Playing Hub

Ask the Teacher - Dominic Destefano

2020-02-11T17:46:00

destefano

The viola pedagogue explains how he helps students to improve their technique

How does a student’s age affect your approach to them?

I vary my teaching depending on a student’s level and personality. I have some 15-year-olds I can treat the same as my college students because they are serious about their playing and want to work hard – and they react well to being treated as adults. But of course there are others who are less mature, or who don’t want to make viola playing their career, and these students need more fl exibility.

How many of your students start on the violin?

I see about a 50 per cent split. The ones who start playing really young generally learn the violin first, and often those who start on the viola begin studying later, at school.

Already subscribed? Please sign in

Subscribe to continue reading…

We’re delighted that you are enjoying our website. For a limited period, you can try an online subscription to The Strad completely free of charge.

  • Free 7-day trial

    Not sure about subscribing? Sign up now to read this article in full and you’ll also receive unlimited access to premium online content, including the digital edition and online archive for 7 days.

    Free trial

    No strings attached – we won’t ask for your card details

  • Subscribe 

    No more paywalls. To enjoy the best in-depth features and analysis from The Strad’s latest and past issues, upgrade to a subscription now. You’ll also enjoy regular issues and special supplements* and access to an online archive of issues back to 2010.

    Subscribe

 

* Issues and supplements are available as both print and digital editions. Online subscribers will only receive access to the digital versions.