Are all Virtual Violin Summer Festival (V2SF) activities and classes held online?
-Yes! V2SF is 100% online which means where you live doesn’t matter. All of our classes, seminars, workshops, and lessons will be on Zoom or in our Private Facebook group.
-You will need a free Zoom account for class meetings and a Facebook account to access the Private FB group where we connect as a community outside of class.
What if the connection is too slow and sound quality is affected?
-You will need enough internet bandwidth to be able to stream without hiccups. At least 5 Mbps for the month of the festival is ideal (for some families you may need to make sure that no one is streaming or uploading material during your lesson or performance times).
-If you do not have a high quality USB microphone, we will get you one. We will also be providing technical support to students as needed.
When will my private lessons occur?
-Your weekly private lessons will be scheduled to take place outside of the regular group sessions at a time that works for you and your teacher. Each participant will have the opportunity to request specific teachers, and those requests will be taken into consideration when assigning and scheduling lessons.
How many students will be accepted?
-One of the goals of V2SF is to make sure that each of our students gets personalized attention and that all of our students have access to our amazing guest artists and faculty. To ensure this experience for each participant, V2SF is limited to about 25 participants.
What makes V2SF different from other festivals?
-V2SF is an intense program focused on a small group of advanced violin students where the focus is on your individual growth as a violinist and musician.
-It is a place where you are challenged to approach practicing and performing from a place of curiosity, mindfulness, joy, and full-throttle engagement.
-Whether you are pursuing a career in music or just squeezing the last bit of time engaging with your instrument on a conservatory level before heading off to another career, you will have the opportunity to stretch yourself as a violinist in a supportive community with other violinists your age who are just as passionate about violin and learning from world-class instructors.
-Because ensemble rehearsing and performing (orchestra and chamber music) is still challenging to do in an online setting, this festival gives you the opportunity to focus on your individual growth as a violinist and musician, while still participating in a musical community that challenges you to work at your highest level.
What else is included besides Lessons and Masterclasses?
In addition to weekly private lessons and masterclasses with esteemed guest artists, students will receive:
-Daily warmups and practice tips
-A practice accountability partner for each week
-Twice weekly studio classes with discussions about all things violin related
-Recordings of all lessons, studio sessions, and masterclasses
-“Q&A” sessions in with professional violinists succeeding in various careers
-Weekly workshops on topics such as efficient practice skills, improvisation, and Baroque performance techniques
-Seminars on topics such as musician’s health and wellness, high-performance mindset and dealing with performance anxiety, career skills, instrument care and new gear setup, and leadership skills
-Private Facebook group where you get to connect with other students and teachers
-Tech setup support and high quality USB microphone if needed
-Festival swag, including t-shirt