First-Time Violinists: Here’s a Starter Violin Course Which Gets You Playing Confidently in Just 2 Hours!
You are about to discover how it’s possible to play the violin beautifully in just a couple of hours ...
... even if you’ve never held an instrument and can’t read a single note of music!
It sounds extraordinary, I know! But that's exactly what happens every single week at ViolinSchool.
Whatever your age, let me show you how it’s possible to start playing violin excellently in the quickest possible time ...
AS FEATURED ON:
For Starters ... And 'Restarters'!
TECHNIQUE
MUSIC
PERFORMANCE
Get started right with the violin!
Phone: +44 (0)20 3051 0080 Email: [email protected]
All classes are ONLINE but some sessions are presented live from our London School - if you're in (or visiting) the UK, come and join us in person!
If you don't yet have a violin, click here and we'll help you find one!
Q: How do I join the live classes?
A: The live classes take place online on Zoom. You will be able to book your first session as soon as you register, then you'll be sent an email with the Zoom meeting link, before the start of the class.
Q: Do you offer the class offline?
A: We occasionally present some of the Starter Course sessions live from our school in London, England. These sessions will be clearly marked on the schedule. If you are in (or visiting) the UK, you are welcome to come and join us in person at no extra cost!
Q: Do I need my own violin?
A: Yes, you will need a violin. If you don't already have one, click here and we can help you find one that's right for you!
Q: Do I need to read music?
A: No, it's all included in the course. We'll explain everything you need to know!
Q: How many people are there in each class?
A: We work to a ratio of 8:1 offline, and for online classes with more than 10 participants there is usually a second tutor or presenter available to answer any questions. We always make sure that there is someone from our coaching team available to answer any questions or help you with any instrument or tuning-related issues.
Q: What comes after the Starter Violin Course?
A: The Starter Violin Course leads directly on to our popular series Beginner Violin Courses which run three times a year on a termly basis. Course A starts with an introduction to the fingers, so you can learn how to create different notes by stopping the fingers on the string using the left hand.
There are three instalments - Course A, Course B and Course C. Once you've attended the Starter Violin Course you'll be ready to join Course A, which will give you all the foundational skills to play the violin well at a basic level. If you go on to complete Course B and C, you'll find that - within a year - you can play pretty much any simple melody fluently and beautifully on the violin!
Q: How can I be sure that the Starter Violin Course is any good?
A: Our director Simon Hewitt Jones developed the workshop as part of his research at the Royal Academy of Music, refining it over several years to create the quickest possible route to playing the violin in tune and in time with a good basic sound. The course (originally known as the 'Beginner Violin Class') has now been running for over 10 years, and has helped literally hundreds of people to get started successfully with the violin!
It works for everyone because it explains the most important 10 or so core principles of violin playing in a really simple way, without getting into the nitty gritty of complex violin technique. So you really can be playing the violin with a good basic sound in just 2 hours!
Q: I’ve never played the violin in my life / I’d love to try this but I’m a bit nervous…
A: Don’t worry at all. You’ll have a great time. Our tutors are really nice and they take the approach that ‘no question is too silly’. Everyone else at the class will be feeling the same as you! But after a couple of minutes, we’ll tell you everything you need to know. You don’t need any experience at all for this course!
Q: I’ve played the violin before. Is this for me?
A: If you played the violin only at beginner level (i.e. no higher than ABRSM exam grades 3-4) and have not touched it for several years, you’ll certainly benefit from the class – so please go ahead and book today!
If you’ve played quite recently, or if you reached higher than ABRSM grade 4-5, then we are likely to recommend that you take the Starter Course as a refresher, and then go directly to Course B or Course C (or even one of our intermediate courses, or a personalised Restarter Program). The best thing to do is to send us an enquiry then we can recommend the right class for you.
Q: What happens after the Starter Course / what do I do next?
A: Our 10-week Beginner Violin Courses lead on directly from the 2-hour Beginner Violin Class. It's possible to join the 10-week course directly, without coming to the 2-hour class, as the same material is covered in weeks 1 & 2 (but in more detail). However, many people like to come to the 2-hour Beginner Violin Class first, to get to know our teaching style before joining the full course.
Following the Beginnner Class, you'll be ready to get started on our Courses, which are available either by membership subscription or through our Coaching Program or Termly Enrolment. Our Learning Advisory team will follow up with you by email to answer any questions and help guide you to the right learning program.
Q: Where do I buy a violin?
A: We can guide you through the process of getting a violin for the first time - click through to our Beginner Setup process and we'll get you started from there. You can also find plenty of advice about finding a violin in our free online course, 'How To Get Started With The Violin'.
Have a question that's not answered here?
Give us a call on +44 (0) 20 3051 0080 or email [email protected] and we'll be very happy to advise you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Starter Violin Course: Upcoming Dates & Times
2020
via Zoom, every Thursday. Start time: 09:00 (San Francisco), 12:00 (New York), 17:00 (London), 19:00 (Jerusalem), 21:30 (New Delhi) ... arrive early if your violin needs tuning!
We recommend attending Session 1 before coming to Session 2!
Saturday 31st October - Session 1: Posture, How To Hold the Violin, How to Hold The Bow, Basic Note Reading, Your First Piece
Saturday 31st October - Session 2: - The Right Hand, Bowing, Making a Beautiful Sound, Open String Pieces, Your First Performance
Thursday 5th November - Session 1: Posture, How To Hold the Violin, How to Hold The Bow, Basic Note Reading, Your First Piece
Thursday 12th November - Session 2: - The Right Hand, Bowing, Making a Beautiful Sound, Open String Pieces, Your First Performance
Thursday 19th November - Session 1: Posture, How To Hold the Violin, How to Hold The Bow, Basic Note Reading, Your First Piece
Thursday 26th November - Session 2: - The Right Hand, Bowing, Making a Beautiful Sound, Open String Pieces, Your First Performance
Thursday 3rd December - Session 1: Posture, How To Hold the Violin, How to Hold The Bow, Basic Note Reading, Your First Piece
Thursday 10th December - Session 2: - The Right Hand, Bowing, Making a Beautiful Sound, Open String Pieces, Your First Performance