Q: How should I communicate upcoming absences, scheduling information, and/or questions or concerns about lessons or practice with you?
A: Whenever possible, e-mail is the easiest option for me (ilpopp.vla@gmail.com), followed by text messages (314) 488-0287. If you would like to have a more involved conversation, please text/email to set up a time to call. In most cases, written communication works better than informing me in-person of absences or scheduling needs.
Q: How should I communicate if I am running late or need to cancel a lesson on the lesson day?
A: E-mail is always the most reliable way to communicate and I will check email if you/your child are not at the lesson when expected. Text messages are also checked regularly and I am also able to receive messages via WhatsApp.
Q: What should my child call you?
A: I am comfortable being addressed as either “Ms. Popp” or “Ms. Ingrid” whichever you and/or your child are most comfortable with.
Parents, high school, and adult students are welcome to call me Ingrid.
Q: Are short fingernails necessary for violin/viola playing?
A: Even moderately long fingernails quickly get in the way of developing proper left hand position. Long nails can also damage the strings so that they need to be replaced sooner. It is also difficult to correctly hold the bow with long pinky and thumb nails.
Q: How much should my child practice?
A: This is a difficult question to answer because it depends on the age and playing level of the child. A very young student (age 4-7) might start out with 10 minutes a day, while an advanced and committed high school student might need as much as 3-4 hours daily to achieve their goals. For most beginning students a minimum of 20 min. a day/5 days a week usually results in steady progress. Students wishing to make faster progress may find that 30-45+ minutes daily meets their needs better, and any student considering a career in music should be aiming for 2+ hours per day by the time they reach High School.
Here is a rough guide based on Suzuki book level:
Beginner through mid book 1:15-20 minutes/day
Mid to end of book 1: 20-30 minutes/day
Book 2: 30-45 minutes/day
Books 3 and 4: 30-60 minutes/day
Book 5 and up: 45-90+ minutes/day
Q: Should I attend lessons with my child and/or practice with him/her?
A: Parental involvement is largely dependent on the age of the student. Parents are always welcome to attend lessons, and all parents should plan to attend at least the first 2-3 lessons, if possible, to ask any questions and get a feel for the lesson environment. Parents who plan to help with practice at home (more than reminding their child to practice) should plan to attend lessons so they understand practice assignments.
For very young students (ages 7 and under) a parent or guardian should plan to attend all lessons and practice with their chid, except under extenuating circumstances. There are so many details of posture/position and technique to remember, that it can be very difficult for a young child to remember all of these important details and to accurately practice these at home.
For students ages 8-10, it is recommended that parents attend at least some lessons and help with practice, especially if their child is a beginner. If a parent is concerned about progress or their child is struggling, I strongly recommend attending lessons and helping with practice at home.
For students ages 11-13, parental involvement in lessons and practice can still be helpful depending on the parent/child relationship and the maturity/playing level of the child, but I generally leave this up to the discretion of the parent unless problems arise.
For students age 14 and up, parents are always welcome to attend lessons, but probably won’t need to help with practice unless help is requested from their child or there is a specific circumstance that makes parental assistance helpful or necessary.
Q; My child resists practicing or forgets to practice, how can I help him/her?
A: Every child and situation is different, so I would recommend discussing specific problems with me whenever possible. One strategy is to set-up a specific time and place every day for practice that is tied to a particular activity (such as right after dinner or right before/after school). An established routine can often help with resistance or forgetfulness and as students start to see the progress that results from regular practice their resistance often diminishes. Older children and teens may find 5-10 min. of practice between homework assignments offers a nice change of pace and allows them to fit practice into their busy schedules.
Q: When should my child switch to longer lessons (45 or 60 min.) ?
A: This varies depending on age, level, and commitment to practice. If the student is ready to focus and practicing is consistent, I prefer to move students to 45 min. lessons around the Suzuki book 2 level. This allows us time to thoroughly cover essential techniques such as vibrato and shifting, and often helps students make a leap forward in their rate of progress. Students who are involved in multiple orchestras and ensembles may also find that longer lessons allow for time to work on ensemble music without sacrificing essential work on solo pieces and technique. All students should make the switch to 45 min. lessons no later than book 4 if scheduling/finances allow.
Q: Why does my child need a recording of the book/music being studied if he/she can already read music?
A: Although musical notation is a great resource for learning music (and vital past the beginning stages of playing), music is ultimately an aural art. Recordings allow a student to have an always available model for tone, intonation, rhythm, and phrasing. In addition, even passive listening (listening while engaged in another activity such as schoolwork or play), can create a very strong mental model of the pieces being studied, allowing the student to effortlessly correct wrong notes and rhythms, and to develop an internal concept of good tone and phrasing. I have found that students who listen regularly to the pieces being studied (and also to other professional recordings or performances of fine violin/viola players) tend to make much faster progress than those who rely solely on reading to learn their pieces.
Q: What do I need to do to maintain my instrument?
A: 1. Storage: Instruments should always be stored in areas with relatively stable temperature and humidity. If you would not be comfortable in a given location, please do not leave your instrument there. As violins/violas are made of wood, they are very susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity. Never leave your instrument in the car for an extended period of time, especially during the summer and in the colder winter months, the extreme temperatures in an empty car can cause varnish to melt and instruments to crack, making for very expensive repairs.
Be sure that your instrument is always in a safe place. If you are not playing it, the best place for your violin/viola is in the case with the latches/zippers closed. Never place your instrument on the floor.
2. Take care of your bow: After you finish playing, loosen your bow hair until the hairs just start to separate from each other, this helps to keep the hair from stretching out with humidity fluctuations. When tightening your bow, only tighten until there is about a pencil width between the bow hair and stick. Never touch the bow hair with your fingers! Rosin your bow daily or at least several times a week!
3. Clean your instrument: Rosin, dust, and oils from your skin can accumulate on your instrument and bow. The safest way to clean your instrument is to simply wipe it down with a soft, clean cloth. Don’t forget to wipe off the strings and under the strings/fingerboard. You can also clean your bow stick with a soft cloth between the stick and hair. I do not recommend using instrument polish as certain types of polish can interact negatively with certain types of varnish, damaging the appearance of the instrument. If more intense cleaning seems necessary I recommend taking your instrument to a violin shop for assistance.
Q: Do I need to replace the strings/bow hair?
A: All students should replace their strings and get their bow re-haired at least once a year, if possible, and more advanced students (who practice/play 2+ hrs. per day) should replace their strings and bow hair around every six months.
Younger/beginner students should have their strings replaced either at the violin shop or by me. More advanced students who have never changed strings before should ask for guidance from me or another experienced player/teacher or at the violin shop. Never remove all 4 strings from the instrument at the same time!
Q: Why should I spend additional money on a shoulder rest and/or new chin rest, when my child’s violin came with a chin rest and sponge?
A: Having a correctly fitted shoulder/chin rest combination is vital to a student’s ability to advance with correct technique and healthy posture. Everyone’s body is different and while some students are comfortable with standard chin rests and sponges (or even no sponge or rest at all), others will find it impossible to hold the violin correctly without the addition of a shoulder rest (and often a different style of chin rest). Without a correct violin position, it is nearly impossible to learn the correct bowing and left hand techniques needed to reach an advanced level of playing. Additionally poor posture can result in injury (especially with students who play a lot), and many students will resist or avoid practicing if playing is uncomfortable. A small investment in the correct and comfortable chin and shoulder rests will help students get the most out of their lessons and practice.
Also keep in mind that as students grow and get new sizes of violins/violas they will often need new shoulder and chin rests to adapt to their changing instruments and bodies.
Q: What books/supplies does my child need for lessons?
A: This will vary by student and their level of playing/age and I will send you an email with links to the appropriate books. Most students will need at least a Suzuki book or a Solos for Young Violinists/Violists book by Barbara Barber for solo repertoire, and at least one other method/technique/scale book (more advanced students will often use 3-4+ books at at time) All students should have:
- An instrument/bow/case/rosin of appropriate size and quality
- An appropriately fitted shoulder rest or sponge.
- A music stand (A folding stand is usually adequate for beginners, older/taller students may appreciate a taller/sturdier stand such as a Manhasset orchestra stand)
- A metronome/electronic tuner. I recommend the Korg TM-50 (or 60) for younger students. For students with their own smartphones/ipads, I recommend the app Tonal Energy.
Q: Where should I go for instrument rentals, supplies, and repairs?
A: We are very lucky in St. Louis to have so many quality violin shops and music stores! below is a list of places I recommend.
Top Notch Violins (for instrument purchases, rentals, repairs/strings, shoulder/chin rests, and some basic method books. Great service and quality instruments!).
(314) 696-2172
3109 Sutton Blvd.
Maplewood, MO 63143
St. Louis Strings (for instrument purchases, rentals, repairs/strings, shoulder/chinrests, and some basic method books):
(314) 644-6999
6331 Clayton Ave
St. Louis, MO 63139
Manchester Music Violin Shop (For instrument rentals, purchases, repairs/strings, shoulder/chin rests, and some method books).
(636) 527-5588
102 Holloway Rd
Ballwin, MO 63011
Online Sources:
Shar Music (This string specific company based in Michigan is a great sources for instrument accessories, sheet music, etc.. While I recommend trying instruments locally first, they also have a nice selection of quality instruments and bows).
Johnson Strings/ Carriage House Violins:(This is another string specific company based in Boston, Ma, They have a large online inventory of accessories, strings, sheet music, etc. As well as a large inventory of quality instruments up to professional level).
Amazon: (Amazon can be a convenient resource for things such as sheet music, shoulder rests, strings, and cases. DO NOT purchase an instrument here!).
Q: Why should I rent an instrument when I can buy one for $50-$100 online?
A: Most online “deals” are really not deals at all. Instruments in this price-range often have so many set-up problems (poor bridge, strings, tuning pegs, bows, etc) that to make them playable often results in spending more than you spent on the instrument itself and you are usually left with an instrument that still has a poor tone. Rentals allow you to play on a higher quality instrument without the financial commitment required for purchase (most rental outfits at quality violin shops retail in the range of $500-$1000+). In addition, most violin shops will allow you to apply a portion of the rental fees towards the purchase of an instrument so that you are building up equity towards the eventual purchase of a quality instrument.
Q: Why should my child participate in school orchestra/violin class when they have been playing for a few years already and are much more advanced than their class at school?
A: While private lessons offer the best opportunity for building a solid foundation of basic technique and the ability to play at a high level, ensemble playing is a vital skill for all musicians that can only be gained through experience. Additionally many outside youth orchestras require membership in a school group (if one exists) in order to participate.
School violin class/orchestra for more advanced students can also provide students the opportunity to be a leader and to learn to teach/assist other students.
Additionally, reviewing basic posture/technical skills is always beneficial no matter how advanced a student is, and hearing the same things they hear in lessons from their school teacher helps students to understand the importance of good posture and technique and hearing them taught via a slightly different method of instruction can sometimes make something they were previously struggling with click.
I have never seen a student not benefit from participation in school orchestra/strings class whether they improve their technique, learn new ensemble skills, or simply get to enjoy making music during the school day and make friends who share an interest in music.
Q: We started taking lessons in order to help my child catch-up/advance in school orchestra. Why are you asking them to work on solo music/scales instead of working on their school music?
A: While I am always happy to help students with their school orchestra music when needed (and I strongly encourage and support them being in these programs). I find that students get the most out of their school music experience when they can approach the music with the techniques needed to play it already in place. By working on scales, etudes, and solos, we are able to cover techniques in a more comprehensive way that is also often more fun and engaging. I am also able to pinpoint and target specific areas where a student is struggling and assign pieces to help them overcome these challenges which will help them to be able to play their school pieces more successfully. I also like to use private lessons as an opportunity to advance beyond what they are working on in school orchestra, when possible, so that they are eventually able to take advantage of honors opportunities such as All-Suburban/All-State Orchestras, and other youth orchestras and ensembles.
Q: Should my child take lessons during the summer?
A: Summer lessons are very advantageous for several reasons.
- To ensure that the progress made during the school year isn’t lost during the summer. Viola/violin playing is both a mental and physical skill. Even with the best of intentions, most students don’t commit to regular practice without regular lessons and it can be frustrating having to work hard to regain skills after a long break.
- Without the time commitment of daily classes and homework, summer can be a great time to get in some extra practice and make fast progress.
- Auditions for outside orchestras and ensembles are often held at the beginning of Fall semester. Being in top shape and having several lessons to prepare solos and excerpts can help ensure that students are well prepared and help them achieve their desired acceptance and placement.
- To keep their place in the studio. In order to encourage students to take summer lessons and ensure consistent income, I require students to take a minimum number of summer lessons (choosing the weeks that work for them) to guarantee their spot for the Fall semester. With the online options available now, I have been able to continue lessons with students even when they are traveling internationally as long as a reasonable internet connection is available.
Additional Questions?
Please contact me at ilpopp.vla@gmail.com, or (314) 488-0287
Poppingviolinandviola.com 