Here are some of the things you will need to know as you enroll your elementary-age child in the studio. These guidelines will help your child to attain excellent results and experience joyful and vibrant music-making. If your child is younger than four years old, please read here.

Parent Training

If your child is age 4-10, you will be attending lessons and practicing daily with them at home. Violin is intricate both mentally and physically, and your child will need your active help and support in mastering the many skills introduced in lesson. As middle schoolers they will continue to benefit from some gentle parental oversight in their practicing. Once they have developed the necessary organization, self-awareness, and discipline, they will be able to practice fully independently.

In order to support you in your role as practice parent, your teacher will meet with you for approximately one month before your child begins, so you can learn some violin skills that will enable you to be more helpful (and feel more secure and confident) as you practice with them. Please plan to rent a full-size violin (link) for this period of time, for use during these lessons and home practice. 

During this period before your child begins lessons, you will want to begin adjusting your daily activities to establish a daily practice routine. We suggest easing into this practice routine by doing a quiet activity each day at the appointed practice time. If your child is younger, this may be an art project, puzzle, or listening to music together. This will help get you into the rhythm and give you a sense whether the practice time you’ve chosen will work consistently.

Choosing a Practice Area

On a related note, you will also want to set aside a specific area in your home which is reserved for music practice. Having a dedicated practice area helps your child (and you) focus more fully on your practice time, without other tasks and distractions pulling on your attention. The practice area should be relatively quiet and free from distraction from other family members. Ideally the area should include just one chair (for you), a high-quality music stand (here), and some pens and pencils. Eliminating cushy furniture from the practice area will help your child build the discipline of standing throughout the practice.

Getting a Violin

Please ask your teacher if your child will need a violin before their first lesson. Younger children will have a period of pre-violin study on the piano. If you do need a violin, please only rent or purchase one from a reputable local shop, such as this one.  

Parents’ Role in the Lesson

A designated parent must attend the child’s lesson and take notes, which will guide home practice. You will be writing notes more or less continuously throughout the lesson. We have a “no cell phone rule” to ensure that parents to not get pulled into a conversation and miss key points of the lesson. You may wish to leave your cell phone in another room so that it does not present a distraction.

Your child and their violin study will enjoy a tremendous benefit when the space of the lesson is reserved for its dedicated purpose. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in respecting this policy