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Violin Tutors.

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:27 am
by Tolstoy
Just wondering if anyone knows of a violin tutor in the Forest area? Have suddenly found myself funding the whole cost of the school perapatetic teacher and at over £30 p/h :shock: am looking for an alternative.

Re: Violin Tutors.

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 12:26 pm
by capers123
Tolstoy wrote:Just wondering if anyone knows of a violin tutor in the Forest area? Have suddenly found myself funding the whole cost of the school perapatetic teacher and at over £30 p/h :shock: am looking for an alternative.
Worth talking to the County Music Service at Colwell Arts Centre, Derby Road, Gloucester. GL1 4AD T: (01452) 330300/330292 F: (01452) 541303
Email: admin@gloucestershiremusic.co.uk

They may be able to give you some names. It might also be worth talking to Malcolm Pollock, head of the service.

As I understand it, the funding of lessons in school is down to that individual school, rather than the teacher. For instance, each school is given a certain amount of money towards music - the county would like every child to have at least one terms music lessons for free. But DD's school decided to use the money to buy some buckets (inverted and used as drums), and other instruments for classroom teaching.

Likewise, it can be possible if your child is very good at the instrument, to het fast-tracked, where they get a private lesson for the price of a shared one. Some instrumental lessons can be free of charge, but mainly things such as classical percussion, bassoon, double bass, and the lessons normally take place at a county music centre. I note that Five Valleys Music Centre in Stroud currently has vacancy for bassoon lessons on Saturday mornings.

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 12:32 pm
by capers123
PS - £30 per hour is a little steep, but not beyond the realms of possibility. My two daughters have 1/2 hour each from the same teacher and pay £9 each - although that's a discounted rate for 2 or more children. Normal rate is £10. I do think this teacher is very good value, though (and a good teacher as well).

Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:16 pm
by Tolstoy
Thanks for that Capers, I have managed to find someone fairly local, and it is costing me less for 3 than I was paying for 2 at school. She will also start some grades with them which considering the eldest has been playing for 3 years is not before time. If we had stayed at their first school my eldest would have started them two years ago.

Our school has stopped any funding towards perapatetic lessons not sure what they are spending their music money on truth be told, they used to have a percussion group in occassionally but other than that no music goes on as far as I can tell. Hoping things will improve when they start secondary.