A Vision for Digital Learning
Posted on 29th June 2020 at 15:46
The ongoing lockdown has pushed many music teachers to move their teaching online.
But for one pioneering violin teaching business, online teaching is nothing new.
Simon Hewitt Jones, Director at ViolinSchool, which launched as an online violin teaching school in 2012, says:
"As we move forward into September 2020 and beyond, ViolinSchool will be leveraging the power of digital technology more than ever before.
I believe that the pandemic has stripped away much of the mystique that perhaps surrounds instrumental tuition. The practical requirements of continuing to operate during such an extreme situation have forced everyone to question how they are delivering education, and why.
In a world where digital resources are so readily accessible, physical experiences such as concerts and printed books are more important than ever. Digital formats don’t replace physical formats, but each plays its role in enhancing learning, music-making, performing and listening experiences. Digital shouldn’t detract from what’s precious and unique about shared in-person events. If anything, the opposite is true."
ViolinSchool offers a mix of public violin-learning resources such as the Glossary and scales and arpeggio notation, fingering charts and audio, and materials that are exclusively available via subscription.
The two guiding forces behind the school are creativity and community. The method is designed with a holistic and social approach. ViolinSchool is research-focused and results-orientated.
The vast majority of the school’s learning programs are anchored around three key ‘pillars’: music, violin technique and performance skills. These are underpinned by a meaningful knowledge of how to practice, and an understanding that performance psychology is an integral part of violin learning. Each ViolinSchool student has a clear understanding of practice skills, so that they can take responsibility for their own learning.
Simon’s vision for the future is optimistic:
"I think that it’s going to be a lot more creative, and a lot more focused on empowering learners. It will be less about following rules… and more about gaining a deep understanding of the fundamentals of music in a creative way and learning how to apply that on a musical instrument.
Ultimately, what we do always comes back to our raw materials – rhythm, pitch, sound, expression, and so on, and that’s not going to change whether we’re teaching in person in a room or digitally over Zoom.
I think the key is to be flexible about how we approach new technologies, and always be ready to innovate and try new things. That way, we can constantly encourage creativity and curiosity in our learners, whilst opening their eyes to the fundamental principles of our art.
That’s how we set free the imagination of the next generation of musicians. And that’s the future for which I’ll keep advocating!"
Find out more
Interested in exploring ViolinSchool’s digital resources? Check out String Music or Tick Tock, Tock Tick.
Or you can sign up for ViolinSchool’s FREE Getting Started course (registration required).
Image courtesy of ViolinSchool.com
Tagged as: DIGITAL LEARNING, LEARNING VIOLIN, MUSIC EDUCATION, ONLINE MUSIC EDUCATION, ONLINE MUSIC LEARNING, VIOLIN, VIOLIN LESSONS, VIOLIN PLAYING, VIOLIN SCHOOL, VIOLIN TEACHING
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