Student testimonials

 

"Jane is an amazing teacher. She encourages me to play the music I love and is really helpful and supportive with the techniques I find challenging. Her lessons are always a highlight of my week. "

 

"Jane has a real ability to relate to children and get the very best out of them.  By the end of her first lesson, Jane had sussed out what would make my 7 year old daughter really engage with the violin.  Two years later, and my daughter still comes bouncing out of her lessons full of excitement about what she has been doing.   To find such a talent for inspiring young people coupled with such musical talent is rare and makes Jane a very special teacher."

 

"I feel fortunate indeed that a client of mine recommended Jane to me. I have found her to be inspirational and endlessly patient, and I only wish that I had been under Jane's tutelage from the 'get go'."

 

"We have been very pleased with Jane’s violin teaching over the last four years.  Ruth started lessons when she was six and has progressed very well.  We have appreciated Jane’s enthusiasm for all musical styles and methods – from ‘play-along-with-Abba’ to Suzuki – she has always been happy to follow Ruth’s interest. "

 

"Jane has always been a patient, good-humoured but dedicated teacher who has encouraged me to play better by methodically acquiring technique and practising with determination. The carefully devised work programme and constant monitoring have left plenty of room for enjoying the music and having fun!"

 

"Jane is really good at teaching Irish fiddle.  She makes it fun by adding in lots of funny things, like playing to the parts of the room.  I love learning to play fiddle with Jane."

Press Quotes

 

"The free-thinking ingenuity of violinist Jane Harbour...produces spectacular instrumental gymnastics" Colin Irwin, BBC Music Online

"Jane Harbour is a superb musician, capable of using the full range of sounds (her) instrument offers" Tony Benjamin, Venue Magazine

"The experimental acoustic folk-influenced scene is becoming increasingly sophisticated and adventurous, and Spiro are leading exponents of this genre." Robin Denselow, The Guardian.

 

Contacting me

If you have any questions or you're interested in booking an initial lesson, please contact me via email: info(at)bristolviolintuition.com (please replace 'info(at)' with 'info@' - this is just a junk filter - thank you!)

 

About the lessons

 

I offer friendly, fun and informative violin lessons, tailored to suit the needs and interests of the individual. Both adults and children are welcome, beginners through to advanced level. I teach both folk fiddle and classical technique and repertoire, with the student either learning to play by ear or to read music and understand theory. Much attention is given to violin technique alongside the creative and expressive aspects of playing, enabling the student to play with ease and to produce their ideal sound.

 

Studying classical violin

 

My classical teaching is based on the Suzuki method, and follows the Suzuki repertoire - a collection of well known pieces by a wide variety of composers such as Bach, Mozart, and Vivaldi. The pieces start at beginner level and progress gradually to grade 8 level and beyond. ABRSM graded exams can also be taken if wished. In addition, students can choose from the many other solo pieces and duets available from my own collection. If you have a specific piece in mind, a chamber/orchestral part, or another repertoire that you would like to focus on, this is also possible.

 

Learning fiddle tunes and styles

 

If you'd like to play folk fiddle, a wide variety of tunes and styles can be learnt, including Irish, American, Eastern European, Scottish, English and French. Your aim could be to play solely for fun at home or at sessions, or to play professionally.

 

Other music and improvisation

 

Your lesson can be as specialised or eclectic as you want it to be; branching out to include improvisation and/or other types of music if you wish. Any recordings of favourite tracks, regardless of musical genre, can be learnt by ear or from notation. For instance if there's a pop or jazz track you'd like to learn, just let me know. If you'd like to develop your improvisation skills, lessons can include jamming melodies, harmonies, rhythms and riffs, learning to improvise a backing to a tune, or adding your own part to a favourite track - all really good fun and great for musicianship.

 

My background

 

I have been working as a professional violinist, violin teacher and composer since 1989. I am a founder member of the group Spiro, currently signed to Peter Gabriel's Real World record label. Spiro have produced four critically acclaimed albums and perform regularly at national and international festivals and arts centres. In addition I have written and performed music for theatre, film, television and other live performance, including work commissioned by London's National Portait Gallery to mark their 150th anniversary. In 2005 I received a PRS ATOM Award for my composition.

I have also been playing Irish fiddle and many other folk styles professionally since 1989, making many musical research trips to both Ireland and Hungary. Prior to this I achieved grade 8 distinction studying classical violin under the Suzuki method, which took me to Japan, the USA and Europe, performing as a soloist as well as an orchestral player. This study included an extended period of one to one tuition with Shinichi Suzuki at the Matsumoto Institute in Japan. Suzuki was an incredibly inspiring teacher, whose teaching lineage links him back to Corelli, via such teachers and players as Joachim, Viotti and Pugnani.

One-to-one tuition by professional musician and experienced teacher

Bristol Violin Tuition

Classical violin and folk fiddle lessons in Totterdown and Bishopston with Jane Harbour