A violin tutor, also known as a violin instructor or private violin teacher, works with violin students one-on-one to improve their technique, expression, and knowledge of music theory, violin mechanics, and sound production. A violin tutor, who is often an advanced or even virtuoso violinist in his own right, is always striving to help students improve their performances. Someone who works in this capacity is usually compensated, but rates vary widely depending on the tutor’s experience and skill.
When working with a beginner violin student, a violin tutor demonstrates fundamentals such as how to properly hold the violin, tune the strings, and apply the appropriate amount of pressure to achieve good string response. He could assist the student in learning the note names of the strings and apply white tape to the violin’s neck to aid in gauging fingering distances. He also teaches music fundamentals such as the names of the lines and spaces on a music staff, assuming the student hasn’t already learned this in other music classes.
As a student progresses, the violin tutor is responsible for teaching higher-level string techniques such as vibrato control, different bowing attacks, and the harmonic series. The instructor makes sure the student knows all of the scales and arpeggios, as well as assigning etudes and violin pieces to learn. He observes the student perform and provides feedback on how to correct technique issues, encouraging the student to explore and push the boundaries of musical interpretation. The tutor may use his own instrument to provide physical and auditory examples throughout the learning process.
Another task of the violin tutor is to broaden the student’s awareness of violin literature and performers, which goes hand in hand with providing assignments for the student. This includes “essential” works such as Jules Massenet’s “Meditation,” Nicolo Paganini’s “24 Caprices and Concertos,” Felix Mendelssohn’s “Concerto in E minor,” Wolfgang Amadeaus Mozart’s “Violin Concerto #4 in D Major,” and Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major.” To demonstrate these works and high-quality technique and sound, the tutor may use recordings from violinists such as Itzhak Perlman and Joshua Bell. The tutor also introduces violin students to various styles of violin playing, such as electric rock and bluegrass, in order to assist them in determining which genre they prefer.
A violin tutor is responsible for all business aspects of tutoring, including billing and record keeping, as a private music instructor. He is also responsible for scheduling all lessons and, if necessary, making alternate arrangements when he or the student is unable to attend at the scheduled time. When the student is ready for a joint or solo recital, the tutor contacts the directors of the schools, churches, or other venues where the recital will take place to rent space and publicize the event. He explains or demonstrates proper performance etiquette, both as a performer and as a member of the audience.