I love my teacher

January 20, 2006 at 8:37 PM

I've said that my violin lessons are like therapy. I almost always come out of them feeling optimistic and inspired, and last night was no exception. I started off immediately telling Virginia that I thought I should do some scales and etudes for more focused work on certain techniques, like accurate shifting. We talked about how I could make up exercises by improvising on difficult sections in my piece, and I'm getting better at that, but she understood what I was looking for and assigned me Kreutzer 11. I'm supposed to play around with it too, like doing it in different positions and reversing the phrases.

I'm not using the Flesch book, though, and may not. We talked about how there are only four ways of playing a major scale (corresponding to the four different starting fingers) and once you have those patterns memorized, you're set. It's mind-boggling (appalling?) to me how I've been so highly trained in analytical thinking, yet can't seem to apply these methods to my violin playing. How I wish I'd had teachers in childhood who had taught me how to think about violin instead of just playing and hoping for the best.

I was so psyched after my lesson that I practiced for 20 minutes last night after getting home, which is a first; I never practice on the day of a lesson, but that might just change. What did I say in my last entry about finding more time to practice? It's there to be found, I just have to look around in nooks and crannies for it.

Pauline made the comment in my last entry that "Communication between teacher and student is very beneficial." I would go a step farther and say that it's not just beneficial, it's essential. Fellow V.com member Jessica Smith, whom I consider very wise, even though she's half my age ;) told me during my teacher search that it was important to find someone I felt "safe" with, someone I wouldn't be nervous making mistakes in front of, and someone with whom I could be honest. Within minutes of meeting Virginia at my very first lesson, I knew we'd click. I'm not embarrassed when I mess up in front of her; I see it as an opportunity for her to discover my weaknesses and find ways to help me. And it's ever so nice to be able to admit things like "I tend to avoid even positions" and have her understand and gently remind me of their benefits, rather than scolding me and telling me I should get over it.

I've never really liked teaching (violin, physics, or anything else), personally, but I know my happiest moments doing so were when my students expressed appreciation for what I'd given them. So if you love your teacher as much as I do, make sure you tell him or her. I certainly do.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on January 20, 2006 at 11:42 PM

I'm sure you just made your teacher's day. I'm glad you appreciate her.

From Jude Ziliak
Posted on January 21, 2006 at 4:32 AM

Not to be nitpicky, but if it's not already obvious to you, you should be aware that there are plenty of variations in fingering possible, even all starting on the same finger! Heifetz once challenged a student of his in a public masterclass to play an Ab major scale 8 times in a row, each time with different fingerings both on the way up and the way down!

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on January 21, 2006 at 6:38 AM

I'd be so happy if one of my students would say that to or about me.

From Karin Lin
Posted on January 21, 2006 at 7:58 AM

Jude, I should have been more clear; I meant that there are only four ways to play a one-octave major scale without shifting in the middle of it, because the strings are tuned in fifths which is the same interval between the half steps in the scale. I should have known that, but didn't really until my teacher put it into words.

From Jude Ziliak
Posted on January 23, 2006 at 3:50 AM

Ah! I see what you mean now. I'd never realized that either, exactly.

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I love my teacher

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