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Music

Violin Class for Young Kids

WRITTEN BY CLAIRE ALLEN
(Violin Beginnings founder and instructor)

The Academy offers Violin Beginnings group classes for children ages 4-7 as part of our early strings education initiative. With our Spring 2017 semester session starting soon, we wanted to give you more details about this ground-breaking program.

 

Claire Allen Violin LessonsViolin Beginnings allows young students to start their violin education in a supportive, nurturing group atmosphere. Parents are present in the classroom for every single session and learn alongside their children so that they can act as their children’s practice coaches at home. We start from the very beginning, placing great importance on the fundamentals of how to hold the violin and bow and progressing steadily through a curriculum of songs, games, and musical exercises. After completing Level 1 and Level 2, students are able to play the Twinkle Variations from the Suzuki violin school.

We take a hybrid approach to the pedagogy we use in our Violin Beginnings classes. Elements from the Suzuki method and philosophy are combined with exercises developed by pedagogue Paul Rolland to promote freedom of movement. We also use the child-friendly Freddie Fiddle workbook series to teach our students the basics of note-reading, pitch, and rhythm. In addition, students’ listening skills develop at a fast rate because from the very first class, they are learning how to listen to their classmates, sing, and play together as an ensemble.

 

 

While every Violin Beginnings teacher follows the same curriculum and structure, each teacher also adds their own flair and games to the class. Colleague Rachel McAleer writes, “I like to put my students in charge with a game called Who’s The Teacher? It’s so wonderful watching a young student lead their peers through steps that they’ve become familiar with throughout the class.” One of my own favorite classroom activities is selecting a piece of classical music to listen to. I’ll play the main themes for the students on my violin and ask them to tell me what they think they sound like. Then, we listen to the piece and I watch their eyes light up as they shout “There’s the dragon!” as they hear the music and imagine the story unfolding.

Over the last three years, I’ve seen Violin Beginnings students grow and develop in a number of ways. It’s amazing to see students transform into violinists in a relatively short period of time. The group environment is less intense than a private lesson can be, and gives both students and parents a quality first violin experience. Once students have completed the group class, they are then prepared to move into private lessons with one of our violin faculty – or sometimes, they choose to try a different instrument in one of our other group classes.

 

Students playing in violin class

 

Violin Beginnings was the first program I helped to shape at Potomac Arts Academy, and it continues to be one of my favorite classes both to promote and teach. Seven of my current private violin students are alums of Violin Beginnings! It’s been particularly heartwarming for me to see the friendships that formed in Violin Beginnings continuing to grow and develop. Violin Beginnings gave my students a strong foundation for their playing and also kindled their love of music.

Wherever you are hoping your violin journey takes you, Violin Beginnings is a wonderful place to take your first steps. The Spring class session has three sections available (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays), so register today to secure your spot!

 

FIND OUT MORE & REGISTER

 

The Academy will be closed for Spring Break beginning Monday, March 25 and will re-open on Monday, April 1. We will be operating with limited hours. For any urgent requests, please call 703-993-9889.

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