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Violin Music Academy 2015
YOUR FIRST VIOLIN CLASS
A Free First Lesson For New Zealanders.3 Step Guide to becoming a Violinist.
Written by:Ben Lim
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HELLO!
If you are reading this, chances are you’ll want to know more about starting on the Violin in New Zealand, or you might already be playing for some time. Years of experience have made this guide possible. Do sign up for our newsletters and mailing list to get more in-depth tips and updated information on Violin playing and music.
Visit and register at:
www.ViolinMusicAcademy.comGive a copy to your friends! This is a free guide, and you should not have paid for it. Sharing this guide may encourage a friend to pick up the violin in a way or another, reignite music passions, or increase one’s knowledge in violin playing. Your friends will be thankful that you have shared this, and I’m sure you will feel the same way too!Please do not copy or modify this guide and the contents in any way. The writer reserves the rights to this original content. If you’ve opinions and suggestions to the content, email us on: [email protected] enjoy!Benjamin LimDirector, Founder & Music TeacherViolin Music Academy.
Find us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/ViolinMusicAcademy
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“I wish to learn the Violin in
New Zealand..”* .….
“BUT HOW DO I START?”
…..
“What do I need to know??”
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STEP 1 of 3. You NEED a Violin -
of course!!
You need to feel the Violin, play around with the instrument, touch it, smell it,
listen to it, fall in love with it! Thats how you can start!
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“Where can you get a Violin in
New Zealand?”
Mainly 3 sources:
- TradeMe
- Local Music Shops
- A Trial Lesson(with a Family member, Friend, or a Teacher)
Now you know “Where”, Lets rephrase the question…
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“HOW do I find an EXCELLENT &
AFFORDABLE & HIGH QUALITY VIOLIN in NEW
ZEALAND??” …
Is it even possible? Cheap, excellent, affordable, high in quality?
It sounds so contradictory. It sure is possible, if you know how to! Read on and educate yourself with this
free lesson, so you can answer the questions for yourself!
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THE BIG “HOW” Set a budget.
Decide on how much you want to spend, or what is affordable for you.
In New Zealand, even for $1.00*, you can bid & purchase a Violin on TradeMe.
Simple as that.
*If you are a very lucky bidder.
The word of caution.
Sound is perceived differently from one person to another.
It is true: that the rule of thumb in buying a Violin is that the higher the price, the
better the quality. Naturally it goes without doubt that if one pays something
more, we expect something better! Through experience in the New Zealand
market over a period of 4 years, we found that quality difference is most evident in the price group ranges of:
NZD$1-$299, $300-$499, $500-$999, $1000-$3000, $3000 onwards.
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So, what if you are on a tight budget, and just starting on the violin? You’re not sure if you’ll play long term, or if you’ll
like the violin at all? After all, the Violin is indeed one of the most difficult
instruments to play in the world, and it takes a very high degree of discipline
and certain person to continue learning it. Approximately 1 out of 10,000 people
play the violin in the world, do you want to be one of them?
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Then you are probably experiencing what 90% of students are thinking, and are looking at the NZD$1 - $299 range of Violins at the first instance. Now, these are the very most basic entry ranges,
and we are not saying they are not good. It is playable, and many students have learnt years on such budget. We don’t
judge people by what they can afford, or play on. It is not professional. And a teacher should never choose their
students based on the monetary value of their violins.
Alright. SO you have made up your mind. -The lowest budget range. Fair enough.
Ready for some tips?
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Here’re TIPS to Sounding better on
a budget. You can buy low end budget violins, but to sound 10x much better
and to enjoy playing the violin 100x times more, you can:
1. Invest in Quality Strings.
2. Invest in a Quality Rosin.
3. Make sure the Violin you are buying has been “PROFESSIONALLY SET UP”.
“What exactly are Quality Strings &
Rosin?” These are strings that sound better, lasts longer, enables you to practise with ease, stay in tune, and make you feel a whole lot better! Cheap strings are thin, and
break easily. A good rosin will help you bow better and sound better too!
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“And what is a PROFESSIONALLY
SET UP Violin?” Now this is another big question.
A violin that is properly set up by a
luthier will typically have:
1. the bridge carved to suit the violin, 2. the soundpost adjusted to be placed in
the most optimum neutral position,3. pegs lubricated and sharpened to fit
the peg holes
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“OKAY, so much info. I got even more confused.
Just help me with it! Thanks!”
Right. So that’s why Violin Music Academy has set
up our online store on TradeMe and Facebook to give you even more
information and bring in the best
quality instruments for
Kiwis.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ViolinMusicAcademyNZ
TradeMe: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Profile.aspx?member=4063158Or just email us, we’ll help choose one for you!! Email: [email protected]
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STEP 2 of 3. Next, You’ll need a
TEACHER. or will YouTube
work??
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Fact: Yes sure,
YOUTUBE works. TO ONLY A CERTAIN
EXTENT. In this age of digital technology, many
things can be learnt online. Sure enough, violin lessons can be taught on videos
too. What’s the problem with it, why do you still need a teacher?
30 day CHALLENGE.
The problem is, the violin is such a hands on instrument, you cannot hear, feel, touch and sense through videos as compared to natural class and
studio settings. You won’t be able to tune your ears to real sounds, electronics alter sounds over devices
and you might be learning the wrong things subconsciously! We can almost guarantee 1 lesson
with an excellent teacher will save you an equivalent of 30 days learning yourself! So much
pain, why not just learn from a teacher?
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“How and Where to find a teacher in New Zealand?”
Typically, a violin teacher will have undergone the complete grading and
higher examinable systems of an approved music examination board. 3 common examination boards are:
ABRSM, TRINITY & NZMEB. Safe enough to say, they should know
how to play the violin.
Reputable and honest music schools will definitely have auditioned their teachers,
so you can be assured of the qualifications of their teachers. Private teachers will normally have built up
years of experience and reputation too and have better teaching techniques. Not all teachers are performers, and not all
performers are teachers. It is very difficult to have a combination of both, as
they are quite different areas of musicality.
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If you need help in finding a suitable New Zealand teacher in your town, send
us an enquiry and we’ll try out best to find one for you from our contacts and
sources.
EMAIL:
“And how much are lessons?”
In 2015, its an average from $25 to $35 per half hour individual lessons depending on the level of
experience of the teacher, that is the market rate in New Zealand.
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STEP 3 of 3. Final step.
You’ve got your violin, your
teacher, what’s next?
…
Here’s the $Million$ Dollar Tip:
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PRACTISE!!! PRACTISE!!! PRACTISE!!! PRACTISE!!! PRACTISE!!! PRACTISE!!! PRACTISE!!!
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For more FREE information, or something you want to contribute, or something you don’t quite agree with:
Email Ben!
Thanks for downloading and reading my little book! - Ben
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