HOW WE TEACH VIOLIN & VIOLA
We teach a variety of styles so that you can achieve your full potential. We teach both adults and children through lessons customised to individual aims.
Benefits of learning Violin & Viola
Learning to play the violin and viola teaches more than playing music:
Improves memory and attention span
Improves mental function and health
Assists with sensory development
Develops motor skills
Relieves stress
Improves posture and muscle function
Improves hand and eye coordination
We travel to students and teach them in their own homes or remotely online. We teach both adults and children in mainly 60 minute, 45 minute and 30 minute lessons. However, extended lessons can be arranged for individual circumstances.
Beginners and more advanced students welcome.
YOUR TUTOR
BERNARD
Royal College of Music, London
Bernard has been teaching both violin and viola for the past 30 years. He holds Bachelor of Music (Honours) from the Royal College of Music, London; Master of Music from Yale University, USA and a Doctorate of Music from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver in Canada.
More about Bernard
Bernard has performed with Quincy Jones, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, Bristol Ensemble, British Sinfonietta, Senbla Orchestra (performing Love Actually live with the orchestra), the Phantom of the Opera UK national tour, Opra Cymru, Yales Symphony Orchestra and was a founder member of the London Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He is violist with The Hilman Quartet, and has recorded with Manic Street Preachers, The Proclaimers and Roger Daltrey.
In addition to playing viola and violin, Bernard is also a composer. He has composed for stage, theatre and film for venues including the National Theatre in London, Queen Elizabeth Hall in Southbank and Carnegie Hall in New York City. The music that Bernard has composed has also been performed on the BBC.
HOURLY RATES
A full fee cancellation charge is applicable for cancellations of 24 hours or less.
If you do not live within the Oxford area, we are happy to provide you with an hourly rate - depending upon your location.
£40
Per Hour
£30
45 Minutes
£20
30 Minutes
ABOUT VIOLINS
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest and highest-pitched member of the family of string instruments.
The violin is sometimes informally called a fiddle, regardless of the type of music played on it. The word violin comes from the Medieval Latin word vitula (meaning stringed instrument), this word is also believed to be the source of the Germanic 'fiddle'.
The violin (while it has ancient origins), acquired most of its modern characteristics in 16th-century Italy. However, there were some further modifications occurring in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The following instruments made by the: Gasparo da Salò, Giovanni Paolo Maggini, Stradivari, Guarneri and Amati families from the 16th to the 18th century in Brescia and Cremona, Jacob Stainer in Austria, are particularly prized by violinists and collectors.
"It’s easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself."