Teaching Philosophy

Learning to play a string instrument is a challenge. Learning to play it at even a decent level takes a lot of dedication and hours devoted to the instrument. Given enough time and practice, students come to understand the great rewards that come with this great amount of dedication and find it’s worth the time and investment. I am also a firm believer that music enhances every aspect of a person’s life, including academically, physically and even spiritually and that every student who applies the necessary time will also gain value beyond just the ability to play. As your teacher, I will do everything in my power to help you excel in the art of playing the violin provided that the student practices regularly and demonstrates concentrated effort in and outside of the lesson. 

approach

For a variety of pedagogical reasons, I prefer using the Talent Education Method (Suzuki) for the primary training. Over the course of time as students begin to mature on their instruments, a more traditional approach will begin with a focus on developing the students’ reading skills. My overall goal is to prepare students at a young age for a lifetime of creating music at high level. Hence, developing the ear first plays a critical part of that process. In addition, my philosophy is such that the “fun” in playing an instrument directly correlates with ability, which is created based on technique and time. 

lesson types

On a monthly rotation, students will have a combination of 3 private lessons with either a group lesson, master class or recital. These lessons do not follow a particular weekly or monthly order but are scheduled based on a variety of other factors.

Private Lessons: An opportunity to individually work with the teacher on technique, learn new repertoire and prepare for upcoming recitals and performances. We can also incorporate time spent on orchestra music or learning music for church or other performance opportunities.

Group Lessons: In groups, we will work on a variety of violin-related topics. Groups may be spent in reviewing  violin technique, sight-reading, including discussions on music theory, music history and anything else the teacher deems necessary to the students’ overall musical success.

Master Class: Students will perform in front of their peers in this less formal setting where we will discuss each others strength’s and weaknesses as a soloist. At times, we will use an accompanist or may even be led by a guest violinist. 

parent responsibility

  1. Once you have committed to a lesson time – please keep it. With every change in lesson time our teaching schedule becomes outdated, making it more time consuming and difficult to keep up to date for trading lesson purposes.
  2. Parents should make every effort to attend every lesson (particularly for younger students).
  3. Parents that do not stay through the lesson need to make every effort to drop off and pick up their child on time.
  4. Siblings or children who may be waiting for your lesson to end should wait either in the lesson room or they may sit in the entry. They are not to wonder through the house or around the back of the house.
  5. With the acceptation to adults, I prefer having students call me Mr. Tanner. I have found that if I am able to maintain a professional relationship , that they are more likely to respectt the instruction given to them.
  6. Before coming to a lesson, allow your son/daughter the opportunity to use the bathroom, wash hands and get a drink. Of course, I have a bathroom that is ready to be used as necessary and at any time.
  7. Encourage your child by practicing with him/her. Notify me in private if your child is not allowing you to help at home.
  8. Turn cell phones to silent during lesson time. If you have to take a phone call, please feel free to excuse yourself from the lesson and step into the entry to continue your conversation.
  9. If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s progress, realize that the best time to talk is outside of the lesson. Please never ask in me in front of your child how I think he/she is doing as I would prefer to provide that information in a private discussion.

Student responsibility

  1. It is expected that students practice each day equal to the time of their private lesson, if not more.
  2. Students are required to read the weekly assignments provided in the previous lesson in order to make achievable progress.
  3. Use a metronome as required.
  4. Use a timer as required
  5. Students carry their own instrument and are responsible for having all lesson material when needed. Don’t forget to pack the music from your stand, or to bring orchestra music from class if you want help with that as well.

student solo expectations

  1. Solo’s provide students the opportunity to perform to the best of their ability for other violin students and family members. I strongly believe that performing as a soloist can create one of the best learning experiences that a student can have.
  2. Solo’s must be performed with an accompanist. The accompanist should also plan  on rehearsing at the lesson at least one week prior to the recital. I have an accompanist that you can hire or you may provide your own.
  3. Arranging for an accompanist and letting them know far in advance is a responsibility that falls on the student (or parent of younger children). 
  4. Performance Pieces must be learned well enough to demonstrate proper stance, good violin posture, good overall intonation, precise bowing and fingerings. For more advanced students it is expected that you will also consider using good musical sense and interpretation in your more difficult pieces. 

Student recital expectations

  1. Please come to recitals even if your child is not performing (which should be a rare occasion). While providing support to others, your child is also learning a lot by observation.
  2. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early so that your child’s instrument can be tuned and so that your child knows where to sit.
  3. Students need to arrive early enough to recitals to use the bathroom and to wash their hands.
  4. Families are asked to stay for the entire recital. Leaving the recital immediately after your child plays comes across as rude to the other performers. If you must leave, please let me know in advance so that I can announce that your family will be leaving due to what ever circumstances are required.
  5. Bring the whole family to recitals…yes, even the little ones. While it is important that siblings remain quiet during the recital, I also understand that kids are kids and I would rather have them there watching, listening and supporting their sibling violinist.

Summer months

  1. Summer can be some of the most productive time of the year as there are much fewer distractions from spending even more time practicing. 
  2. Although I strongly discourage this, you can take a break during the summer months with the understanding that your lesson time will be filled by someone on my waiting list. Once you decide to return, I can accept you again as a student if my teaching schedule is not full. Or, you may have to come at a less desirable lesson day and time.
  3. Monthly lesson rates remain the same during the summer months with payments due the first lesson of each month. If you will be gone during the first week in a month, payment is due at the last lesson prior your departure. 
  4. My biggest piece of advice for the summer is that you schedule your practicing for every day of the week. Typically the best time to practice is in the mornings, that way you have the rest of the day to do the other things that you want to do without the guilt of having not yet practice.

How does the summer lesson and teaching
schedule change during the summer months?

Summer is a time for fun events, relaxation and family vacations. To accommodate summer activities, the Lesson and Teaching schedules are modified.   Over the course of the summer months, students will sign up for the equivalent of 12 lessons that will fit your summer schedule.   This means that it’s possible and very likely that on some weeks that you would double up your lesson time or perhaps come twice in one week. 

Sometimes Group Lessons or Master Classes are scheduled on weeks where there seems to be the most attendance. Therefore, it is also very likely that students will have a private lesson in the same week of another lesson activity. 

                                                                         MONTHLY TUITION RATES DO NOT CHANGE DURING THE SUMMER

Missed lessons

  1. There are no refunds, credits or make-up lessons for missed lessons for any reason outside of hospital admission.  To ensure that you receive a lesson that you would otherwise need to miss, you may call another parent in the studio and trade lessons of equal time. Under this policy, you may not “gift” your lesson to another student.
  2. My teaching schedule and phone list is available thru the members-only portal on this website. Please do not use this information found therein for any other reason but to switch lessons with another student.
  3. If you are unable to switch a lesson time, you must provide a minimum of 24 hours notice. IF I am able, I will try to accommodate you but am under no obligation to do so.

Ages

         I have a vast amount of experience teaching from the very young beginner to the more advanced adult student. Children can begin as early as 4 years old (even younger) and can learn very quickly developing into very good players at young ages. I also enjoy working with adult students although the approach is a very different one. 

Advice for beginners

Probably the biggest piece of advice that I can give a parent of a new student is to be patient and to trust the process. There will be ups and downs certainly there will be many days where you question why you started. Please remember that when you sign on to begin lessons that it’s a change of life and not to be considered a seasonal activity. Playing the violin is the most difficult instrument to play and needs a lot of dedication. When you are going through the difficult times, please talk to me for some advice on ideas for keeping your child motivated.