September 2008

Reese's Pieces "If You Can't Sing It, You Can't Play It!"

September 19, 2008 09:35

"If you can't sing it, you can't play it." This was a principle that my violin instructor embraced. Before she would accept an individual as a student, she would have them come to her piano, and she would proceed to play parts of scales, stop, and have those wishing to learn violin complete them by singing or humming the notes. She would also test them especially on flats and sharps, half steps and whole steps and things of this nature. If the individual was unable to follow along and sing on key, she would not accept them. Her beliefs were that if you can't hear the notes in your head and sing them, it is very difficult or impossible to play the violin where there is nothing to indicate where the notes are to be played other than what you hear. This principle has always made sense to me. But out of curiosity, is there anyone who has taught violin to a student who could not sing in tune but could play the violin successfully?

8 replies | Archive link