Violin, Viola and Cello Lessons
on the Main Line and Delaware County

Bryn Mawr Violin Lessons and Classes

Main Line School Voted Best Music and Dance Studio

by the Main Line Times and News of Delaware County

 

Main Line School of Music and Dance String Lessons

If you have always been interested in playing the violin, viola, or cello, you have come to the right place. Whether you are beginner, or a budding professional, we can help you with your musical endeavors. Since 1988, the Main Line School of Music and Dance has helped thousands of students learn the skills that they need to enjoy music and dance for a lifetime. In the strings program at our Ardmore and Springfield locations, you will have the opportunity to learn your favorite songs, work on your school orchestra or band pieces, and delve into all of the techniques that will help to make you a fantastic violinist. We will teach you proper bowing techniques, pizzicato, scales, arpeggios, double stops, drones, vibrato, tone and a myriad of other important techniques. Additionally, we will help you with rhythm, theory, posture, chin support and a host of other topics that will really pique your interest. For work in your school band or orchestra, your violin or viola teacher will help you with preparing solos for your performances, ensemble skills for working with other students, or polishing the pieces you will be performing.

Our Violin, Viola and Cello Instructors

The string teachers at Main Line School of Music and Dance are highly qualified. They all have degrees in music education, composition or performance, but most importantly they are experienced, well-rounded and patient with their students. They are youthful and fun and will engage you with material that is both interesting and exciting while tempering it with the necessary amount of structure. You can help choose the repertoire that you will be learning and will never get stuck playing songs you do not enjoy! We use a combination of note reading and incorporating your ear (so you can reproduce a note when you hear it). It is important for you to be able to read the notes, but ear training is essential to becoming a well-rounded musician. Our approach helps to create a fun, balanced musical experience for you. Our violin, viola, cello, and double bass lessons are all private one-on-one instruction and are available for 30 minute, 45 minute or 60 minute sessions.

Performance Opportunities

We offer you a minimum of two performance opportunities each year at our music showcases. Students perform on a variety of instruments including the piano, keyboard, voice, woodwinds, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums and strings. Performers also range from beginner to advanced abilities. Some of the benefits that you get from performing the keyboard in the showcase include:

Why Choose Us For String Lessons?

Five Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Violin and Viola Lessons


1. Insist On Private Lessons When Learning The Violin

Group lessons work well for preschool music programs, choruses and theory lessons. However, when learning how to play a string instrument, private lessons are far superior. In a private violin lesson, your teacher can focus all of their efforts on you and this allows you to learn at your own pace. Additionally, your violin teacher does not have to instruct a class at a certain level, but has the time and focus to work on your strengths and weaknesses. This is beneficial to your teacher because they don’t have to divide their attention between five or ten students at one time. With private violin or viola lessons your teacher can help you be the best that you can be.

2. Help Your Child to Set Goals
Goal setting is one of the most important skills to develop in order to be successful on the violin (and life in general). To be effective, make your goals specific, measurable, and attainable. An example of setting a musical goal for yourself would be to play a particular scale at a certain speed or to have a certain number of songs memorized. Another goal might be to perform in a recital. Goals are always easier to achieve when you set a deadline for them. Try setting some goals of your own and watch your progress soar!

3. Make Practicing the Violin or Viola Easier
As with anything else in life, improving on the violin or viola takes practice. One of the main problems with violin lessons can be the drudgery of practicing and the ensuing “fight” between
parents and students to practice every day. Here are some ways to make practicing the violin easier:

4. How Young is Too Young. Starting at the Right Age

Adults can start any instrument at any time. An adult’s success is based on how willing they are committed to practicing. We teach many beginner violin and viola students in their sixties and their seventies. For children, starting the violin at the right age is a key element to their success. If a child starts string lessons too soon, they may feel overwhelmed and frustrated and want to stop their lessons. The last thing that you want to do is to turn a child off to the violin because they had one unpleasant experience (which could have been prevented). Sometimes if the child waits a year to start their violin lessons, frustrations may be avoided and progress may be much faster. The following are some guidelines we have found to be successful in determining how young a child can start taking music lessons on a particular instrument.

5. How Much Should I Be Reading the Notes?
This is a very interesting topic. There are several different approaches to the study of the violin. Some involve pure note reading and rhythms, while others utilize the ability of the ear. The bottom line is how well you play the violin.
This may be achieved by note reading, using the ear, or a mix of the two. If your violin teacher determines that you are a visual learner, an approach based heavily on note and rhythm reading with some ear training mixed in would work well. If your teacher determines that you are an aural (ear) learner, a program based heavily on ear playing tempered with some note and rhythm reading would be appropriate. The right frame of mind is crucial for optimal learning. Therefore, catering to your learning strengths will ensure that you get the most out of your violin, viola, or cello lessons.

6. Bonus – Have Fun Playing the Violin! Violin should be something that you enjoy for a lifetime. Try not to put unrealistic expectations on yourself or your children to learn too quickly. Everyone learns at a different pace. The key is to be able to enjoy the journey.

Music Lessons (click below for link)

Are All Music Studios The Same?
Studio Comparison List (click here)

REGISTER NOW FOR VIOLIN, VIOLA AND CELLO LESSONS!

Ardmore Location
692 Pont Reading Road
Ardmore, PA 19003
(next to John’s Sneakers)
610-658-5284

Springfield Location
353 Baltimore Pike (2nd floor)

Springfield, PA 19064
(next to Chuck E. Cheese)
610-658-5284

In Home Violin, Viola and Cello Lessons
These Main Line, Delaware County and Montgomery County violin, viola, and cello lessons are given in the convenience
of your own home.
610-658-5284

 

Main Line Cello Lessons and ClassesDelaware County Cello Lessons and Classes