The internet is one of the best and most accessible tools for violin teachers. But sometimes it can be hard to know where to look!
I’m always helped by reading the thoughts of fellow violin teachers who’ve taken to their blogs to share their best advice.
If you want to glean from some of the best ones, this list is for you!
Here are my personal top ten blog posts for violin teachers. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have!
10. Relaxation Tips for Violinists – Online Violin Education
Have you ever had a violin student who just couldn’t relax?
Or maybe you were once the student who couldn’t relax. Maybe that’s still a struggle for you and your students.
If so, you’ll love this post by Heather from Online Violin Education. She gives some great practical tips on how to keep your mind and body relaxed while playing.
Click here to read the post.
9. Teaching Children to Care for a Violin – String Ovation
Violins have a lot of delicate parts. They require a bit more daily care than a piano or keyboard does, and it can take kids a while to get the hang of that.
If you’ve ever struggled with knowing how to teach proper instrument care to your students without overwhelming them, this post from String Ovation is for you.
It makes for a great checklist of instrument maintenance that can be used in lessons and even turned into a handout for violin parents.
Click here to read the post.
8. Techniques for Teaching Vibrato – String Ovation
The journey to developing a healthy vibrato is one of the most exciting and challenging aspects of violin playing.
This post has some great tips on how to introduce your students to this important skill, as well as some practical guidelines on when to start working on vibrato.
Click here to read the post.
7. How to Improve Your Students’ Violin Posture – Plucky Violin Teacher
McKenzie from Plucky Violin Teacher always has great down-to-earth advice for helping your students succeed, and this post is no exception.
She gives five suggestions for helping your students develop a strong, straight posture while playing violin. I especially love #1!
Click here to read the post.
6. Eleven Fourth Finger Tips – Online Violin Education
Once in a while I have had a student who loved playing with fourth finger, but more often it is the weakest and most frustrating finger for beginners.
I was once one of those frustrated ones who would much rather just play an open string instead of struggling with fourth-finger technique.
If that struggle is a familiar one to you, you’ll love Heather’s fourth finger strengthening tips.
Click here to read the post.
5. Common Shoulder Rest Mistakes and Why You Should Fix Them – Plucky Violin Teacher
Shoulder rests can be tricky.
Everyone’s body is different, and what has always worked well for you while playing violin might seem foreign and uncomfortable to your student.
How do you guide them towards playing comfortably, without pain, and with excellent posture? If that’s ever been a challenge for you, McKenzie’s perspective will be a great help.
Click here to read the post.
4. Seventeen Common Problems for Beginner Violinists – String Ovation
All the steps that go into holding a violin properly and learning to play it can be overwhelming for beginners. It can be overwhelming for new teachers, too!
Most of us started our violin journeys so long ago that we can now just pick up the bow, bring the violin to our shoulder, and make lovely sounds like it’s second nature.
That’s great for us, but can make it hard to know how to help a student who is feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and discouraged by all the “newness”.
That’s where this post by String Ovation comes in. It’s a good checklist of common problems for new violinists.
If we know what problems to expect, we can be on the lookout for solutions!
Click here to read the post.
3. Nine Tips for Improving Intonation – Online Violin Education
As someone who struggled with intonation as a student (and really, who didn’t?), I love this post by Heather.
Her tips for identifying where the whole and half steps are and looking for “sparkly notes” have been especially helpful for me, and they’re great ways to explain that elusive concept of “playing in tune” to our students!
Click here to read the post.
2. Vibrato in Three Steps – Online Violin Education
Vibrato is both fun and tricky to teach (see number 8 above), and I for one feel like I need all the help I can get with this one.
I really appreciate Heather’s organized step-by step approach to vibrato. It takes the overwhelm out of teaching this important skill and knowing where to start.
I definitely plan to keep referencing this post as I work with my students!
Click here to read the post.
1. You are Going to Make Mistakes – Plucky Violin Teacher
I love all of the blog posts on this list, but this one is my absolute favorite.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself anxious about making mistakes with my students, teaching them something incorrectly, and/or generally failing as a teacher.
When I first read McKenzie’s words, I identified with every one of them. She offers a great perspective on calming our own anxiety as teachers and inspiring our students to play with confidence.
If you’ve ever struggled with insecurity, I highly recommend it!
Click here to read the post.
What are your favorite blog posts for violin teachers? Have you ever read one that changed the way you thought about teaching? Let me know in the comments!