Course Description

Easy to hold and available in small sizes to suit young hands, the violin is an excellent starter instrument for children. Learning the violin not only develops children’s musicality, it also stimulates the brain, helps to develop muscles and coordination, is a wonderful creative outlet and is a great social instrument. (As young violinists develop their skills, they can also learn and play together with others in everything from duets to orchestras.)

Designed for young people aged 6-8, Waltons New School of Music’s Introducing Violin for Children course is a lively first experience with this wonderful instrument. Weekly classes are intended not only to teach children to play the violin but also to make music an engaging and enjoyable learning experience. Students gradually master each step required – from holding the instrument and bow to learning proper finger placement and developing their sense of pitch – to ensure a solid musical foundation on the violin.

Group learning has long been recognised as one of the most effective ways to teach children about music and instil positive lifetime attitudes towards both music and learning. A group environment provides children with the opportunity to make music together with friends and classmates, sharing common goals and skill. The interaction between students also encourages and promotes understanding, and children learn to assess their peers positively.

Course Requirements

Children will need to have their own size-appropriate violins (see the Choosing the Right Violin Size tab) and shoulder rests to bring to classes and practice with at home, as well a copy of Superstart Violin: The Complete Method by Mary Cohen, which is available from Waltons Music. (See the Recommended Instruments tab for the violins we recommend for this course, which are also available from Waltons Music at discounts for enrolled students.)

Enrol your child in this course.

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Questions about the course?

CONTACT US

or call us on (01) 478 1884.

Child Safety & COVID-19

The health and safety of children attending lessons and courses at the New School is of the utmost importance to us.

First, the New School has a comprehensive Child Protection Policy in place, and all of our teachers are Garda vetted.

And second, we have made a number of changes to our equipment and policies to make the New School as safe as possible during the time of COVID-19. These include:

• Perspex screens in every classroom.
• Installation of HEPA air filtration/purification units where necessary.
• Antiseptic dispensers available throughout the school.
• Cleaning and disinfection of both classroom instruments and furniture between lessons and classes.
• Regular cleaning of public spaces.

See our COVID-19 Safety Policy page for more information on what we have done, as well as the protocols we expect all in-school students and visitors to follow.

Introducing Violin for Children is one of the New School’s group courses. We also offer private private violin lessons for students of all ages and skill levels. See String Instruments Tuition for more information.

Gabriele Braga

Gabriele was born in Genoa, Italy, and at the age of six he began studying music theory at the urging of his mother (a guitar teacher and choir director). He began studying the violin at the age of eight, and at the age of thirteen he won the prestigious regional music competition, Virginia Centurione. During his years of study, he collaborated with the orchestra of the Niccolò Paganini Conservatory in Genoa and with the orchestra of the Federico Ghedini Conservatory in Cuneo. Gabriele graduated from the Federico Ghedini Conservatory with a degree in performance and instrumental teaching, and since his early twenties he has taught violin and piano in a number of music schools and academies, both in Italy and in Ireland. Although he loves performing, teaching is his passion.
 

Elena Elioutina

A native of Russia, Elena has lived in Ireland and taught violin and viola to students of all ages and skill levels for over two decades. She received her Diploma in orchestral playing and violin teaching, with distinction, from Voronezh State College of Music, as well as a BA in Music Performance, specialising in orchestral string instruments, from Voronezh State Institute of the Arts. And she continued with postgraduate studies at the Royal Irish Academy of Music with Professor Eyal Kless. In Russia, Elena taught violin to students from beginner to diploma level, as well as youth violin ensembles. With extensive experience in children’s music education, she currently teaches violin to children from the age of four at several Dublin-area schools, in addition to her work teaching both children and adults with the New School since 2003. She has taught the Introducing Violin for Children course for over a decade.

Mihály Magyarics

Mihály was born in Budapest, Hungary and began learning violin at an early age, inspired to become a musician and a teacher by his own family’s rich musical heritage. (Both of his parents are musicians.) He studied at the internationally renowned Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest for ten years – focusing first on musicology and obtaining a Master’s degree in the subject, then focusing on violin pedagogy in the Academy’s Teacher Training Master’s Programme and obtaining a second Master’s degree. Mihály came to Ireland in 2015 and has been busy since then as both an orchestral and chamber musician and as a teacher, teaching in several music schools as well as privately. He has taught violin and viola to students of all ages and skill levels. And although he has successfully prepared many students for a wide range of grade exams and competitions, he has also taught a number of students learning these instruments purely for enjoyment.

Reviews • Testimonials

‘To be honest, I was surprised at how much my daughter enjoyed this course and actually wanted to practise! I look forward to seeing her continued progress with the violin.’
– N. Barbas

‘[My son] really enjoyed this course, which I think was largely down to a fantastic teacher, who got results but made it all fun.’
– S. Fitzgerald

‘The course exceeded my expectations. The teacher was kind and engaging. I was impressed that music theory was included from the first lesson so the students could begin to read the music they played. My son could see his own progress over the 10 weeks, and we look forward to continuing his tuition here.’
– D. O’Leary

‘My 7-year-old could not get enough of the classes. She never wanted to miss her class, where she learnt how to play the violin and made friends.’
– R. Sawaya

‘I was surprised not only at how much [my daughter] learned in the Violin for Children course, but how much she enjoyed it! Highly recommended.’
– A. Thomas

‘Fantastic progress combined with a child friendly and fun approach.’
– B. Ziemann

Have you taken – or are you taking – this course? We would appreciate it if you could take a few moments to give us your feedback in a brief online questionnaire about it.

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2024-2025 Second Term
Course Schedule & Fee

10 weeks, 1 February – 12 April 2025
(No class on 22 February – Mid-Term Break)
Saturdays 11 am – 12 pm
Teacher: Mihály Magyarics
Course Type: In-School

Tuition Fee: €220

Enrolment

Enrolment for this course requires a completed Enrolment Form and full payment of the course fee. Places are limited to eight and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date of enrolment. Many of our group courses fill in advance of their start dates, and early enrolment is recommended.

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Purchasing this course as a gift?
Please complete a Gift Certificate Booking Form.

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Questions about the course?

CONTACT US

or call us on (01) 478 1884.

Recommended Instruments

If students don’t already have instruments for this course, the following reasonably-priced student violin outfits – all available from Waltons Music – are recommended:

• Martini Student Violin Outfit • 1/4 Size • €112
  (Includes bow, case, digital tuner and spare strings.)
• Martini Student Violin Outfit • 1/2 Size • €112
  (Includes bow, case, digital tuner and spare strings.)
• Martini Student Plus Violin Outfit • 1/4 Size • €145
  (Includes bow, case, digital tuner and spare strings.)
• Martini Student Plus Violin Outfit • 1/2 Size • €145
  (Includes bow, case, digital tuner and spare strings.)

These violin outfits can be purchased from Waltons Music at 5% discounts for students enrolled in the course. Wolf Forte Secondo Shoulder Rests (€36.95) can also be purchased from Waltons Music at a 5% discount. If you would like to obtain a discount, please contact Waltons with your instrument choice and include a scan or photo of your course payment receipt.

CONTACT WALTONS

See Choosing the Right Violin Size tab for more information on violin sizes.

Choosing the Right Violin Size

Arm length is the most accurate way to select the correct sized violin for your child. Have your child stand with his/her left arm outstretched to the side – not reaching, but not bent either. Using a tape measure, measure from the sternal notch (at the base of the neck) to the wrist, and use the table below to determine the best size. If you are unsure of what to choose, any good music shop that stocks smaller-sized instruments will be able to assist you.

What happens after the course?

Two weeks before the end of each Introducing course, parents will be given options for continuing their children’s tuition with the New School if they would like to do so. Although an ‘improvers’ or continuation course cannot be scheduled on the same day/time as the Introducing course, one can be arranged if enough students would like to continue and the teacher has timetable availability or there is timetable availability with another teacher. Students can also continue their tuition with private (one-to-one) lessons or ‘partner’ lessons with another class member. (See Tuition Options – Private • Partner • Small Group Lessons.) We are happy to discuss these options with you.