I'm looking for a school in London that runs violin lessons. Hopefully from there I will be able meet other fellow students to practice together and exchange experience.
I started my first lesson in April 2004 and taking Grade 1 exam this December.
All suggestions appreciated.
Wayne

I don't think there really are violin schools in London, its more you have a teacher, and he or she has several other pupils, and you go to thier house or they come to yours, I can't remember where you can look them up though, someone else might be able to hel you with that.

Wayne - try musicteachers.co.uk

and do a search on London plus violin.

You might think of looking for an individual teacher who also runs workshops where students can play together, or even one who runs an amateur orchestra.

(Violinia can you help ?- you must know some colleagues in London ??)

Maggie

QUOTE (Wayne @ Nov 3 2004, 12:38 PM)

I'm looking for a school in London that runs violin lessons. Hopefully from there I will be able meet other fellow students to practice together and exchange experience.

East London Late Starters' Orchestra (ELLSO), which is for strings only, could be just the sort of thing you are looking for. I don't know if they have a lower age limit but I'm pretty sure they don't have an upper one. They offer tuition (including loan of instruments if necessary) and the opportunity to play in an orchestra.

http://www.ellso.easynet.co.uk/

Info from Web site:
The Saturday morning orchestra session is the core of all ELLSO's activities. Sessions run from 9:15am to 1:15pm every Saturday morning during school term time (see the Calendar for the dates of each term).

We arrive at the PDC by 9.00am (see How to Find Us for a map and parking details) and are ready to start playing at 9.15.

Saturday morning orchestra sessions take place in the Professional Development Centre, English Street (just off the Mile End Road/Bow Road).

The nearest tube station is Mile End, just a few minutes walk away from the PDC.

There is plenty of parking available at the PDC.

If you are interested in joining ELLSO, contact our membership secretary Ray Muggeridge (email raymond@muggeridge.plus.com or phone him on 020 7226 8319) for more information.

[This next bit is obviously out of date. I'm just about to email Ray Muggeridge in the hope of getting it updated.]
If you are a complete beginner (ie if you've never picked up a stringed instrument before), you will not be able to join ELLSO until September 04, but please contact Ray and let him know that you are interested in joining us. If you are not a complete beginner, please contact Ray and he will let you know if any spaces are available. Thank you so much for contacting us.

Good luck!

QUOTE

East London Late Starters' Orchestra (ELLSO), which is for strings only, could be just the sort of thing you are looking for.

Oh good ! I remembered you, Dacapo, as I was writing a reply earlier, and for some reason I thought you were outside London.

Sorry - I obviously got that wrong, and should have given you a mention !

Maggie

QUOTE (maggiemay @ Nov 8 2004, 08:55 AM)

QUOTE East London Late Starters' Orchestra (ELLSO), which is for strings only, could be just the sort of thing you are looking for. Oh good ! I remembered you, Dacapo, as I was writing a reply earlier, and for some reason I thought you were outside London. Sorry - I obviously got that wrong, and should have given you a mention !

No, you didn't get it wrong. I'm in Berkshire, but I've known about ELLSO for about 10 years and have been on one of their excellent summer courses. I'm a member of COMA (Contemporary Music Making for Amateurs, which also has a Web site), which was originally described as "an initiative of the East London Late Starters' Orchestra". Both were started by the same man, Chris Shurety.

Thank you all for your replies. I will check them out one by one after my exam in December.

Wayne

QUOTE (Wayne @ Nov 11 2004, 04:52 PM)

Thank you all for your replies. I will check them out one by one after my exam in December. Wayne

If you can find the time I would recommend checking them out as soon as possible as the best teachers and classes can easily have waiting lists. The sooner you get on the list the better.