Lessons for Children

            I prefer teaching young children simultaneously with an older family member. In addition to providing parents or siblings an exceptional and unique opportunity for nurturing a youngster's maturation and love, this supports rapid musical progress. The parent or older sibling needn't study the same instrument - after the first lesson, I teach any of the strings simultaneously until a level of technique has been attained requiring separate lessons. Of course, the joy of playing chamber music with your family may be an additional incentive to taking duo lessons of any sort. Although there are significant advantages to starting any instrument early in life, the technical, therefore musical advantages are magnified in the case of the alto violin. The full sized alto would for small children be akin to playing an appropriately sized cello, the difference being that a larger cello (violin, viola, or bass) is desirable as the child grows. There is no larger alto – the same size and perhaps even the same instrument is played into adulthood. This has enormous technical and expressive advantages. See the general "Individual Lessons" page for more information on this and other instruments of the Octet. Of course, the joy of playing chamber music with your family may be an additional incentive to taking this duo lesson approach.

* The Alto Violin, tuned like a viola and played like a cello, has technical advantages that are appealing to professionals, and is beginning to be played in major symphony orchestras.  Although there are significant advantages to starting any instrument early in life, the technical  advantages are magnified in the case of the alto violin. The full sized alto would for small children be akin to playing an appropriately sized cello, the difference being that a larger cello is desirable as the child grows. A child playing the alto simply grows into it over the years. It is like a youngster playing basket ball on a standard court - as he or she grows in stature, the hoop just gets closer and closer, and baskets become easier and easier to make.

Write to Mr. Metcalf at peter.metcalf at musical-presence.com

For a conversation regarding your needs and aspirations, and for scheduling, phone 510-409-3939.