# Andre Pretzel - Violin Teacher

> Suzuki Violin Lessons in Halifax, Nova Scotia


## Posts

- [5 steps to get a clean sound on the violin](https://andrepretzel.com/5-steps-to-get-a-clean-sound-on-the-violin/): In this post, I wanna share 5 steps to get a clean sound on the violin. When playing the violin, we are dealing with many things at the same time physically and mentally. The coordination between both hands places an enormous factor in our ability to play with a cleaner sound. 1 – Left Hand finger pressure and finger action There’s a space in between the string and the fingerboard that can affect your tone quality, if you do not press the string correctly, it does not produce a pure tone. The “correct” amount of pressure from your left hand fingers […]
- [5 ways to improve your tuning](https://andrepretzel.com/5-ways-to-improve-your-tuning/): 5 ways to improve your tuning on violin or viola Here I want to share with you 5 ways to improve your tuning on the violin or viola. Tuning is a skill that requires lots of practice! (as anything on the violin or viola, right?) But knowing how to practice it, or knowing different ways of practicing it is what will make a difference. Below I show 5 practice hacks that will improve your tuning right away 1 – Compare with open strings Open strings are our best friends when it comes to tuning (considering you have your instrument in tune […]
- [Suzuki Viola Book 1](https://andrepretzel.com/suzuki-viola-book-1/): Let’s talk about the Suzuki Viola Book 1? The Suzuki Method, also known as the Mother Tongue Method was developed by Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998). His belief was that children could learn music in the same way they learn their native language. Using the same principles as the Mother Tongue we can make learning natural and fluid. And still focusing on high standards of quality without losing the joy of learning and discovery! Read more about the Suzuki Method principles Shinichi Suzuki principal instrument was the violin and his method became famous internationally mainly after his successful tour to America and Europe […]
- [Never stop practicing (the art of return)](https://andrepretzel.com/never-stop-practicing-the-art-of-return/): Never stop practicing! have you ever hear that? Hey! have you ever lost a streak of something that you really think is important to do? could be going to the gym, keeping a heathy sleeping routine, a heathy food intake, drinking water everyday…. practice violin??? Well, for me this is probably one of the most recurrent habit that keeps coming back! I call it “the break” or “the fall” ! so many cool projects started but fail, how many we can keep consistent, right? This post it’s me trying again to get back, getting back to my website, maybe trying to […]
- [2022 Summer String Camp](https://andrepretzel.com/2022-summer-string-camp/): This 2022 Summer at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts we will have an exciting Summer String Camp! For string players ages 6 through 17 of all levels. Playing music together is awonderful opportunity for creativity, fun, and friendship. Every day will include chamber music, technique, and repertoire classes, rhythm, and movementclasses, arts and crafts, and outdoor recreation. Weekly highlights include:Improvisation and creation and performance opportunities. The camp will wrap up with a performance for family and friends! Cost: $325/week + registration fee(Financial assistance may be available) Time: July 11th to July 15th, 9 am to 4 pm Faculty: Rachel Desoer, […]
- [7 Reasons why Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is the best first violin song.](https://andrepretzel.com/7-reasons-why-twinkle-twinkle-little-star-is-the-best-first-violin-song/): Would like to know at least 7 reasons why Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is the best first violin song for you to learn? When someone asks you, “what was your first song on the violin?” Probably your answer was “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is one of the first songs that is taught on the violin? But why? This melody is present not only in the violin literature but among all instruments. All beginners played at least once this famous tune during their first stages of learning. The poem “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” was written by English author […]
- [Suzuki Audio Recordings](https://andrepretzel.com/suzuki-audio-recordings/): Did you know that in the Suzuki Method, listening is one of the most important pillars that students benefit from? A good quality audio recording reference helps the students in the process of learning the repertoire. Many different great violinists are featured in the “Suzuki Recordings”. The last two violinists that are playing in the modern recordings are Hillary Hann (Violin Books 1 to 3) and Augustin Hadelich* (Violin Books 4-6) *Recently Announced. Hillary Hann Three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn matches expressive musicality and technical expertise with a diverse repertoire guided by artistic curiosity. Her barrier-breaking attitude towards classical music […]
- [Priorities when learning the violin](https://andrepretzel.com/priorities-when-learning-the-violin/): Learning how to play an instrument is always challenging, from the very start to the endless polishing work. Which priorities do you focus on when learning the violin? When practicing your instrument what is your focus? New notes learning? To play in tempo? Learning a new technique? Edward Kreitman, a very active and experienced Suzuki Teacher came up with this concept of priorities in teaching and learning. Mr. Kreitman is a registered Teacher Trainer of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and is the author of Teaching from the Balance Point: A Guide for Suzuki Parents, Teachers and Students, and Teaching […]
- [Beginner violin scales](https://andrepretzel.com/beginner-violin-scales/): Did you notice that different instruments start learning different scales? On the piano, we start learning everything in C-Major, on Flute can be considered to start at G-Major. How about the Violin? What are the first “beginner” Violin scales? And that happens because of different instrument construction and playability, as the violin and viola don’t have frets on the fingerboard like guitars, the best way to find tuning is to start using finger patterns to help you map the notes. The first two scales that we usually start learning on the violin are D-Major and A-Major, and it depends on the […]
- [How to build a solid violin practice?](https://andrepretzel.com/violin-practice/): When it comes to playing our instruments, probably the hardest and overlooked aspect of it is “how to build a good violin practice“. Last year following Nathan Cole’s content he share a concept that fits perfectly for me, and it was something that I was searching for for a long time. Simplifying… our practice should be: 1. Sustainable 2. Balanced 3. Adaptable Expanding a little bit more into those concepts: 1. Sustainable Consistency is key, in order to achieve consistency our practice must be sustainable in a way that we can keep our routine without breaking the practice streak. Finding our […]
- [Tonalization TEA event](https://andrepretzel.com/tonalization-tea-event/): This March 2022, the Suzuki Association of Ontario will be offering a Tonalization workshop in a series of events called Teaching Education Action (T.E.A). Those events are focused on the continued teacher development mindset that all Suzuki teachers are engaged in since their first steps into their Suzuki teacher career’s path choice. This event will be The History and Philosophy of Tonalization presented by Fumiyo Kurimochi. One of Suzuki Method’s main cornerstones is his “Totalization” approach and Its first full exercises appear at the beginning of Suzuki Violin Volume 2. Tonalization – Tone and Tuning Violin tone and tuning are so […]
- [Top Essential Apps for Violin Practice](https://andrepretzel.com/practice-apps/): Did you ever want to compile a list of top essential apps for violin practice? Yes! nowadays we cannot live without our phones and they are a very potent machine to help us get better at our instruments Let’s use our phones as our allies?! In this post, I’m bringing my top 3 must-have apps to help you to focus on your violin practice. As a main Android user, my suggestions will come based on this platform mostly. Must-Have In this category probably I think you might have at least two of them, but do you have that 3rd one? – […]
- [Bow Distribution 101](https://andrepretzel.com/bow-distribution-101/): Let’s talk about bow distribution? Where to start? Playing the violin has so many things to be aware of, and that’s why it’s one of the most challenging instruments to learn and master. One of the aspects that I’ve been working hard with my students it’s to teach them about bow distribution by applying its principles in the Suzuki Method repertoire. The concept of bow distribution is basically “how we use our bow”. In other words, we are conditioning our bow to a certain pattern, which is hardly straightforward while playing our instruments. Bow sections There are many ways that we […]
- [Beginner Group Classes – Spring 2022](https://andrepretzel.com/beginner-group-classes-spring-2022/): In these Beginner Group Classes. I will cover all the basics for a healthy violin foundation helping you or your kid achieve the best results! 100% guarantee satisfaction! It is a fantastic opportunity to start learning the violin or the viola. There are multiple benefits from Beginner Group Classes start learning your instrument in a group setting. Interactive – Working on the same achievements with other students is so satisfying! Making new friends – You may find a new community for you, new friends with same interests! Affordable – sharing a lesson time with other students is cheaper than a private […]
- [A strategy to help improve your violin left-hand position.](https://andrepretzel.com/improve-your-left-hand-position/): Are you looking to improve your left-hand position on the violin? Here I show one of the strategies that I use with my students. Does violin left-hand position affect tuning or expression? Your violin left-hand position is responsible for changing notes and part of the interpretation (vibrato). As the violin doesn’t have any frets, making the correct tuning for each note becomes a challenge. P.S. Some violin players also use their left hand to help support their violins, as this is a very personal opinion and practice I will leave it for later discussions. A good left-hand posture will contribute to […]

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- [Home](https://andrepretzel.com/): Hold the Vision, Trust the Process Violin Lessons in Halifax, NS START 1:1 Lessons in Halifax at the Maritime Conservatory Online Lessons We can reach each other anywhere! Group Lessons for Kids and Adults CONTACT Latest Blog Posts 5 steps to get a clean sound on the violin In this post, I wanna share 5 steps to get a clean sound on the… Continue Reading 5 ways to improve your tuning 5 ways to improve your tuning on violin or viola Here I want to share… Continue Reading Suzuki Viola Book 1 Let’s talk about the Suzuki Viola Book 1? The […]
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- [Suzuki Method](https://andrepretzel.com/suzuki-method/): The Suzuki Method The Suzuki Method, also known as the Mother Tongue Method, was developed by Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998). He believed that children could learn music in the same way they learn their native language. Using the same principles as the Mother Tongue, we can make learning natural and fluid. And still focusing on high standards of quality without losing the joy of learning and discovery! The principles used by the Suzuki Method are: – Earlier Beginning Every human being has the ability to learn, at earlier ages this ability is fresh and open to any experience available,Starting to learn music […]
- [Contact](https://andrepretzel.com/contact/): Contact Me If you or your child are interested in beginning lessons, please contact me to set up a lesson.
- [About](https://andrepretzel.com/about/): About me Having taught violin, viola, and strings since 2004, I believe anyone can learn to play an instrument and that it can bring many benefits to our lives, both personally and socially. I was born and raised in São Paulo, the largest urban center in Brazil, where I built most of my education and professional background, having worked there for over 10 years as a professional musician and music teacher. I am a Bachelor of Music with a major in Viola from São Paulo University, the most prominent educational institution in Brazil, and a Graduate Certificate in Music Education from […]

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