I tell my students to treat the violin like a baby. Of course you don't put a baby in a case or feed a violin, but it's still a pretty good rule of thumb: don't drop it, move it gently, keep it at a good temperature, and keep it clean.
Your violin should be kept at an even temperature as much as possible. In summer or winter, don't leave it in a car. If you must bring it along for multiple errands, you should bring it into the offices or stores with you. In extremely hot or cold weather, warm up or cool down the car before you put the instrument in the car. At home, do not store it next to a heater or cooling duct, or in direct sunlight. If you have radiant heat through the floor, don't set the case on the floor.
Violins that are exposed to extremes of temperature can develop cracks, or the top and bottom can come unglued. These are extremely expensive repairs. You don't want that.
Put your violin away when you finish playing. Leaving it out is tempting fate, which is never wise.
Always, always loosen the bow when you are done playing, even if you intend to come back later. The stick will warp out of shape if the bow is left tightened, and that will give your bow less flexibility.
Wipe the rosin off your strings and the body of the instrument every time you finish playing. Too much rosin is not just unsightly: it can hurt the varnish.
Friday, December 12, 2014
About changing teachers
People change teachers. It's a fact of life. Sometimes one person's location, style, or availability doesn't match yours anymore. Sometimes a student needs to hear a different voice (often one that will say the same things, but that's life). People move; circumstances change. Teachers know that.
If you are coming to me from another teacher and have already told them you are not coming back, the break is clean and I am fine with that. I will, however, expect to talk to the teacher in order to learn how they were working with you and what level you have reached.
I will not take on a student who is already working with another teacher, or one who has not made a clean break. Working with two teachers can be confusing; leaving a teacher without letting them know you are leaving is discourteous.
It would be unprofessional of me to take someone's student without the other teacher's knowledge. Other teachers are my colleagues, not my competitors, and professionals treat a change of teachers as a fact of life, not as a personal slight. It is best for a student if both teachers have a chance to discuss the student's current level of playing, strengths, and needs.
If you are going to quit lessons with me, whether you are going to another teacher or quitting lessons entirely, do tell me at least a week in advance so I can give your lesson time to someone else. All you need to tell me is that you are quitting. If you want to say more, I welcome that. If you are dissatisfied with my teaching, I want to know so that I can improve in future. Whatever your reason for changing teachers, I will be happy to discuss your student's progress and level of playing with their new teacher.
The one absolute DON'T for changing teachers is this: Don't do a no-show and then disappear. If I have held a time for you and you don't show up, I will be concerned that there may have been an accident or illness, and I will have an empty spot in my schedule that I don't know whether to fill.
If you are coming to me from another teacher and have already told them you are not coming back, the break is clean and I am fine with that. I will, however, expect to talk to the teacher in order to learn how they were working with you and what level you have reached.
I will not take on a student who is already working with another teacher, or one who has not made a clean break. Working with two teachers can be confusing; leaving a teacher without letting them know you are leaving is discourteous.
It would be unprofessional of me to take someone's student without the other teacher's knowledge. Other teachers are my colleagues, not my competitors, and professionals treat a change of teachers as a fact of life, not as a personal slight. It is best for a student if both teachers have a chance to discuss the student's current level of playing, strengths, and needs.
If you are going to quit lessons with me, whether you are going to another teacher or quitting lessons entirely, do tell me at least a week in advance so I can give your lesson time to someone else. All you need to tell me is that you are quitting. If you want to say more, I welcome that. If you are dissatisfied with my teaching, I want to know so that I can improve in future. Whatever your reason for changing teachers, I will be happy to discuss your student's progress and level of playing with their new teacher.
The one absolute DON'T for changing teachers is this: Don't do a no-show and then disappear. If I have held a time for you and you don't show up, I will be concerned that there may have been an accident or illness, and I will have an empty spot in my schedule that I don't know whether to fill.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Don't buy a violin yet!
Strange. Why would I tell you not to buy a violin?
Sadly, there are some really bad violins out there. They're known as "violin-shaped objects" among teachers. Some of them would make great decor items but are not good musical instruments. Getting a good sound is important, and if you have an instrument that won't let you make a good sound, you're starting with two strikes against you.
Violins are for sale all over eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook, but the only way to judge the quality of a violin is to play it. An instrument for sale online is the ultimate gamble. Not only can you not tell whether it's any good, you don't know what might be wrong with it. Repairs can be expensive and will require either travel or shipping costs.
If you're thinking of buying a local violin, I'll be happy to evaluate it for a small fee. I'm not a professional appraiser, but I know whether an instrument is any good.
In most cases, though, a violin is an unnecessary expense for a beginner. Why make a commitment before you know you want to?
If the student is a child, you will need to figure out what size you need. Too many people have bought a full-sized violin for their child when the child needed a 3/4 or even a 1/2 size, and the child gives up because the instrument is so hard to handle. Renting is the solution when a child needs a smaller violin: they can change sizes and you won't be stuck with an outgrown instrument. Of course, if you have six children and you want them all to play, it makes sense to buy a smaller violin, but even then, don't buy off the internet.
I get no compensation of any kind for saying this, but I have been working with a rental and stringed instrument supply company since 1976 and they have a stellar record and good rates. Contact me and I will direct you to them. They have a flexible rent-to-own program.
Sadly, there are some really bad violins out there. They're known as "violin-shaped objects" among teachers. Some of them would make great decor items but are not good musical instruments. Getting a good sound is important, and if you have an instrument that won't let you make a good sound, you're starting with two strikes against you.
Violins are for sale all over eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook, but the only way to judge the quality of a violin is to play it. An instrument for sale online is the ultimate gamble. Not only can you not tell whether it's any good, you don't know what might be wrong with it. Repairs can be expensive and will require either travel or shipping costs.
If you're thinking of buying a local violin, I'll be happy to evaluate it for a small fee. I'm not a professional appraiser, but I know whether an instrument is any good.
In most cases, though, a violin is an unnecessary expense for a beginner. Why make a commitment before you know you want to?
If the student is a child, you will need to figure out what size you need. Too many people have bought a full-sized violin for their child when the child needed a 3/4 or even a 1/2 size, and the child gives up because the instrument is so hard to handle. Renting is the solution when a child needs a smaller violin: they can change sizes and you won't be stuck with an outgrown instrument. Of course, if you have six children and you want them all to play, it makes sense to buy a smaller violin, but even then, don't buy off the internet.
I get no compensation of any kind for saying this, but I have been working with a rental and stringed instrument supply company since 1976 and they have a stellar record and good rates. Contact me and I will direct you to them. They have a flexible rent-to-own program.
Teacher Background
Hi, I'm Janine Goodwin. I teach violin and voice lessons in Grant County, Oregon. I'm currently teaching every week in Prairie and every other Saturday in John Day, and if enough students sign up I will drive to Dayville every other Friday. Students from the ages of 5 to 105 are welcome.
I'm classically trained in violin, viola, and voice. Even if classical music is not your first choice for listening, classical training is a healthy basis for a lifetime in music. (And believe me, the way I teach it, it's not stuffy.) Here's why.
Classical training in violin is the easiest way to use your body without injury and get great results with your playing. I have studied ergonomic ways to use the violin and bow. The better your basic position, the better and faster you can play and the more endurance you will have.
Classical training in voice, also called bel canto (Italian for "beautiful singing") is the best way to use the voice without causing injury to the vocal cords. Know how pop and rock singers get raspy voices, have surgery, and sometimes give up singing? That can be avoided, and you can still sing with a strong voice.
Here's my background.
Violin and viola: I started playing at the age of ten in the Salem public schools. At fourteen, I chose to make the viola my primary instrument. I won first place at State Solo in 1977 and second in 1976 and 1978. Also in 1978, I was chosen to be a Presidential Scholar in the arts, one of three in the country to be selected for music. I went to the University of Oregon and majored in viola performance. I was injured in 1981 and could not continue my career as a performer, and devoted much time and effort to learning about healthy ways to play. I enjoy fiddle tunes and am happy to help a student work toward playing any style (any rockers out there?)
Voice: I started singing in a choir my father directed when I was five. In high school and college, and after college, I studied bel canto with a private teacher for a total of six years. I've sung in the chorus of an opera, done competitions, and performed as a paid chorister and soloist in Eugene, Salem OR, Cambridge MA, New York City, and Buffalo NY.
Teaching: I have been teaching music privately since 1977 and have also worked in the public schools, teaching music in Prairie City for two years and special education in Springfield, OR.In 2000, I earned an M.S. Ed from the University of Oregon.
Music has always been fun for me, and I make learning fun. I have the utmost respect for my students. They are fascinating people, and it's always a privilege to work with them.
I'm classically trained in violin, viola, and voice. Even if classical music is not your first choice for listening, classical training is a healthy basis for a lifetime in music. (And believe me, the way I teach it, it's not stuffy.) Here's why.
Classical training in violin is the easiest way to use your body without injury and get great results with your playing. I have studied ergonomic ways to use the violin and bow. The better your basic position, the better and faster you can play and the more endurance you will have.
Classical training in voice, also called bel canto (Italian for "beautiful singing") is the best way to use the voice without causing injury to the vocal cords. Know how pop and rock singers get raspy voices, have surgery, and sometimes give up singing? That can be avoided, and you can still sing with a strong voice.
Here's my background.
Violin and viola: I started playing at the age of ten in the Salem public schools. At fourteen, I chose to make the viola my primary instrument. I won first place at State Solo in 1977 and second in 1976 and 1978. Also in 1978, I was chosen to be a Presidential Scholar in the arts, one of three in the country to be selected for music. I went to the University of Oregon and majored in viola performance. I was injured in 1981 and could not continue my career as a performer, and devoted much time and effort to learning about healthy ways to play. I enjoy fiddle tunes and am happy to help a student work toward playing any style (any rockers out there?)
Voice: I started singing in a choir my father directed when I was five. In high school and college, and after college, I studied bel canto with a private teacher for a total of six years. I've sung in the chorus of an opera, done competitions, and performed as a paid chorister and soloist in Eugene, Salem OR, Cambridge MA, New York City, and Buffalo NY.
Teaching: I have been teaching music privately since 1977 and have also worked in the public schools, teaching music in Prairie City for two years and special education in Springfield, OR.In 2000, I earned an M.S. Ed from the University of Oregon.
Music has always been fun for me, and I make learning fun. I have the utmost respect for my students. They are fascinating people, and it's always a privilege to work with them.
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