Finally: viola lessons!

October 6, 2018, 12:08 AM · My violin teacher of many years passed away in November 2014, in her 90's. I blogged about it
here

At the end of the blog I expressed a determination to find another teacher and continue violin lessons. Well, I took my time getting used to the idea of another teacher (Virginia had given me the name of one some months earlier). Spring came and I decided it was time to try out the viola. I fell in love with it, but procrastinated over finding a viola teacher. I had been spoiled by being able to walk to my violin lesson and I knew such an arrangement wouldn't be an option this time. A year later, I started a string quartet and we met weekly. But we were having trouble finding a cellist that would stay. Finally, about a month ago, we found a perfect match and I decided that for her benefit it was time to begin viola lessons. Seven years ago, a violin teacher whose daughter was in my daughter's class moved into the area and I discovered that she also played viola, so I decided to ask her if she would be willing to teach me viola. I've had two lessons now and it's been a wonderful experience. Virginia was an excellent pedagogue but she always seemed a bit conflicted about how to teach me--I don't think she had had many adult beginner students, which is what I was when I started. My new teacher knew that my motivation was get advice on the pieces I was playing with my string quartet, but I found that she also had firm ideas about what should be studied by all of her students and was also intent on working on my form. I enthusiastically approved of all of this and have been working hard at it between lessons. But the truly interesting thing to me has been bringing to my practice all kinds of experiences I have had over the years--patience developed from working on craft projects, awareness of my body from weekly workouts at my gym, and insights I've gotten from v.com, such as doing what you can with the body you were given. I suspect that both Virginia and I had gotten stuck in a rut working together for so many years. My conclusion is that sometimes it may be a good idea for a teacher and student to part on amicable terms, even when the student hasn't outgrown the teacher. But of course the hard part is realizing when the time has come to do this. For me, it was simply required by the circumstances.

Replies

Karen Allendoerfer

October 8, 2018 at 11:54 PM · Interesting! My violin/a teacher is also named Virginia. I can't walk to her house, though. I was happy with my teacher in Boston, but Ido think a new teacher can really give you fresh eyes and ears, which is very helpful.

Congratulations on the viola teacher! What are you playing in your string quartet?

Francesca Rizzardi

October 10, 2018 at 04:13 AM · Hi, Karen. We recently started Purcell's Abdelazer Suite and have been working on the first 4 Mozart String quartets. After you started blogging about the Telemann Viola concerto, I started learning it and to my surprise, my fellow quartet members love playing it with me. I guess they also appreciate its beauty. Since starting lessons and going back to basics, my ability to play it has degraded, though. It's something I really have to keep under my fingers to get through. Once we get up to speed on the Abdelazer, we have a harpsichordist and double bassist waiting to join us.

I remember your blog about playing the Schubert String Quintet with members of your orchestra. That would be my dream.

This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

Finally: viola lessons!

Replies

Subscribe

Laurie's Books