When students of any age or level move freely and comfortably at their instruments, they are able to feel and share the joy of music-making.
The Till Approach offers an innovative pedagogy for students of all ages, both in group settings and one-on-one, giving students tools for building sustainable careers and navigating the musical and professional landscape that awaits them.
When it comes to teaching others, we can only teach what we know and understand in our own brains and bodies. Our teacher training—coupled with one-on-one lessons—offers teachers the necessary knowledge and physical tools of the Till Approach, so they can work confidently with students of all ages and backgrounds.
“Violin class makes me feel good on the outside and the inside!”
The Progression: Beginning Stages to Advanced
Young children love movement that feels good. Work with beginners and small children predominantly focuses on feeling the movements involved in playing in large form, as a child might use them in daily life. Playing an instrument really does mean playing! At first, much time is spent working with the movements away from the instrument. Then, as students bring the same movements over to the instrument, they begin learning how to use them in a more proportionate way. As they progress, these movements become increasingly refined without any loss of freedom, gradually becoming more specialized to the task of playing.
Group vs Private Lessons
The Till Approach works in both group settings and one-on-one, and each offers different benefits. In the group setting, the interaction among the children themselves is beneficial: they are able to teach and observe each other, develop ensemble and leadership skills, and make music together right from the start. They become sensitive by seeing the movements in each other’s playing.
The private lesson setting, in contrast, allows for greater refinement of the movements based on the individual student’s needs, delivered specifically for their way of learning best.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time learning the Till Approach. I found the feedback helpful and it added new ideas to how I play my instrument! I particularly loved the use of imagery, where we imagined parts of my playing as real-life things (e.g. fish swimming in the water). My lessons inspired me to look deeper into how I play!”
“Studying the Till Approach has really helped my daughter expand her own understanding of her playing, encouraging her to ask good questions about tricky passages or technical challenges and to develop a tool-kit of answers, both musical and physical. My daughter always looks forward to her sessions, and comes out of them full of new ideas and enthusiasm!”
Lessons: Problems and Alternatives
Getting the Left Arm to the Instrument
The Collé Mystery