Violin lessons: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What violin lessons is

A violin teacher works on posture, bow hold, intonation and songs, building from open strings to scales and pieces, often with a set method. People book violin lessons when they start a school orchestra, want to play classical or fiddle music, or need help with the bow and pitch.

Signs you need it

  • Your bow skips or scratches and you cannot tell why
  • You play notes that sound out of tune and cannot hear where the problem is
  • Your child's orchestra teacher has asked for private help with the basics
  • You want to learn fiddle styles such as Irish, country or bluegrass
  • Your shoulder or neck hurts when you hold the violin

What the pro does

  • Checks your chin rest, shoulder rest, posture and how you hold the bow
  • Teaches open strings first, then the finger placement for each note
  • Works on intonation with slow scales and a tuner or drone
  • Introduces pieces from a set method book at the right level
  • Adjusts bowing for tone, speed and string crossings

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Teacher experience and whether they teach classical, fiddle or both
  • Lesson length and how many lessons you book each week
  • Private lessons compared with group or orchestra-style classes
  • Whether the teacher comes to your home or you travel to a studio
  • Violin size for a child, bow, rosin, method books or a shoulder rest
  • Whether you want audition or orchestra preparation on top of regular lessons

What a written quote should spell out

  • The number and length of lessons and whether they are private or shared
  • The method book or repertoire the plan follows
  • The cancellation and makeup policy for missed lessons
  • Whether lessons are in person, at your home or online
  • Which violin, bow and accessories you must buy yourself

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Which method do you use, and how do you choose the next piece?
  • Do you teach classical, fiddle styles or both?
  • How do you check that my intonation and bow hold are correct?
  • If the student is a minor, do you run background checks, and what is your policy on parents in the room?
  • Can you check whether my violin size fits me or my child?
  • What should I do if my shoulder or neck hurts while I play?

Red flags

  • Pushes you to buy an expensive violin or bow before any lesson
  • Says intonation will fix itself and does not check it
  • Skips open strings and bow hold to move to pieces too fast
  • Promises you will play a concerto in a set number of months

What you can do yourself

You can keep the violin in its case away from heat, practice open strings with a tuner, and rosin the bow lightly. Do not adjust the bridge, soundpost or pegs yourself, since a violin shop should handle those. Hire a teacher for bow hold, intonation, posture or audition prep.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to teach violin lessons. Check with your state or local licensing agency if you are unsure whether a teaching business needs a registration.

Violin lessons questions

How do I know what size violin to use?

Size depends on arm length and hand size. Ask the teacher or a violin shop to measure, since a wrong size makes posture and intonation harder.

Do I need to read music to start violin?

Many teachers start with a method book and teach reading along the way. Tell the teacher whether you read music so they can plan the first lessons.

How do I book a violin teacher on infinibell?

Describe the lessons you want, including the violin size, your style and your level. Pick the teachers you want by name. Only the teachers you pick see your request, and it is free for you.

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