Want to find a violin teacher/approach for 4yr old - any suggestions?

[StarkAndWitchesWillFindYou]

Where do I start looking?

I think ds will LOVE it and I know he would practice hard.

I'd look for a Suzuki teacher (try Google and your town name or www.britishsuzuki.org.uk/ the British Suzuki Institute). My DD started with it (not until 11) and got on really well. For us, one of the advantages was that Suzuki teachers expect parental involvement - you sit in on every lesson and are taught how to help them practise. This also gave me the confidence to insist to my DS's sax teacher that I should sit in from time to time - the teacher is clearly uncomfortable with that and tries to talk to me rather than DS but I ignore him, LOL.

Children start off playing by ear and gradually progress to reading music, so they can concentrate on the sound and the physical movemnet, rather than on the skill of reading. Children should also be playing in a monthly group class (all levels together) and having recitals once or twice a year, which is better than only individual lessons, IME.

Children progress through the books and pieces in a set order. The downside of that is you know all the pieces that your child has done and have to sit through someone else's child screeching abominably through the Twinkle variations.

Once DS can play a few notes, you may want to see if there is a local authority children's music school - our local one takes children of all standards and they get used to playing in ensemble. However, it will probably expect some ability to read music.

Thanks. That is really helpful.

I doubt there are many LA groups for children this young but I'll certainly look into it.

No fluffy. He doesn't even know what a violin is. He has a communication disorder so can't tell me, but I know he'd love it and practice as he likes that kind of thing and gets obsessive about learning new skills.

I'd rather channel them on something useful than his current most favourite activity which is to draw 5 point starts over and over, perfecting them each time.

Not all teachers are the same... there are good and bad in all jobs. My DD (11) only spent one lesson learning how to stand and hold the bow. And I think she probably got to touch it to the strings as well. A 4yo (esp with communication disorder) might respond quite well to the rhymes that they use, the arm movements, etc.

Stark, now I know about the communication disorder, I'd even more strongly suggest the Suzuki method (assuming you get a decent teacher). It depends on communicating through the instrument not on following instructions. My DD's teacher had a child with Down's in the studio and he did fine - slower than the others, but it was great to see him take his part in the recitals and be happy to be applauded.

Oh, and it is even more important for the teacher to be happy with your involvement.

Colourstrings are very good if you have a school near you. The child has to do a music kindergarten for a year first before starting an instrument, to develop musicality and teach some key concepts.

Dd has now started instrumental tuition (they do a group musicianship class as well), and we have been very impressed with all the teachers and the approach (based on Kodaly).

This might be worth a look at, if there's a teacher near you:
www.violinbabies.com/

Do a google search.

My son started aged 4. Violin is meant to be a good instrument to start on early. He loved it immediately and is still going strong 3 years later. He's also playing piano now and is whizzing along.

I'm not sure a child needs to ask for lessons - he's only 4. You should be able to buy a violin second hand quite cheaply so if he doesn't like it you haven't lost much.

Go for it!

suzuki does depend on child and teacher. My ds3 played around in his Suzuki lesson and concentrated much better in traditional lesssons when he was able to read notation. His brain seems to prefer learning in this way. Be prepared to change if it doesnt work. Cello is great instrument to. Try cellobabes.

I don't think we can do cello because I can't drive......but I agree it is a lovely instrument.