Julia's Violin Academy Reviews 202

supportive community & customer service system is very helpful.

Julia's academy has been great. I wanted to start learned the violin in my 30s and the academy has everything I need in a comfortable, supporting, and affordable program. Highly recommend it.

There are many, many videos about how to perform vibrato. And most of them lack one important and essential element. They tell you how...but they don't teach the whys and wherefores needed to understand the process. During the 'Unlock Your Vibrato' classes Julia explained not only the mechanics of vibrato, but also the understanding of why it is done the way it is and the reasons for learning it in precise steps. Julia's teaching style is unique for those reasons. Not only in the vibrato classes, but in every step of the violin learning process. So when she offered the class I enrolled immediately. Vibrato is not easy to learn (like all things violin) but it is doable. I would encourage everybody to enroll in Julia's vibrato class. It is fun and informative. And who knows...you may just come away with a beautiful vibrato that brings tears to the eyes of those in your audience.

To Julia, Victoria, Team JVA and everyone here: I simply wanted to say how grateful I am to have you with me in my Violin journey.

JVA and the students here have added much beyond violin skills alone in my life and enriched it beyond imagination. I have made friendships here that I cherish with all my heart. In Jan this year I had written something about violinists and this group. I am taking the liberty of sharing it here and to say kudos to all who have bravely taken up this instrument!

‘As I started to play the violin, I came across quite a few violinists, many of whom had started to learn the violin well into adulthood.

Adult violin begginers need special mention. They are a select breed.

To validate my point, among those I interacted with, initially I knew them just as fellow like minded folk and discussed violin related issues with them. Over the coming months (at times a year or so) later I came to know the violin group had a psychologist, a double PhD, a school teacher, an artist, a multitalented multitasking homemaker, a survivor who conquered many health set backs, a maxillofacial surgeon, a paediatrician, a wildlife photographer, among others. Even more impressive were those who picked up this masterpiece of an instrument in their seventies and eighties: they inspire me the most.

My suspicion turned true. The violin attracts people of mettle. 🙂

The instrument is a ten plus year project. It takes years to produce a decent sound. Even after you finally feel "maybe I am finally getting it", the floodgates of tricky bowing techniques open!

Why just the violin? Isn't it the same with any art? - you may ask.

The violin is more difficult. Because in most other art forms, we use our hands/arms in positions that are commonplace in routine life.
With the violin, one has to painstakingly learn to move the hands and fingers in angles and directions we never otherwise would use in our entire lives. That's why it's far trickier than playing the piano or guitar (two other instruments I have dabbled in a bit, hence can compare).

The violin has taught me patience. To accept the good and bad practice days alike. To not judge myself. To simply accept the sound: good, bad or ugly and work around what emerges from the bow at that moment. To work on progress in small steps. That consistency is far more crucial than marathon progress. That being one with the note and "feeling" it matters more than playing the right note at times. It taught me staying in rhythm matters more than speed. Most importantly, it taught me to simply Be.’

Brilliant the way you teach xx

My first violin lessons were as a kid and though I went back to it as an adult-- I never learned vibrato. I put vibrato on my bucket list and now at 82 I've Unlocked My Vibrato thanks to Julia's 6-week program. All Julia's teaching videos, and the personalized feedback of Julia and Victoria were helpful and encouraging. So were the videos of fellow students. I still have work to do, and will continue to learn from Julia's videos which include tunes to practice along with.

After struggling with youtube videos for over a year, I decided to purchase this course to help with my understanding of vibrato. Julia was able to explain so many things about posture, hand placement, and the need to develop and strengthen the necessary muscles in a way that no other teacher had done before. It helped me understand not only what to do, but why I was doing it as well.

My vibrato went from tight, cramped, and sounding horrible; to much more fluid, flexible, and bearable to listen to. I'm still not where I want to be, but now I understand that time and patience is a huge part of the journey, and as I have lifetime access to these practice courses I have no doubt that I will improve with time.

I would point out though that you only get from this course what you put into it. It can be easy to give in to a lack of quick progress and frustration with yourself, but if you take the course seriously and practice daily, you'll get there. Thank you, Julia!

Excellent course, Julia is very helpful and encouraging. I particularly liked the new exercise and piece every few days, and the structure of the course which kept me practising and progressing. Thank you for the course which I highly recommend

I really enjoyed this course and have enjoyed Julia's teaching methods through her wonderful videos! Once you are enrolled in one of Julia's courses you may go back and review and/or go through the course at your own pace, which I am looking forward to doing.

I learned my vibrato by watching you tube. It was passable. However when I joined Julia’s course my vibrato improved a lot. I was able to do a wider vibrato and improve the ringing tones. And I felt awesome doing this in Julia’s pieces that she arranged from simple to complex. It also helped that she posted accompaniments from sound slice because you can listen to yourself play the music in harmony with the accompaniment. It was very cool.

I recently participated in the UYV course and it was a well constructed course gradually walking you through the steps and progressing you toward mastering the vibrato technique. For some, vibrato comes more easily than for others. I am one of the ones where the technique does not come so naturally, so I have to work hard at it. Julia's course was excellent for me, explaining the movements, providing finger and wrist exercises and simple melodies to help you master the technique. Now I incorporate vibrato into my practices and into the pieces I am working on and there is so much more depth to the sound. This course is most definitely a must in propelling you forward to a satisfying vibrato. Also, I am enrolled in Julia's Violin Academy and I highly recommend this as well. My playing has progressed dramatically since joining. Don't hesitate.

As a 80 year old beginning violinist, I found the format of "Unlocking Your Vibrato" quite thorough. The pace was slow enough, and the concept simple enough that I had no trouble learning the steps to success.
If I can do it at 80, and afflicted with Arthritis, then anyone with determination to learn can do it.

My Vibrato is Improving!
I have always struggled with vibrato. I am a (very) adult learner, and I was ready to resign myself to playing without this beautiful skill.
However, since I was already acquainted with Julia's clear teaching style, I enrolled in "UYV." As always, the lessons began slowly at the most basic level. I found I was able to perform the vibrato motions at that level.
The lessons proceeded in small increments of difficulty. I continued to practice. To my delight and surprise, I made progress!! This is very exciting for me, and I know Julia is very happy for me too!
I love that Julia is as excited to teach the beginning student as she is to teach the advanced student. I never feel embarrassed to perform for the group, no matter how inept I am. I have learned that others are struggling too.
I know that Julia is happy to help me in any way that she can. She and her staff are always available via e-mail or FB to help with a technical problem or to answer questions.
Julia's enthusiasm is contagious, and always motivates me to practice vibrato every time I watch a lesson. I urge everyone to take advantage of this excellent instruction!

Recently I have joined Unlock Your Vibrato class. Julia has given us all her expertises and learning skills to us. It gave me confidence in playing vibrato and need to keep practicing! 2022, my new year's resolutions for vibrato come true. Gave us access to keep learning and practicing Unlock Your Vibrato online. That's great and thank to Julia, Victoria and JVA Team.

Julia's Violin Academy is the place where aspiring violinists can learn in an atmosphere of support and serious study.

I took the Vibrato violin course, but I will admit that I didn't do well. It's because I didn't have the time. But the beauty of it is that you are always able to access the program and learn on your own time.

Julia puts so much thought and care into her lessons. I don't think there's anything better on the Internet. It's been a wonderful experience for me, despite not achieving my goals. I saw so many others who did. If you have any doubts, jump in. But just know that watching videos cannot replace actual practice, something I did not do.

I will come back again and again to take further classes with Julia's Violin Academy. For sure!!!

Recently completed a 6 weeks Vibrato Course with the Academy. The course is enjoyable and thorough enough for anyone interested in learning Vibrato. I would like to recommend a more advance follow-up Vibrato course for those who want to play the Vibrato competently.

Julia and her team are excellent!
I have always wanted to play the violin but haven’t wanted the pressure and expense of an in person teacher. So I decided to teach myself (about 3 years ago now) from mainly YouTube videos. I wish I had found Julia sooner!
I enrolled on the Unlock your Vibrato course after a year of trying to teach myself the vibrato..fairly unsuccessfully! Julia’s videos highlighted where I had been going wrong and meant I was able to make more progress in the 6 weeks than I had made in a year! I still have work to do but I am really happy with the progress I have made.
Julia and her team let you send a video for feedback and are kind and encouraging with their feedback. I will be signing up to the full academy after my positive experience (as soon as I have managed to save my pennies!)

The feedback process is really detailed and helpful to every, specially adult beginners like me.
Moreover, being able to watch other students feedback is crucial to learn not only from my mistake but also from others'.
Lastly, the teachers' methods are diversed, which is really good to be able to follow the instructions felxibally and to choose the easiest or the more suitable method for you.

What I love about Julia's Violin Academy:
* the extremely high quality and detail of the video explanations
* how incredibly friendly and encouraging the entire team is!
* the extremely high quality content: all the different levels, the practice plans, the sheet music...
* how we have access to all the content from the beginning yet there is a guided progression to guide us through the levels
* the play-along videos for songs and exercises, at different speeds
* the ability to send in FOUR videos for feedback every month, to which you receive detailed and immediately actionable feedback
* the weekly challenges for beginners and intermediate levels (allowing you to quickly practice different skills)

I really want to give a huge shout-out to the team, who are incredible people: from Julia who does the instructional videos, to Victoria who gives feedback on your videos, to Angelina who provides support and leads practice groups, to the others! I really haven't found anything like your Academy for any other topic.

There are also live classes and live practice groups, which I haven't had time to try because there is so much to focus on :) And there is an amazing Facebook community where people post fun as well as serious topics and help and encourage one another.

Also, there is sheet music in many different styles and tailored towards different levels - Julia arranges the pieces herself, so that even a beginner can play beautiful, well-known pieces.

If you are learning the violin, you should absolutely join! There are so many options that no matter your learning style, you will get so much out of it.

Julia is an amazing, supportive and encouraging instructor. Her smile and positive attitude are the BEST!