"Parents: Get the 5 facts about children's violin lessons before your child plays the very first note... (PLUS an Offer You Can't Refuse.)"
If my FREE DVD doesn't give you great tips for motivating your child to practice the violin, I will send you a check for $9.99 for trying it out.
That’s me and one of my six children, Ethan. I get the privilege of teaching all ages – including my children – the “romantic” and “human voice” sounds of the violin!
FROM THE DESK OF BROOKS HANES
Dear Parent,
Sadly, most parents will leave this page in less than 10.5 seconds – the time it takes for you to read this paragraph. They aren’t serious about the violin. And they proved it – they want a quick fix. (I do correct fixes.) If you are a parent who wants a QUICK FIX to your child’s less-than-stellar desire to practice, PLEASE LEAVE THIS PAGE RIGHT NOW and save yourself 7.5 minutes to do something else.
But if you want your child to learn the RIGHT WAY… the LIFE-Long Player Way… the Beautiful, emotional, sympathetic tones, timbre, TEAR-JERKING gorgeous sounds miraculously proceeding out of a seemingly unworthy assemblage of wood, glue, cat-gut or metal, ivory, and horsehair… THEN READ EVERY WORD ON THIS PAGE.
It’s true that parents get frustrated all the time. I know. I taught violin one-on-one for 20 years. I see it over and over. Parents get frustrated about the MONEY they wasted. On lessons. On a violin rental. Bow repair. Gas money… and more… In fact, it’s not kids who give up first – it’s PARENTS.
But here we are. You landed on my page – you clicked somewhere or saw my now-famous crazy ads – because you want to EXPLORE the violin. You think it might be a good thing for your child to TRY. (Please forgive me if this is not you – but it is MOST parents. Please keep reading.)
I’m here to tell you, trying the violin is a bunch of baloney (to put it nicely). Why? Because it’s like trying to fly. It’s all or nothing, and when you hear a violinist play, you know it.
Why do I say that? READ ON… And now I KNOW you’re serious because you are still reading this page. I will REWARD YOU with a FREE GIFT (order my DVD at right to get your reward!)
Cozy up on the couch with your Kindle, iPad, or clear the kitchen laptop computer for use. Tell your children you will need some “Mommy time” for the next 10 minutes… get Thomas the Train, Dora, or Disney Channel on the TV.
Are you ready? Soak in every single word because it WILL affect your child’s ability to play violin beautifully…
Let’s be honest. You probably came to my site because you are INTERESTED in music but you aren’t getting CRAZY about VIOLIN yet. Not overboard.
Most of my students’ parents say, “I just want my child to try out the violin for a while… I’ll rent a violin and enroll in some lessons… and we’ll see how it goes.”
I understand that you may not want your child to be a GREAT violinist – just maybe a good one – for right now, at least. I get it – you may have never even considered – much less wanted - your child to play so beautifully, that friends ask to play for weddings, or private dinner parties.
Are you looking for “The 5 Facts?”
I will tell you the 5 facts you came here to read — but first consider this…
It will be possible – with the right instructional system and mentor – for people to say about your child’s violin playing, “Wow. That was beautiful. Thank you being such a big part in celebrating [an event].”
It is very possible – even LIKELY – your child will have the OPTION of making money as a professional someday, even a part-time musician, composer, or touring performer with an international musical group.
Sure, that’s not your goal right now – but consider this:
Do you really want your child pick up a violin in the next month or so, play a few notes, spend your hard-earned money on equipment and lessons, just to say they can, and then get frustrated at the horribly average (squeaky) sound that comes from this ancient assemblage of wood, string, horse hair, and glue?
To make it clear:
If you want your child to try out the violin…
…then hand your child the PROPER TOOLS to make the self-rewarding, BEAUTIFUL SOUNDS you expect to come out of this one-of-a-kind INSTRUMENT of EMOTION.
It’s ALL or NOTHING. In violin instruction, you need beautiful sounds – or NO SOUNDS. Play it beautifully or hang it up. (I will not apologize for this ‘harsh’ statement, but everyone who is not deaf would agree that the best – and worst – sounds known to mankind can be produced by a violin, depending on the skill level of the player!)
Think about it… with soccer, your child can kick and run – or even use a wheelchair to get around and do the same – and no one is annoyed. No child quits basketball, swimming, or even wind, brass, or percussion instruments, because they’re frustrated with it. But this happens all the time with violin. Why? Because it’s all or nothing, to get even the most BASIC good results.
That’s why the other Moms you talk to at the co-op, MOPS, homeschool meeting, and Classical Conversations meetings talk about all the time: quality paired with classical-style education. It should be no different with the violin, the most difficult musical instrument for a child to play well.
So, the result is, most children who play violin at some stage in their education – NEVER make it past a few years of playing. In fact, MANY never make it to high school orchestra.
If you are a parent who wants your child to “try” violin… to get into some violin lessons… to check it out to see if it is something they like… you absolutely need to read every single word on this page.
In fact, you may need to read it all twice.
My Story: I Was Just 6 Years Old When a Certain Photograph Was Taken…
I remember standing up in KINDERGARTEN next to one of my best friends. It was in the gymnasium in my small town of Waterloo, Iowa. Right during a recession, and Reagan was President. (I remember it clearly…)
My parents snapped a photo. Today, I cannot find that photograph. But a few years ago I saw it (wish I could remember where it was) and realized that everyone around me in the photo… great friends throughout elementary school… but they didn’t play violin in high school. They all DROPPED OUT by junior high.
How is it that I continued on, and others didn’t?
My Parents Had a “Magic” Formula for Making Beautiful Music…
There was nothing in my mind about being a concertmaster someday. Nothing about a tuxedo… college scholarship…. or anything. All I was doing was playing the violin!
Get my FREE DVD ($69 value) in your mailbox – just fill out the form on the top right corner of this page…
As the years went on, in junior high school, for example, gradually my sound got better and better, and often I would hear compliments paid me from church playing as well. It didn’t go to my head because of one very big reason:
My parents had a seemingly magic formula for teaching violin to children.
Magic Formula? (I’m a CHRISTIAN. I do not believe in Magic, really – maybe my words should be “Secret” Formula. Oh well – you get the idea. Magic seems more… magical I guess!)
This “magic – secret, if you will – formula” got me to practice, to get my instrument ready, to rosin up, and PLAY.
The “magic formula” me going when I was surrounded by others who dropped violin all the time around me. Something that propelled me like a NON-STOP ENGINE of motivation to practice, practice, practice.
The Magic Formula allowed me to get better WITHOUT KNOWING IT.
What was that magic formula?
It’s easy to tell what that was… but it wasn’t not just one thing. There were many pieces to it…
I would LOVE to tell you the formula and secrets now. Unfortunately, I only share this insider information with a certain number of people. These people have “raised their hand” as being SERIOUS about violin, and they all start by getting my FREE report delivered to them. (See the top-right of this page and fill out the form. In fact, if you fill out the form on the right and I will mail you the secret formula report in the next few days.)
Today, I have great memories of elementary school. But my most lasting memories are VIOLIN LESSONS and practicing violin with friends, family, and audiences listening to me. I provide for my family in part by TEACHING VIOLIN and performing at church today.
In short, my own family is a homeschooling family, in our local chapter of Classical Conversations, and I teach my kids violin – not just to perform, but to PLAY.
Parents SEEK ME because I teach in a certain way –
with BEAUTIFUL SOUNDS as repeatable results of my system of teaching.
That’s true: parents email me, talk to me through others, and inevitably seek out my training. Parents tell me that my teaching methods are:
- Unconventional and “against the grain”
- Easily reproduced in students but often “laughed at” by some (they eventually stop playing violin while my students keep on enjoying the instrument – for LIFE)
- Not seen in any books anywhere else
- SURPRISINGLY easy for all ages to get started – or improve – their QUALITY of sound
- Results-oriented, not rigid-for-rigid sake
- Requiring HARD WORK by all students; and
- Missed when I can no longer offer instruction due to their or my family life’s demands.
The New York Yankees
It’s time for another real life story. I’m not exactly HAPPY about this, but it demonstrates what I’m doing.
The other day one teacher saw this very website you are reading and took the time to write me. She is a teacher of 30 years experience. This is all interesting, but her email to me takes the cake. It consisted of a SCATHING insult against my information. Wow! She took the time to write me, and just tear me down!
Why?
Think for yourself: all good things are either LOVED or HATED. (In fact, when you tell people your child is taking violin lessons or DVDs, you will have people commenting on this positively or negatively.)
The New York Yankees are another example. If you love the Yankees, you probably know 5 people who DESPISE the pinstripes team. It’s the truth: the things that are worthy of HATRED or LOVE are probably at least worth noting.
My teaching methods have found no NEUTRAL base. Are they hated? Very rarely – and only by those who either have not tried them, or who are jealous about my notoriety as an unconventional – and very successful – teacher.
FACT 1: Most parents do not believe their child will ever be able to lead a beautiful symphony orchestra.
CONTRASTING FACT: Most parents do not realize the ABILITIES inside of every young child.
Is it possible that your child will lead the New York Philharmonic, or the Nashville Symphony, or the Boston Pops Orchestra, playing for movie soundtracks, and TV, and highly billed concerts? YES. It is very possible. Is it likely? That’s really up to you and your ability to GRASP THIS VISION and TAKE ACTION.
The truth is, if your child makes a beautiful sound with the violin, all your goals will fall into place.
FACT 2: It is a big mistake to buy a violin until boys reach age 14, girls age 11…
You may be tempted to buy a violin, but wait until your child stops growing. This varies per child, of course. But don’t EVER buy a violin right off the bat. You may be EXCITED but you will not be excited when you realize your children grow out of a violin and you have to sell it.
[NOTE: an exception is if you have multiple children and you can hand down the instrument to younger children. I happen to do this but as you might guess, I'm ABSOLUTELY committed to violin and can justify the expense.]
Ask your music store if you can apply your rent toward a future purchase; many will oblige.
FACT 3: If your child has not practiced during the week, it is HARMFUL to take them in for a lesson that week.
You might say, “I will never miss a lesson. I am dedicated.” If you are unlike any student/family I have ever had, then OK. But if you are a realist, with a tinge of optimism, believe me when I say there will be times you must miss a lesson.
And then a new question: what to do when your child hasn’t practiced?
What then? The SURPRISING and NOT-VERY-POPULAR answer: skip the lesson, but pay for it. This is a RADICAL idea – like my entire teaching method – but it WORKS.
Get my FREE DVD ($69 value) in your mailbox – just fill out the form on the top right corner of this page…
Many will say, “If I skip a lessonThis is money thrown away. This WASTE of money can be avoided by negotiating with your instructor – or by taking lessons from a self-instructed accelerated DVD course.
FACT 4: Never… I mean NEVER! buy a violin valued less than $500 off the INTERNET
Why? Because you will not be able to keep the violin IN TUNE. This will cause your instructor AND YOU up to 50% of the entire lesson or practice time.
This is like buying a family van from the grocery store!
FACT 5: No parent should EVER PAY LESS than $20 per half-hour for PRIVATE lessons. Any instructor worth their advice will not be able to afford charging any less.
FACT 6 (BONUS): It is traumatic and scary to switch private instructors for any child. Therefore, interview up to three instructors to ensure you get the right one! Here are some sample questions: ”Have you ever performed in a symphony orchestra? Where? What chair? Why are you instructing now? How much did your violin cost?” (I tell all my students this information WITHOUT them asking, so they can be confident from day one!
Because I have been teaching violin for years – a quarter of a decade, to be EXACT (almost to the day!), I am at the point where I have to TURN DOWN students more often than not.
And this has led me to open up my teaching methods to others. How can I afford this? Ultimately, how can I afford to keep a secret? It doesn’t profit me.
You have the chance now to get some of my teaching for free – my methods – by reading my report. Today, if you order, I will send you my free report.
Soon, I hope you will join me in realizing your child’s potential to make beautiful music on the violin – and walk across the stage as concertmaster. Order my report now.
Here’s to Your Child Playing Beautiful Music on the Violin,
Brooks Hanes
Violinist and Educator
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
info@ICanPlayViolin.com
Get my FREE DVD ($69 value) in your mailbox – just fill out the form on the top right corner of this page…
I will pay you cash for your wasted time if you order my FREE DVD and don’t agree it contains some of the best ways to motivate your child to practice.
Read my guarantee – it’s true. I will write you a personal check for $9.99, just because it took you a bit of time to review my DVD. Plus, YOU KEEP THE DVD.**
**How can I afford to do this? Won’t people just rip me off by ordering a DVD from me and sending it back, to make $9.99? Well, frankly, most people are honest and don’t intentionally lie about my DVD. But I will have to cancel this offer if the “weirdos” out there take me to the cleaners – order today to ensure you get in on this BETTER THAN RISK-FREE OFFER!
My 'I PAY YOU CASH to TRY THIS' Guarantee
If you order my FREE DVD, and you don’t agree this is the best way to motivate your child to practice, I will send you a check to refund you for your time: $9.99 for the time you took out of your day to watch it. This takes ALL the risk away from you and puts it squarely onto me, because I think you will LOVE my DVD that much.