My daughter (age 7) is trying to learn the violin and is finding it very difficult. She has group lessons but the other children in the group are older and have all been playing for a few years. She has been having lessons for 1 year but doesn't seem to be getting far. She is now just starting on first finger.
I cannot play any musical instrument, but have not found this a problem with my son learning piano, as the piano seems obvious and intuitive, and I have leant at the same pace to help him. With the violin, I cannot seem to grasp what to do at all, and neither can my daughter! I have to rely on the internet to look everything up, and neither of us even really know where the first finger is meant to go.
I would appreciate any advice, or ideas on where to look things up, as my daughter is becoming very demoralized and is finding it difficult to play at home as she does not understand what to do.
You have to work on intonation - play the open string, then have your daughter start at the top of the fingerboard and slowly slide her finger down the string into what she thinks is the correct sound for the next note - check what she has against the piano.
I don't know if that makes a lot of sense, and it will be difficult, but it'll pay off if she can hear the correct sound of the notes.
Alternatively, ask her teacher to put masking tape where the fingers are meant to go and then have her practise listening to the tone.
I am a french violin teacher passionate about teaching and pedagogy on 4 strings. My french method ( " j'apprends le violon " ) is now available in english : " I learn the violin " ( 3 volumes ).
Sometimes group isn't the way to go. i taught out of school music for two years and it is difficult to give attention to every student, particularly when they are at different levels and you only have a certain amount of time. ask if you can sit in on her lessons (i encouraged parents to do this) because then you can learn by watching and it will make it easier for you to help her at home. it is different to looking at pictures on the internet. if her teacher doesn't like you watching i wouldn't be too impressed with them. maybe fortnightly lessons to boost the ones she is getting would be a good idea, though you have to watch that the group teacher is teaching in a much different style to the private teacher. if the class is too big, then she won't get anywhere anyway and see if there is a beginner level class. she shouldn't have been on open string for quite so long i don't think.
keep encouraging her, and assess your options regarding a private tutor or a smaller group class. sitting in on the lessons might be all that you need to do and i suggest you try this first.
good luck!
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