Trial lesson
once$25
- A size check and a first bow hold
- A violin to borrow for the lesson
- A plain answer on whether to start now
A straight bow, a clear note, then the music
One to one violin lessons for children from five, adult beginners and players taking the case down from the loft after years away. Hana Lindqvist matches every lesson to the player's age and level, from a first bow hold to the June recital.
30 minutesfor the $25 trial lesson
Age 5 upwardbeginners and returners
Every Junea recital, playing optional
- Children, teenagers and adults
- Beginners and returning players
- Exam preparation on request
- Checked teacher, parents welcome
Which size violin, at which age
Children grow through several violins before a full size one fits. At the trial lesson Hana measures from the neck to the middle of the palm with the arm stretched out, so treat the ages below as a starting guide only.
| Size | Usual age | Arm length | Rental from |
|---|---|---|---|
| One eighth | about 4 to 6 | 44 to 47 cm | $12 a month |
| One quarter | about 6 to 7 | 47 to 51 cm | $12 a month |
| One half | about 7 to 9 | 51 to 56 cm | $14 a month |
| Three quarter | about 9 to 11 | 56 to 60 cm | $16 a month |
| Full size | about 11 and adults | 60 cm and over | $20 a month |
Rental violins come with a bow, a case and a cake of rosin. When a child grows, the rental is swapped for the next size up at no extra charge.
The first term, string by string
A typical first ten lessons for a new player of any age. Children move at the pace their hands and attention allow, and adults often linger on bowing because they hear every scratch.
Lessons 1 and 2
Standing or sitting tall with the violin resting on the collarbone, and a bow hold practised on a pencil before it moves to the real bow.
Lessons 3 and 4
Open strings bowed straight across in long and short strokes, plus plucked rhythms to tunes the player already knows.
Lessons 5 to 7
First, second and third fingers on the A and E strings, guided by thin tapes on the fingerboard until the ear takes over.
Lessons 8 to 10
A first complete tune with Hana playing a second part alongside, and a short recording to take home.
Back to the violin after years in the case
Returning players usually remember more than they expect, and less than they hope. The first lesson starts with the instrument itself: strings gone dull, a bridge leaning forward, a bow that needs new hair. Hana says what is worth doing and what can wait, and sells nothing.
After that the lessons rebuild tone and shifting before pieces, because both fade faster than reading. Many returners arrive with a goal, such as joining a community orchestra or playing at a family wedding, and the weeks are planned backwards from that date.
- An instrument check in the first lesson
- Scales and studies chosen for stiff fingers
- Pieces picked around your own goal
- Evening slots for players who work
Lesson fees, paid by the half term
Weekly lessons are booked in half terms of six, so the same slot stays yours. Lesson length grows with the player, and Hana suggests a change only when the music needs it.
Half term, 30 minutes
six lessons$165
- Works out at $27.50 a lesson
- A practice notebook filled in each week
- Parents welcome to sit in
Half term, 45 minutes
six lessons$234
- Works out at $39 a lesson
- Scales, a study and a piece each week
- Exam pieces when a pupil chooses
Returner's four
four lessons$180
- For players coming back after a break
- Instrument check in the first hour
- Flexible evening times
Fees are paid to Hana directly at the start of each half term. A lesson cancelled with 24 hours' notice moves to another day; one missed without notice counts as taught.
Inside the coach house studio
Exams if a pupil wants one, a recital every June
Graded exams suit some players and not others. When a pupil or parent asks for one, Hana chooses pieces, scales and aural practice to match the level, and enters the pupil only once the playing is ready. Results depend on the day and the examiner, so the studio promises careful preparation and never a grade.
Every June the studio hires a local hall for an afternoon recital. Pupils play alone, in pairs or in the beginners' ensemble, and anyone who would rather sit in the audience is welcome to. Families bring cake, and the youngest players usually steal the show.
- Exam preparation offered, never pushed
- A rehearsal with the accompanist beforehand
- An ensemble part for every beginner
- Playing at the recital is always optional
Asked between scales
Is five too young to begin the violin?
Many five year olds manage well on an eighth size violin, as long as lessons stay short and playful. The trial lesson shows whether a child can follow a bow hold and stand still for a few minutes; if not, waiting six months is no failure.
Should we buy a violin or rent one first?
Rent while a child is still growing. A violin from the studio shelf is swapped for the next size up as needed, and adults usually rent for a term before choosing an instrument of their own with Hana's help.
How long should a beginner practise?
Ten minutes a day beats an hour on Sunday. Young children often do best with two short sessions, and the practice notebook says exactly what to play so nobody wastes time guessing.
May a parent stay in the room during lessons?
Yes, and with young beginners it helps, because the parent becomes the practice partner at home. Hana holds the background checks that apply to anyone teaching children where the studio is, and the studio door has a glass panel.
Can an adult who reads no music start from scratch?
Of course. Reading is taught alongside playing, one note at a time, and many adults find that four strings make the stave easier to follow than they feared.
Do pupils have to take graded exams?
No. Exams are there for pupils who enjoy a goal on paper, and plenty of players progress well without ever sitting one. Either way, lessons follow the same scales, studies and pieces.
Families and returners (example reviews)
Our daughter started at six on a quarter size violin from the studio shelf. Two years on she has moved up twice, swapped each time without any fuss, and she still asks to play the duet from her very first term.
Took the violin out of its case for the first time in twenty five years. The first lesson was mostly about new strings and a bow rehair, which was exactly the honest start needed.
Hana chose exam pieces our son actually liked and never once guessed at the mark he would get. He played at the June recital the week after, and that is the part he still talks about.
Ask for a trial lesson or a weekly slot
Tell Hana who is learning, how much they have played and the times that suit. She answers by the second working day with a lesson time, the nearest slot she has open, or a place on the short waiting list.
- Lessons pitched at the player's age and level
- Parents can sit in on any lesson
- Fees settled with Hana directly
Finding the coach house
The studio sits behind the main house, through a side gate left open during teaching hours.
Phone or email Hana
A converted coach house studio behind a family home on a quiet residential street, ten minutes from the town centre by bus
Teaching hours
| Monday to Friday | 15:00 to 20:30 |
| Saturday | 09:00 to 14:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Waiting and parking
Parents waiting for older pupils can use the garden bench or the chairs inside. There is room for two cars in the lane, and a bus stop at the corner.