Information about violin lessons
Violin lessons are $30/ lesson + borough tax. Lessons are 30 minutes in length.
Lessons are scheduled weekly.
Parents/Students will be billed at the beginning of the month.
Be on time for your lesson. *I cannot extend a lesson if you do not make your lesson on time. It is unfair to students following your scheduled time.
Please communicate with me if you need to cancel a lesson or you will be late. *A 24 hour cancelation notice is required.
Parents/Students are encouraged to stay for the lesson & take notes. This way parents are able to help their student in case s/he forgets what I taught during a lesson. *Refer to your TONARA app!
SPRING RECITAL: there will be 1 recital for the year. It will be scheduled for the first part of May. Each student will be performing 2 pieces. Location & time TBA.
FAQ
NEW VIOLIN STUDENT’S GUIDELINES & INFORMATION
WHERE TO GET VIOLINS FIXED?
Petr’s Violin Shop in Anchorage is the best place to get your violin fixed if I cannot.
Petr’s Violin Shop
1408 Hyder Street Unit B
Anchorage AK 99501
(907) 277-9115 | (907) 276-1800 | 1-800-400-1130 | Email : violin@alaska.net
VIOLIN ACCESSORIES: I have little accessories, such as rosin cakes, and strings at my studio, but other reliable places are Shar Muisc or Petr’s Violin Shop are best. Please consult me as to where to items.
SHAR PRODUCTS COMPANY
2465 S. Industrial Hwy.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
1- 800.248.7427
https://www.sharmusic.com/
HOW LONG SHOULD STUDENTS PRACTICE?
How long a student practices on a daily basis depends largely on the age & attention span of the student. Here are some suggested guidelines:
3 years to 6 years: 15-25 minutes
7 years to 9 years: 20-30 minutes
10 years to 12 years: 25-35 minutes
12 years to 14 years: 35-45 minutes
14 years to adult: 45 minutes to 60 minutes
These recommended practice times are not etched in stone. Some days are more hectic than others & maybe you can only fit in a 10-minute practice. Try to make up that time slowly throughout the week.
VIOLIN CARE:
NEVER store your violin by a heater or someplace cold like a car in the winter. The extreme temperatures will impact the violin. Your violin will get out of tune quicker, the strings will pop in colder weather, the wood will crack or separate in warmer or hotter temperatures. A room that is 65-70 degrees is preferable.
NEVER get your violin wet or wash it with soap & water or any liquid.
NEVER chew gum or eat candy or food while playing the violin.
NEVER play the violin if you have dirty hands.
NEVER leave your violin out where it can be sat on or stepped on. ALWAYS put it back in the case, even if you have to run to the bathroom for a few minutes.
NEVER play sword fighting with the bow or any other such games. The violin is an instrument, NOT a toy.
ALWAYS treat your violin with TLC, like a fragile egg.
ALWAYS use a polishing cloth to clean the rosin residue from the violin & the stick of the bow.
TUNING THE VIOLIN:
If parents are comfortable tuning the violin, I can show them how. There are electric tuners & pipe tuners. I recommend the electric tuner, it is more accurate. This is the same type of tuner used by guitarists.
HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?
Parents can help by setting aside an allotted daily time & place to practice.
Make sure the TV/computers/music are OFF & find a quiet place to practice.
Encourage your student to keep practicing. It may not sound great at first, but believe me, with consistent daily practice, it WILL get better & BETTER!
IS THERE ROOM FOR ADVANCEMENT? The Kenai Peninsula Orchestra is an option. The only thing about this group is that practices & performances can be in different locations on the peninsula. For more information, The Kenai Peninsula Orchestra has a Facebook page as well as a website.
MY EXPERIENCE:
I have been playing the for 48 years. My violin teachers include Jolynn Kerinen, Marilyn Savolinen & Maria Allison. I have been classically trained using the Suzuki Method, & I continue using this method to instruct my students, BUT emphasize sight reading later on as well as writing music. I also play & teach Irish, Scottish & Country Western fiddle to my intermediate & advanced students. I have played with the Negaunee High School Orchestra in Michigan, the Northern Michigan Youth Orchestra, the Kenai Peninsula Youth Orchestra and a few high school musicals.
I expect students to use the TONARA app. This app is FREE to parents/students. After lessons, I will outline what students need to work on for their next lesson. I will provide comparative recordings, audio memos, images, links &/or attachments to help students practice. Students are also able to message me questions & record themselves. Parents can help their younger students log into TONARA & navigate through the app. *Initially, I will send students their username and password.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Linda Zimmerman
50669 Takoda Street
Nikiski, AK 99635
(907) 398-7129