Britt Violin Studio

These are fifteen steps to more productive practice shared in my pedagogy course. When this was shared with me, it was attributed to Sally O’Reilly. Examine the score away from the violin. Form a musical and imaginative interpretative concept of the goal toward which you will work. In order to save time, instead of reading… Continue reading October 3, 2011 – 15 Steps to More Productive Practice

The Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin by J.S. Bach are probably the most widely known works for solo violin in the repertoire, however, other composers also wrote solo works for violin. Among the baroque composers contributing to this repertoire were: Heinrich Ignatz Franz von Biber – Passacaglia at end of Rosary Sonatas (Performance on… Continue reading September 26, 2011 – Baroque Works for Solo Violin (besides Bach)

In order to teach Long Long Ago in Suzuki volume 1, I believe that students need a number of prerequisites: Knowledge of all fingers on A and E string. Should have experimented with playing known songs on lower strings. Ability to learn songs by rote. Ability to use good tone with longer and smoother bow… Continue reading September 19, 2011 – Sequence to teaching Long Long Ago

As students begin to learn positions above first position on the violin, viola, and cello, they need to be able to name the notes across the strings in these positions. I have created a worksheet to help students work on their note naming into the positions. Students should have a basis in the chromatic notes… Continue reading September 12, 2011 – Advanced Violin Fingering Chart

Recently, I have been working on playing better in higher positions across the strings, only to come to the realization that to play better in the higher positions, you must have an understanding of the fingerboard geography in the parallel lower position. For instance, when in sixth positions on the A string, you are playing… Continue reading September 5, 2011 – Parallel Positions

Many Suzuki violin teachers use box violins to help students learn how to hold the in instrument before they get the real thing. It’s very nice to be able to learn to hold an instrument on your shoulder without being worried about dropping it. There are some box violins that you can buy from music… Continue reading August 29, 2011 – Box Violins & Bows

When you plan a recital, you need to do a lot of work before the recital has begun for it to be successful. Select a time and date that will work for you. Hopefully, you will have a calendar far enough in advance that your students will be able to make it, too! Find a… Continue reading August 8, 2011 – Planning Recitals

At the beginning of the school year, the private music teacher has a lot of work to do. Not only do we have to coordinate calendars with orchestras and other groups we play with, but we also have to create events for our own studio and groups. This year, I had to coordinate schedules for… Continue reading August 15, 2011 – Scheduling for the private music teacher

Recitals are an important part of development on the violin. Not only do they allow a musician to prepare a piece to a high level, but they also allow the student to perform for others. I do not believe that we should study the violin if we never perform for others. Recitals should be character… Continue reading March 7, 2011 – The importance of recitals

When preparing students for individual recitals, I think it is important to pick a piece they are familiar with at least one month before the recital. They should have plenty of opportunities to polish the piece before performing it in front of others. Some of the ways I like to prepare are letting the student… Continue reading March 6, 2011 – Preparing Students for Recitals