How to keep teenage boys interested in violin
My 14 year old says violin is for geeks! And I so want him to keep at it. Any suggestions?
Great question! I have a few ideas, might be worth trying:
- Does he have a friend to play with/take lessons with? Having a companion might help morale!
- Is there a male violinist he can look up to? German violinist David Garrett is young and cool and plays a lot of different styles.
- Have a chat with your son’s teacher. Maybe he could suggest some fun music to play. Try amazon for violin arrangements of his favourite singers/groups. Traditional tunes are great too, they’re relatively easy but sound really cool.
- Is there a group in school that would be fun to be in? In school we had trad group, there was a young teacher and it was relaxed and really fun (even the boys thought so!)
Will add to this list as I find new suggestions. Good luck and let me know how it turns out!
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Huge thanks! to those who added some really great suggestions to this question. Rather than paraphrase I’ve copied their comments in full:
# I find that when I give goals to students they gey motivated, along with playing recitals.
# Oooh that’s a tough one. I wish I kept up my violin, though I still played. For me I wish I had an oblong case rather than a violin shaped case as it gives the impression that it isn’t a violin and I thought an oblong case was cooler! But otherwise encouragement will always work..
# I offered my students an in between situation–(between lesson and recital) –we call it Performance Club (PC) and it is very popular with all ages and levels of students and their parents, and other children and friends who attend. The PCs are informal programs at the studio. No one has to dress up, pieces do not have to be “perfect,” it is based more on the value of sharing what they are learning. Sometimes there is a very polished performance, but usually it’s what I call “works in progress.” The focus is on getting experience in playing for others, learning from other students. I usually have a short answer and question time at the end and act as a facilitator. Sometimes a 5 year old will give advice on how to not be nervous, or teenagers will share their insights on what to do or think when a mistake happens that you’ve never made before. We also discuss any concerts they have participated in at school or elsewhere, any professional concerts they have attended, I mention any awards or other milestones they have achieved…like getting accepted for the Sacramento Youth Symphony, or being advanced in their school orchestra, forming an ensemble, etc.. It helps form a feeling of a “violin community.” I always say something at the beginning, for the sake of new performers, on the order of “we aren’t here to judge or criticize each other, just to share our experience in learning to participate with the composers in creating music. We are just one big Violin Family.” It seems to put everyone at ease.
# My students took a field trip today to the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, where they got to meet the artist in residence – Black Violin. This is a violin/viola duo who combine hip-hop and R&B with classical music. Both of them are classically/university trained musicians who play…just wonderful – I was so impressed and so were the kids. Have your student listen to them on Youtube and read their bio – it made me want to pick up a violin (I’m a piano person).
# What’s on the student’s iPod? If s/he is not listening to violin literature performed by great violinists, there isn’t a chance to retain motivation. Is s/he watching Joshua Bell on YouTube? The portal to kids’ minds is digital stuff, and if we, as teachers, don’t exploit that, we lose. As a university cellist for forty years, my constant question to my students was, “What are you listening to?” Just as important, are you seeing to it that the student attends live performances? You can bet that the student is going to rock concerts and listening to hip-hop. That’s the culture. Urge the parents to have a classical music station playing in the home on a regular basis. Tell the student about how many times after your performances you’ve heard someone say, “I wish I’d kept up with my violin studies….” and ask if that is what s/he would like to be saying years down the road.
# I am encouraging parents and students to attend the HD Broadcasts of Met Opera, also starting a car pool for going to concerts. I always post on the board concerts I recommend that are in our community or close by. Then, at our Performance Club programs, students/parents report on the experiences, or I do. I am thinking of starting a Classical Violin/Viola Listening Lab at the studio, and possibly a Meet-the-Composers Workshop which would include a drawing for presenting a report on a composer at a PC, maybe give a prize for their efforts.
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Teachers and Parents: Do you have any ideas to add to these? I’d welcome any other suggestions from those who have been through this before, please get in touch through the Ask Rhoda page.
Rhoda Barfoot is a violinist and experienced strings teacher and is director of The Strings Family. Think of Rhoda as your personal shopper for the stringed instruments world! If you have a question about stringed instruments, music study or related topics, check with Ask Rhoda on The Strings Family website.