Pros: Lots of empasis on listening and playing so ear training is essential...delayed music reading until child is technically comfortable on the violin (latter book 1 and over age 7) and then note reading is introduced. Child gets many opportunities to play via group lessons, play ins and string workshops. Teachers who beleive in Suzuki method believe that EVERY child can play violin and play it well if the home environment and teacher support is there. My child who is not very motor coordinated is living proof of that this method works and works well. There are kids who have attentional issues and other learning challenges who come to the Institute and do very well here too.

Cons:
TIME! The suzuki method is very very parent and time intensive! It is parent driven so the parent sits in the classes at the early stages particularly and has to know what the child is learning and what to work on at home. You will be the home teacher. Do not expect your child to joyfully beg you to practice after the initial thrill wears off...you will have to be creative and keep your cool and come up with strategies etc to make practice happen! Also the Institute is time intensive....we do one private lesson, one group and music theory for my violin student (3 classes!) ...thats typically 2 days in the week gone in just violin if you can back up lessons in one day. If you do a lot of other activities outside of school like soccer and dance...its going to cut into it and you may find yourself over scheduled. We now do violin and swimming.

If you are interested check out the Institute website.... www.suzukidallas.com and call and talk to Margaret in the front. You can come and observe classes in progress and can then decide if this is right for you and your daughter.

The other option would be traditional violin but I am not sure what age they start....maybe 7-8 is the youngest...there are schools in dallas that teach...you might have to google and see what you come up with.

Feel free to contact me if you have questions!Oh and whichever teacher you start with will tell you where to get your violin...I would rent since the violins are sized for the child and you might need to get a new one each year depending on how fast she grows.
A

there's a great place at coit and beltline
it's called
fiddle and bow
ask for lewis case

Paula Clark has taught my sister in law & 3 of their daughters to play the violin. She is a very kind and sweet woman, and a patient teacher. She can tell you what you would need & where to get it.

Paula Clark
2006 Windchime Ct
Grand Prairie, TX 75051-4213
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