Tomoko`s Violin Diary Chapter 1: The Story of the Violin 23 -English Version-

About Violin Lessons

Last year, I felt the need to rethink what it truly means to teach violin. After seeing my current students move on, I decided to take a break from accepting new students. I felt it was important to do this, to avoid confusing young people as they head towards their futures.

Whether someone wants to play violin as a hobby or become a professional, if they have a goal they want to achieve, I firmly believe that consistent practice is the most important thing. I’ve said it so many times, it’s like a broken record!

This time, I want to talk about students preparing for university entrance exams. Many of them want to get a diploma from a violin grade test before their exams. Apparently, this violin test result can be an advantage when applying to universities. I understand both the students’ and their parents’ feelings, so I try to help as much as I can. However, I’ve repeatedly seen that neglecting consistent practice doesn’t lead to good results.

Here are two fictional student examples:

Case 1: The Student Who’s Good at Creating a Routine

Despite having important school exams, this student made time to practice violin every day and came to lessons looking calm and collected. she successfully passed their violin grade test before their university entrance exams and is now focusing on studying for university. Even while preparing for the violin test, she still went on school trips abroad. This student said she felt stressed and had stomachaches because of the pressure from school tests, but she still came to violin lessons even right before school exams. She said that practicing violin was a good way to relax and take a break from studying. This student is good at creating a routine and switching gears mentally.

Case 2: The Student Who Practices Intensively in Bursts

This student took lessons seriously for several years, and both the student and their parents worked hard. Their dedication was admirable. This student also produced a unique and beautiful sound. The problem was that school exams and family vacations often interrupted his consistent practice. As a result,  he missed several opportunities to take the violin grade test. He would stop practicing just before they were ready, so he had to start over again each time. This student would benefit from learning how to switch gears mentally.

After a year of thinking about how I teach, my conclusion is still the same: it’s better to practice a little bit every day (even just 15 minutes) than to practice a lot all at once. There are individual differences, but the basic principle remains the same. The example of violinist Jascha Heifetz, who always practiced at a set time each day and didn’t allow anyone to disturb him, perfectly illustrates this point.

I see myself as an advisor who helps students find and develop their strengths. But without consistent practice, they won’t achieve their goals. Someone jokingly said, “We’re musicians, not magicians!” and that’s very true.

I’m about to start teaching lessons again, and my challenge is still communicating effectively with students and their parents. I need to help them understand that even during busy times, consistent practice is essential for success. If someone has a strong desire to achieve something, they need to learn how to create a schedule that allows for consistent practice. It might sound harsh, but I need to guide them until they understand this.

I think the reason why the violin test result is considered in university applications is that it shows something about a person’s planning skills and ability to take action.

More on this next time.