VIOLIN AND VIOLA LESSONS
About the Violin
In existence for over 500 years, the violin is the highest and smallest instrument of the string family. It is held by using the head to balance the instrument on the shoulder and is most commonly played by drawing a bow across the four strings. Throughout history the violin has been regarded as one of the foremost solo instruments due to its wide range of expressive and technical capabilities, and composers ranging from Bach to Beethoven, Mozart to Shostakovich have delighted in writing concertos, sonatas, and other types of solo works for the instrument. Many violinists have also written extensively for the violin as well. The most famous of these violinist composers was Niccolo Paganini, who was so virtuosic that he was reputed to have made a deal with the devil.
About the Viola
The viola has been around almost as long as the violin. It is the middle child of the string family, having a larger body with a deeper, lower tone. Like the violin, it is held by balancing the instrument on the shoulder with the head and is most commonly played by drawing a bow across the four strings. Throughout history the viola has most commonly been found in orchestral and chamber music. It was only in the late 19th and early 20th century that the instrument had its debut as a solo instrument in concertos and sonatas by composers such as Rebecca Clarke and Béla Bartók.
What should I expect from private violin and viola lessons at Northside Music Academy?
Our violin and viola instructors will create a personalized program based on the student's developmental stage, their personality and natural abilities as well as personal goals. Students will start with the very basics of fundamentals: learning the different parts of their instrument, correct posture for supporting the instrument and the first steps of making a pleasing sound. Parents of young beginners are strongly encouraged to be involved in the learning process by sitting in on lessons and facilitating practice sessions at home, especially if your child will be learning through the Suzuki Method. Intermediate and advanced students will work on scales, etudes and other technical exercises, as well as level-appropriate repertoire, sight-reading, aural skills, and music theory training.
What levels do you teach?
Northside Music Academy offers private violin and viola lessons to students of all abilities. Our instructors are experienced at teaching students from beginners to advanced.
Who are the teachers?
All of the violin/viola teachers at Northside Music Academy are professional musicians with degrees from reputable schools such as Northwestern University, Eastman School of Music, DePaul University, and Roosevelt University, among others. We carefully select our faculty not only for their strong musical background, but also for their dedication and passion for teaching music. All of our faculty are trained in pedagogy and experienced in working with younger generations.
What is a good age to start violin lessons?
Students must be at least 5 years old to enroll in private violin/viola lessons.
Do I need a violin?
For the first lesson you do not need a violin as we keep in stock a selection of instruments in different sizes for trial purposes. But you will need your own violin for practicing at home and you will need to bring it with you for all following lessons as well. We recommend renting a violin (which costs about $25/month) and we can guide you through the process. We advise you against buying and instrument online without first consulting your teacher.
Do you offer performance opportunities for the students?
Yes! Northside Music Academy hosts student recitals twice a year at churches and libraries around the Edgebrook-Sauganash neighborhood. We also offer opportunities to perform in professional venues throughout the city, such as Millenium Room at the Chicago Cultural Center, Curtiss Hall in the Fine Arts Building, and the Recital Hall at PianoForte.
At Northside Music Academy we believe that performing often is a very important aspect of a music student’s development. It teaches students how to present themselves in front of an audience, boosts self-confidence, and offers opportunities to share the joy of music making with others. In addition, performing at Northside Music Academy recitals provides students with the opportunity to learn by watching their peers as well.
How can parents track their child’s progress?
There are many ways parents can track the progress of their child in music lessons. Talk to your child’s teacher about attending the lessons and participating in home practice sessions. If you are not able to attend the lesson or your child is older or more independent, check in with your child’s teacher before or after the lesson to hear how the session went. Some of our families have found success using daily or weekly practice tracking charts. If you think this might be a good fit for your child, talk to his or her teacher.
For dedicated students who are interested in tracking their progress in a more formal way, we encourage preparation for a standardized graded testing program such as Achievement in Music exams, Royal Conservatory Method exams, or ABRSM exams.
Northside Music Academy provides music lessons for the following Chicago neighborhoods: Edgebrook, Wildwood, Sauganash, Forest Glen, Jefferson Park, Mayfair, Norwood Park, Edison Park as well as the suburbs of Skokie IL, Niles IL, Park Ridge IL, Morton Grove IL, Lincolnwood IL.
We offer piano lessons, violin/viola lessons, guitar/ukulele lessons, singing lessons, clarinet/saxophone/flute lessons, percussion lessons and also early childhood music classes and group classes.
Northside Music Academy | 6736 N Loleta Ave Chicago, IL 60646, US | contact@northsidemusicacademy.com | 773-455-6363