Thanks for visiting my violin teaching site! My name is Phyllis and I’ve been a violin teacher for over 15 years, both in Vancouver BC and in the UK. I hold a Diploma in Violin Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and have performed as a musician at private events, orchestral settings, as well as popular/rock bands and theatre productions.
The information contained on this site is not exhaustive by any means, but has been created and compiled by me over my years of teaching, to help my students visualise and internalise violin techniques. I hope you will find it useful to practise along to, as a supplement to working with your teacher. I’ve created videos mainly for material that my students had trouble with, which explains some of the gaps in the repertoire! Gaps which I am working on filling.
I teach online and in person (currently based in St Albans, Hertfordshire) and I will be adding to this site as I continue to make videos. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions at all regarding violin playing and learning, and I will do my best to answer.
How to use this site
I have tried to separate my violin tutorials into easy to navigate categories, mainly the RCM syllabus (Canadian), ABRSM syllabus (British), etc. Each one is separated into grades and other subcategories. If there’s anything you can’t find you can also use the search function at the top of the page.
I have also made pdfs of all the scale maps, so these can be found under the downloads section in the main menu.
How to use my videos
All scale videos start with a map of where the notes land on the fingerboard. The lines on the map indicate where the tape would usually be if you have ever had tape on your violin, the ‘regular’ position of your fingers which is what most students learn first. This should help you figure out where your fingers go for each note.
Then, you will also see the scale played on the violin at the speed that is recommended for that particular grade.
I would suggest if you’re unsure about intonation that you practise along with the video so you have an idea of what pitch you’re aiming for.