What You'll Need For (Beginner) Lessons
Lessons 2-4: no violin needed...I provide a box violin and dowel bow to learn the position, posture and basic first steps to violin playing.
Thereafter: I will size your child for a violin and meet you at the music store to rent a violin and get other materials.
I recommend Kline Music http://www.klinemusic.com/ for instrument rentals and supplies:
Instrument Rental fee: approximately $25/month (new) or $20/month (used)...includes violin, bow, rosin and case...all rental fees go towards the purchase of the instrument or a larger instrument. These are very good quality, mostly Yamaha, instruments. Almost all of my students use them, and I am so happy with them that I am renting-to-own a violin for my son and a viola for myself.
At Kline's you will need to provide information that will determine your eligibility to rent and instrument, such as employer, rent/own your home, how long, driver license number, etc. You will need a debit and/or credit card. Kline's now has a new online application feature!
Purchase at Kline's or order online through Amazon the following:
Shoulder rest: Kun collapsible shoulder rest, make sure it corresponds to the size of your violin!
http://www.amazon.com/Kun-Collapsible-Violin-Shoulder-Rest/dp/B0009JR9UG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1437536844&sr=8-2&keywords=kun+shoulder+rest
Chin rest: although the violin comes with a chin rest, I have all my students purchase the Wittner hypoallergenic chin rest, side or center mounted (make sure it corresponds to the size of your violin!) for $20...I will take off the old chin rest and put on the Wittner one for you. These chin rests are much more comfortable for students and help with eye dominance and posture issues.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=wittner+chinrest
Suzuki Violin Book 1 & CD, MUST BE REVISED EDITION...$17
http://www.amazon.com/Suzuki-Violin-School-Revised-Part/dp/B0027P7QY4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427318607&sr=8-1&keywords=suzuki+violin+book+1+with+cd
Artistry in Strings Book 1 & CD (as the student begins to read music)
http://www.amazon.com/KJOS-Artistry-Strings-Book-Violin/dp/0849734053/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427319547&sr=8-1&keywords=artistry+in+strings+book+1+and+cd+violin
Fiddlers Philharmonic: Violin (after all Twinkle Variations have been learned)
http://www.amazon.com/Fiddlers-Philharmonic-Violin-Andrew-Dabczynski/dp/088284802X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427319769&sr=1-1&keywords=fiddlers+philharmonic
Pinkinest: type this word in on Amazon and choose the clear plastic one that is about $6 or choose the fish silicone one that is about $17, or both. This helps stabilize the pinkie on the bow and greatly reduces frustration with the younger students.
http://www.amazon.com/YM-Pinkinest/dp/B003B95ETO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427318676&sr=8-1&keywords=pinkinest
and/or
http://www.amazon.com/Sunny-Yellow-Things-Strings%C2%AE-Teaching/dp/B005FRC17I/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1427318676&sr=8-5&keywords=pinkinest
Purchase from me:
Practice Binder: $5.00...includes page protectors, practice charts, instructions, and practice stickers...covers the cost of the binder and photocopies. Please purchase at your first lesson so you will get it the following lesson.
Practice CD #1: $12.50...this will be your every day teaching aid at home...like having me at your house every day...made by my Suzuki teacher trainer Judy Bossuat https://suzukiassociation.org/people/judy-w-bossuat-gallic/, this CD and the ones that follow take the student all the way through Suzuki Book 1, providing step-by-step instructions for mastering each part of the pieces in the book. FYI, I mail $10 to my trainer since it is her intellectual property, and $2.50 goes to me for the time and materials it takes to burn each CD.
As the student progresses, additional practice CDs ($12.50 each) will need to be purchased.
Other things you may consider purchasing or obtaining:
The Practice Shoppe http://www.thepracticeshoppe.com/ provides an endless amount of practice aids available for free download or purchase. I use the site's SPIRIT STICKS as an incentive with my students. These are patches with a hole punch that can be put on a key chain ring and the ring is then be attached to a backpack or, better yet, violin case. I give them to my students for the 100 Day Challenge, recitals, practice challenges, birthdays, etc. I buy these for my students, so no need to buy them yourself!
Also available on the website are dice, flash cards, counting beads, stickers, erasers, etc. which all help and encourage practicing.
I encourage each student/family to create a Practice Tool Box as soon as they can. Things to put in the box include:
-dice
-dominoes
-deck of cards
-1-minute timer
-Popsicle sticks
-counters (such as bear counters, beans, coins)
-monkeys from the Barrel of Monkeys game
-blindfold
-bead counter (from The Practice Shoppe)
-hand held mirror
-tiny stuffed animal/beanie baby, action figure or doll
-index cards
-pad of paper
-markers, crayons, gel pens, smelly pens, colored pencils
-price tag stickers (circles)
-Legos (10+ pieces)
-blocks (10+)
Thereafter: I will size your child for a violin and meet you at the music store to rent a violin and get other materials.
I recommend Kline Music http://www.klinemusic.com/ for instrument rentals and supplies:
Instrument Rental fee: approximately $25/month (new) or $20/month (used)...includes violin, bow, rosin and case...all rental fees go towards the purchase of the instrument or a larger instrument. These are very good quality, mostly Yamaha, instruments. Almost all of my students use them, and I am so happy with them that I am renting-to-own a violin for my son and a viola for myself.
At Kline's you will need to provide information that will determine your eligibility to rent and instrument, such as employer, rent/own your home, how long, driver license number, etc. You will need a debit and/or credit card. Kline's now has a new online application feature!
Purchase at Kline's or order online through Amazon the following:
Shoulder rest: Kun collapsible shoulder rest, make sure it corresponds to the size of your violin!
http://www.amazon.com/Kun-Collapsible-Violin-Shoulder-Rest/dp/B0009JR9UG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1437536844&sr=8-2&keywords=kun+shoulder+rest
Chin rest: although the violin comes with a chin rest, I have all my students purchase the Wittner hypoallergenic chin rest, side or center mounted (make sure it corresponds to the size of your violin!) for $20...I will take off the old chin rest and put on the Wittner one for you. These chin rests are much more comfortable for students and help with eye dominance and posture issues.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=wittner+chinrest
Suzuki Violin Book 1 & CD, MUST BE REVISED EDITION...$17
http://www.amazon.com/Suzuki-Violin-School-Revised-Part/dp/B0027P7QY4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427318607&sr=8-1&keywords=suzuki+violin+book+1+with+cd
Artistry in Strings Book 1 & CD (as the student begins to read music)
http://www.amazon.com/KJOS-Artistry-Strings-Book-Violin/dp/0849734053/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427319547&sr=8-1&keywords=artistry+in+strings+book+1+and+cd+violin
Fiddlers Philharmonic: Violin (after all Twinkle Variations have been learned)
http://www.amazon.com/Fiddlers-Philharmonic-Violin-Andrew-Dabczynski/dp/088284802X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427319769&sr=1-1&keywords=fiddlers+philharmonic
Pinkinest: type this word in on Amazon and choose the clear plastic one that is about $6 or choose the fish silicone one that is about $17, or both. This helps stabilize the pinkie on the bow and greatly reduces frustration with the younger students.
http://www.amazon.com/YM-Pinkinest/dp/B003B95ETO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427318676&sr=8-1&keywords=pinkinest
and/or
http://www.amazon.com/Sunny-Yellow-Things-Strings%C2%AE-Teaching/dp/B005FRC17I/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1427318676&sr=8-5&keywords=pinkinest
Purchase from me:
Practice Binder: $5.00...includes page protectors, practice charts, instructions, and practice stickers...covers the cost of the binder and photocopies. Please purchase at your first lesson so you will get it the following lesson.
Practice CD #1: $12.50...this will be your every day teaching aid at home...like having me at your house every day...made by my Suzuki teacher trainer Judy Bossuat https://suzukiassociation.org/people/judy-w-bossuat-gallic/, this CD and the ones that follow take the student all the way through Suzuki Book 1, providing step-by-step instructions for mastering each part of the pieces in the book. FYI, I mail $10 to my trainer since it is her intellectual property, and $2.50 goes to me for the time and materials it takes to burn each CD.
As the student progresses, additional practice CDs ($12.50 each) will need to be purchased.
Other things you may consider purchasing or obtaining:
The Practice Shoppe http://www.thepracticeshoppe.com/ provides an endless amount of practice aids available for free download or purchase. I use the site's SPIRIT STICKS as an incentive with my students. These are patches with a hole punch that can be put on a key chain ring and the ring is then be attached to a backpack or, better yet, violin case. I give them to my students for the 100 Day Challenge, recitals, practice challenges, birthdays, etc. I buy these for my students, so no need to buy them yourself!
Also available on the website are dice, flash cards, counting beads, stickers, erasers, etc. which all help and encourage practicing.
I encourage each student/family to create a Practice Tool Box as soon as they can. Things to put in the box include:
-dice
-dominoes
-deck of cards
-1-minute timer
-Popsicle sticks
-counters (such as bear counters, beans, coins)
-monkeys from the Barrel of Monkeys game
-blindfold
-bead counter (from The Practice Shoppe)
-hand held mirror
-tiny stuffed animal/beanie baby, action figure or doll
-index cards
-pad of paper
-markers, crayons, gel pens, smelly pens, colored pencils
-price tag stickers (circles)
-Legos (10+ pieces)
-blocks (10+)