Like any subject, violin lessons should be about the student. Their goals, their needs, and crucially, their commitment level. The teacher’s role is to facilitate the student’s growth into the musician they want and are able to become. For this reason, all students entering the Kulzick Violin Studio begin with an audition lesson. The best student in the world and the best teacher in the world do not necessarily make a good team—what’s important is finding a good fit, so that the two can work together while still making the lessons, and by extension the violin, an enjoyable pursuit.

That being said, private lessons in this studio are designed to help students grow and improve as solo musicians and should be treated as such. They are not guided practice sessions nor musical tutoring secondary to a school orchestra or technique class. The solo work done in lesson will translate well and easily to other areas of musical study and upon request, special focus on particularly challenging orchestral excerpts is available, along with chamber ensemble coachings. However, the primary goal of these lessons is to help each student develop the skills necessary to perform solo repertoire, and to gain an understanding of and appreciation for music in general and the violin in particular.

Few who take music lessons elect to continue on to a musical career. For those so-minded, there is a lot to be gained from diligent work and intelligent study. However, one needn’t have Carnegie Hall in their sights to benefit tremendously from music lessons. Music teaches focus, organization, multi-tasking, poise, listening and communication skills, and challenges students to connect their physicality to their emotions. It’s strongly based in math and pattern recognition, along with expression, and gives students the opportunity to make, work towards, and meet goals both in public performance and individual study. In short, music lessons help students become more well-rounded while giving them an appreciation for the arts and a skill they can hold onto for the rest of their lives.

Further reading
Music lessons improve children’s cognitive skills and academic performance, Science Daily (2018)
Children’s brains develop faster with music training, USC News (2016)
This Is How Music Can Change Your Brain, TIME Magazine (2014)