Auckland Violin Teacher Susan Davis

Contact

2009-09-09T14:10:00.001-07:00

Susan Davis, Auckland Violinist for Lessons, Weddings and Events

Just e-mail ambiancestringquartet@ihug.co.nz to make contact.

Or for more information online:

Violin Lessons Home

Solo Violinist Home

Ambiance String Quartet, Trio or Duo Home

Late Starters

2008-12-20T00:40:00.000-08:00

'Late Starters' can be anyone from an adult or teen starting the violin as a complete beginner to someone who has played a little as a child but didn't advance far until later in life deciding to really give it a go. I know many late starters who enjoy music at a competent amateur level. There are even some professionals who started late, though of course most adults have time constraints that don't allow the many hours of daily practice required for that.

I really support Late Starters, and find that I have good success teaching them with my methods. Quite a number of my students are late starters, and we have great fun during the lessons, while they also advance at a satisfying rate.

So if you've toyed with the idea of learning the violin but have thought it might be 'too hard', just contact me and we can talk about how I teach late starters, my method of teaching music reading, and the fun you can have with chamber music and community orchestras within a few years of starting 'late'.

In other words, it might be considered 'late', but it's never too late to learn the violin :)

References

2008-09-17T17:40:00.000-07:00

I am registered with the New Zealand Institute of Registered Music Teachers.

Please let me know if you would like any of my referees to contact you and talk about my teaching and playing. Referees include professional musicians, people I have worked for, and parents of students/adult students themselves who have had lessons with me.

In 2009 three students sat and passed exams, two of them with 'Distinction'.

Regarding my playing, the Ambiance String Quartet site holds many references: http://ambiance-string-quartet.blogspot.com/2008/08/testimonials.html

Parents and Students:

A 12 year old student passed his grade 4 exam with high merit in 2008. His mother writes:

"Susan has been teaching my son for almost a year and within this time I can see my son had made a tremendous progress in his violin playing. Thank you Susan...................Polly"

The mother of a 7 yr old boy, after 3 months of lessons writes:

"My only regret with having Susan as our son’s violin tutor is that we did not find her sooner.
...
She is very kind hearted, patient and my son adores her. The only reason we are ending our fantastic arrangement with her, is due to the fact that we are relocating to Sydney, Australia. I only wish we could pack her in our cases and take her with us. I know I am going to look far and wide to find someone as good with children and passionate about music as Susan is.

Kind regards

Nicole and David Kupka"

Teaching Experience

2008-09-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

I have taught for many years in my Devonport home, around the East Coast Bays, and at the following schools (both long term and relieving):

Northcross Intermediate
Vauxhall Primary
Bays Music Centre (at Murrays Bay Intermediate)
Glenfield College
Devonport Primary School
Milford School
Belmont School

Home

2008-08-30T01:09:00.000-07:00

For my Wedding/Events Ensemble, please click here

Learning Violin

Playing the violin has so many benefits: fun, mental stimulation, physical co-ordination and a lifetime's wonderful hobby or even career.

Everyone is welcome: beginners and more experienced players, children and adults. I use a combination of methods, depending on the needs of the students.

I can offer:

Excellent teaching and support.
Duet playing from the very beginning - ensemble music begins straight away!

Skills and confidence in technique and theory.

Grade 1-8 examination preparation if desired.

Involvement in performing music as soon as possible.

Fees:

Individual lessons: $60 full hour. $30 half hour. Individual lessons give the best results.

Full hour lessons can be shared by two students if this is organised by you and I think the students are of a similar enough level to progress well. Shared lessons can help parents with transport to Devonport.

Location: My studio is in beautiful Devonport, right next to a park (with playground). Parents can enjoy the charming village or simply relax in a comfortable lounge during the lesson time.

Contact Susan: ambiancestringquartet@ihug.co.nz or Ph. 445 6696

Note Names and Rhythms

2008-08-11T17:37:00.001-07:00

Here are two great websites that will help you practice the note names and various rhythms:

Note Reading: http://www.practicespot.com/theory/?t=92 If you are just beginning, select the easiest options: Ledger lines 'off' and only the treble clef. Later, choose two ledger lines, because we play those notes on the G string and E string.

Remember, from the bottom upwards, the lines are EGBDF (Every Good Boy Deserves Fun) and the spaces are FACE. Those are easy to remember, huh?

Rhythm Gym homework http://www.practicespot.com/rhythmgym.phtml

There are different ways to practice rhythms: 1. simply clap the basic beat (e.g. 4 beats per bar, or 2 or 3), and then say 'duuh, duh, duh' or whatever the rhythms is. 2. Count aloud, clapping the rhythm. This is very useful if you are counting 8ths (aka quavers) and need to say the 'and' aloud, as in 'One and Two and Three and Four and'.

The third way, especially useful for violinists is to move your bow arm in the correct rhythm, while counting aloud. You can even play the rhythm on an open string while counting aloud.

Equipment Checklist

2008-08-11T16:50:00.000-07:00

Violin and Equipment Checklist

Violin Storage

 No extreme temperatures such as a basement or attic or a room with a lot of sun. This includes car boots, which get far too hot for a violin.
 No direct sunlight on the instrument.
 Not near a heater or air conditioning unit.
 No dampness (direct water or steamy air).
 Place a clean cloth over the violin before you close the case.
 Always put the violin and bow into the case when not playing.
 Unwind the bow until the hair is soft.
 Secure the bow in the case, so that it won’t fall onto the violin.
 If you have finished playing OR you leave the room for any length of time (e.g. for a snack break), close the case.
 If other people or animals are in the room, close the case.
 Think before you place your violin or bow anywhere, even for a moment: there are stories of people sitting on their violins, driving off with the violin on the car roof, stepping on their violins left on the floor, running over their violins with their car…

Chinrest and Shoulder pad

Don't buy a shoulder rest at first. All you need at first is a simple sponge wedge to tilt the violin towards the bow, held on with elastic. If you can't find one in the music shop, I might be able to provide one during the first lesson.

Rosin

Light Rosin is best for warm climates like Auckland’s. It's harder and not as sticky as dark rosin. Dark Rosin is best for cool climates.
 Turn the piece of rosin each time to keep a flat surface. This is kinder to the bow.
 Use enough to make the bow ‘hold and pull’ the string.
 Wipe it off the string, violin body and bow wood after playing.
 If the strings get sticky with rosin, use a tissue and methylated spirits to wipe them clean, without dripping any on the violin body.

Metronome

A metronome is required. An electric metronome with the ‘A’ note is useful. If you don’t have this, you need a tuning fork.

Keep the metronome where you will remember to bring it to lessons.

Music stand

Light but solid and easily folded into a portable shape.

Strings

Take spare strings everywhere you go to play – they can break anytime. Good quality strings are essential for tone quality. Even if they don't break or unwind, strings should be replaced when they start sounding lifeless, false and dull. This happens sooner if:
 There is a lot of playing.
 You use a lot of force with the left hand (also bad for the player).
 Sweaty hands (cause corrosion). Silver strings resist corrosion better than aluminium and nickel alloys.

Changing strings:

 Change one string at a time, never all at once as the bridge may fall.
 Wind the string without crossing it over on the peg.
 Check for a leaning bridge (see below).

Fine tuners

These are at the top of the tailpiece and help with tuning. The pegs will still be needed if the adjustment is large. Try and keep the fine tuners near the middle of their winding by using the pegs sometimes. This allows for easy fine tuning.

Mirror

A mirror is needed in the practice room to check stance and bow straightness.

Maintenance

Bridge

A well maintained bridge should last many years and it shouldn't be necessary to replace it as long as it fits correctly. If it is necessary to repair or replace the bridge (warped or cracked) it must be done by a luthier.

Bow

Bow tension: just enough for the hair to only touch the stick in the middle of the bow when pressed hard on the string.

Don’t touch the bow hair, as grease will limit its ability to hold rosin.

Bow rehairing needs to be done (by a luthier) if:

 The rosin no longer ‘holds’. This small irregularities in the horsehair that produce the sound wear out over time.

 The bow has lost too much hair (the hairs break over time). Too many hairs lost on one side of the bow can warp the stick.

 The hair is too long or short (temperature and humidity can cause this).

Check regularly for problems such as cracks, a warped bridge, fallen soundpost etc.

Immediately go to the seller or a luthier with such problems.

Violin Teacher Tip: Sequences in all Major Keys

2008-02-22T20:07:00.001-08:00

In first position, these are the finger pattern sequences we use for the major keys.

Key A: Sequence 1
Key B: Sequence 7
Key C: Sequence 6
Key D: Sequence 5
Key E: Sequence 4
Key F: Sequence 3
Key G: Sequence 2

Note: if you're playing in A or A flat, E or E flat, the sequences are the same.

Use flashcards to memorise the sequences.

Violin Teacher Tip: Finger Pattern Sequences

2008-02-22T20:02:00.000-08:00

If I've asked you to memorise these, make yourself some flashcards. On one side, the number of the sequence, on the other side the Finger Pattern numbers across the strings (GDAE).

Sequence 1 : 1122
Sequence 2 : 2233
Sequence 3 : 3341
Sequence 4 : 4112
Sequence 5 : 1223
Sequence 6 : 2334
Sequence 7 : 3411

Now memorise these by testing yourself daily, and each time forming your hand into the correct patterns for each sequence.

Violin Teacher Tip: Finger Patterns

2008-02-22T19:56:00.000-08:00

Here are the four finger patterns for major keys. Make yourself some flashcards with these patterns, the pattern number on one side, the description on the other.

Pattern 1: Fingers 3 and 4 close together (pinky and ring finger)
Pattern 2: Fingers 2 and 3 close together (ring and middle finger)
Pattern 3: Fingers 1 and 2 close together (middle and index finger)
Pattern 4: All fingers apart.

Now go over these in your mind a few times a day, placing your fingers in each pattern, until you can do it quickly.