In August 2015, our violin faculty pioneered a new summer program: Violin Bootcamp. Read on for violin teacher Claire Allen’s reflection on the experience, originally published in the newsletter of the Virginia American String Teachers’ Association, and enjoy a slideshow of photos from last year’s camp!
Violin Bootcamp was created, directed, and taught by Rachel McAleer, Matthew Richardson, Erynn Spencer, and myself, Claire Allen.
Our goal was simple: to create an environment where violinists could learn concepts and skills that would improve their playing at a fundamental level.
Twenty violinists ages 8 to 16 attended Bootcamp. Each day began with a series of warm-up exercises that included stretching, left hand basics and exercises, right hand basics and bow games, and practice strategies. Our faculty took turns leading various parts of the warm-ups, while the other three walked among the students to shape their left hands, fix bow holds, and give hands-on reinforcement of the concepts being taught. Students received four 30-
minute private lessons over the course of the week. We paired the students for lessons, so one student would have a lesson while the other took notes for them, and then they switched. While the violin faculty taught lessons, the other students had individual practice time. A practice monitor moved through all the practice spaces to make sure the students were practicing. She would ask to see their practice plans, and serve as a sample “audience,” which was especially useful for those students preparing for auditions.
After lunch came a Technique/Violin Culture class, where students were in the same groups they had for scales. The four teachers rotated among these classes, so the students had a different teacher for this class each day – it was important to us that each student got to experience each teacher. Topics included shifting, vibrato, rhythm and tone production. The “Violin Culture” part of the class was designed to introduce the students to different aspects of the violin world, such as current artists, old masters such as Heifetz, and contemporary classical music. Each day concluded with a masterclass taught by one of our faculty members. The students were able to perform for each other and observe their colleagues learn. For some of our students, this week was the first time they had ever had private lessons – and then the first time they had ever performed in public. Our regular private students at Potomac benefited from being able to work with a different teacher. For the teachers, it was an incredible opportunity to witness each other’s teaching and to learn from each other.
Bootcamp has had a tremendous effect on our violin community at Potomac Arts Academy, both students and the teachers. We as a violin department have always approached teaching from a collaborative mindset, but this was the first pedagogical project we had embarked on as a team. Being able to share teaching ideas, tricks, and perspectives on each other’s students was amazing.
The atmosphere of learning and respect for each violinist’s individual journey was truly remarkable. Our students learned together, played together at lunch and supported each other. By halfway through the week, a group of girls in our youngest group was hugging each other hello and goodbye every day. While preparing for my masterclass, I noticed one of my regular private students giving advice to her friend who was about to play for me in the masterclass. The support crossed the age lines. Naturally, our youngest students looked up to the older ones, but our older students also respected the younger ones and treated them as fellow violinists, rather than as little kids. They all truly enjoyed each other, and we teachers adored working with all of them.
The final performance was an unexpectedly emotional experience for all of us. Every single student made leaps and bounds of progress in just five days. We saw true, lasting technical change created throughout Bootcamp. I can report that each of my private students who attended Bootcamp has retained all of the progress they made during that week, and that the changes and growth have stuck.
Violin Bootcamp is returning for 2016, and we look forward to welcoming new and returning students!
Limited Spots Remain: Secure your place now!