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FAQ

Find answers to commonly asked questions.

Common Questions about Membership

You can cancel your membership at any time, no strings attached and no pun intended!

You can request a refund for your most recent monthly charge. For example, if you join on September 1st, you are eligible for a full refund until September 30th.

If you joined on September 1st and cancel in December, you can receive a refund for December’s charge only. Please email to request a refund.

Yes there certainly is. We have two options.

  • One Year – no auto-renew
  • Lifetime – one payment for lifetime access

To learn more about these options, please email us at violinlab@gmail.com.

The primary mission of Violin Lab is to provide the most effective platform for violin students to learn to play the violin. Teaching and pedagogy come before business. The idea that someone might miss the opportunity to learn due to financial constraints goes against everything we believe in.

Email us at violinlab@gmail.com if:

  • You live in a country where $35 US dollars is too steep.
  • You are a retired member of the community living on a limited fixed income.
  • You live in a sanctioned country without access to join as a member.
  • You have other genuine financial restrictions.

The curriculum at Violin Lab is designed for students to progress independently toward strong playing skills. However, for personalized guidance, the Video Exchange feature offers direct feedback from an expert teacher.

Here’s how Video Exchanges work: You record and upload your video to YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Then, share the link on your private video exchange channel. Rest assured, your video is entirely private and won’t be shared with the community.

Once you submit your video, Beth will review it and create a video response with detailed feedback to help you improve all aspects of your playing. When the response is ready, you’ll receive an email notification to view it.

Many Violin Lab students find that the feedback is something they eagerly anticipate and enjoy revisiting as they continue to improve.

Read more below on the dedicated FAQ for Video Exchange.

Violin Lab offers full access to all courses through a single, affordable monthly tuition. Rather than separate purchases, think of Violin Lab as one comprehensive course, with each course listed on the Course Page serving as a chapter in the overall curriculum.

All repertoire and etude lessons come with downloadable files, so there is no need to buy any books. However, it is a wonderful supplement to learning to peruse other books. The more reading you do, the better sight reader you will become! Our “Supplemental Books” page in Resources will give you loads of suggestions.

Knowing how to read music is not a requirement for signing up on our site. We offer a comprehensive course specifically designed to teach you how to read music from scratch. This course will guide you from having no prior knowledge of music reading to becoming proficient, ensuring you have the skills needed to fully enjoy and benefit from your violin learning experience.

Though Violin Lab was initially created for adult learners, many young students are also thriving on the platform. We believe an “adult learner” is defined by someone who takes responsibility for their own learning and practice, regardless of age. Children who are not self-motivated and whose extracurricular activities are managed by their parents may not find Violin Lab suitable and would benefit more from a school or local program.

Many members of Violin Lab played for a while as a kid and want to get back into it. Your experience as a child, even if it was years or decades ago, will be helpful. But it will be important for you to revisit the Fundamentals course. The Violin Lab can pedagogy behind the Violin Lab curriculum is to embed the seeds of professional playing in the early stages of learning.

Once these important lessons whip you back into shape, you will easily be able to explore the Repertoire in the various levels to find your comfort level. Consider a Premium membership, even for a short time to get personal feedback on the best strategy for moving forward.

Common Questions About Beginning Violin

Absolutely not! Is 60 or 70 too old to learn golf, knit or paint? How about learning to use your computer or smart phone? Assuming no unknown physical conditions, there’s nothing that should keep an older adult from learning the violin. Our brains are designed to learn throughout our entire lives. However, as with most anything in life, you’ll go as far as your own passion, practice and dedication will take you.

Master pedagogue Shinichi Suzuki created his method specifically for young children, and since its introduction in the US in the mid- to late-1960s, it has been recognized as a leading approach for nurturing talent in young players. However, many aspects of the Suzuki method are less suited for adult learners. The method’s emphasis on repetitive practice of a limited repertoire works well for children, but adults generally seek fresh challenges, diverse musical styles, and varied contexts.

While all methods for teaching violin, whether Suzuki, ABRSM, or other traditional methods, all teach the same basic principles of violin technique, Violin Lab adapts to adult learners by bypassing the steps designed for children and presenting advanced concepts in manageable stages, enabling faster development of advanced technique.

How quickly you progress depends on how frequently and thoughtfully you practice. Based on how the harder working Violin Lab students have progressed in the past, you can expect to progress through the Fundamentals and Beginning Level 1 courses in 1 to 2 months. In a year’s time, with daily practice, you will finishing up the Beginning Levels and will be moving in to the Intermediate Levels.


That said, I hope you do not evaluate your experience by how quickly you can check off skills. Of course, the more you practice, the faster you will progress, but remember, the goal is to make sure your muscles learn good playing habits. This takes time. Be the tortoise, not the hare.

In the beginning weeks and months of learning, practicing for 15 minutes a day, two to three times, can help you make steady progress. Breaking up your practice sessions like this is important to avoid overtaxing your muscles, which will be adapting to new movements.

The key to success, however, is consistency—practicing daily without skipping days is your most valuable learning tool. After a few months, aim to gradually increase your practice time to about an hour a day. Again, breaking this time into segments is ideal for maintaining focus and building your skills effectively. Be sure and check out our Ultimate Guide to Practicing as a Beginning Violin Learner blogpost.

While some Violin Lab members take private lessons or receive feedback from Beth Blackerby as Premium members, most students rely on their own judgment to determine when to advance. It’s natural to have some doubts, especially if you’re a perfectionist who worries about moving too quickly. Fortunately, Violin Lab provides resources and rubrics to help you self-assess your progress, so you can feel confident in your decision to take the next step.

Though Violin Lab was initially created for adult learners, many young students are also thriving on the platform. We believe an “adult learner” is defined by someone who takes responsibility for their own learning and practice, regardless of age. Children who are not self-motivated and whose extracurricular activities are managed by their parents may not find Violin Lab suitable and would benefit more from a school or local program.

We encourage beginners to learn both playing and reading music simultaneously, but not at the exact same moment. It’s helpful to dedicate part of your practice to working through the Note Reading Course, so that you can then focus fully on learning the basics during another part of your practice. If you try to combine note reading with learning the fundamentals of violin technique too soon, it may lead to the development of poor technical habits.

The first decision to make is whether to rent or buy a violin. If you choose to buy, the options can feel overwhelming. To help you navigate these choices, we’ve written two blog articles that offer guidance on selecting the right instrument. Be sure to check them out!

Should I rent or Buy?

Violin Buying Guide

Common Questions for Intermediate Learners

It’s common to feel a slowdown in progress after a year or two of study. Initially, learning feels rapid because the brain is processing new concepts and forming neural pathways. However, as you advance, the concepts become familiar, and the focus shifts to muscle memory and motor skill refinement. This stage may feel like stagnation, but in reality, significant neural adaptation is occurring. Consistent and mindful practice and following the Violin Lab curriculum will ensure continuous improvement. Also, our Practice Course offers proven strategies to optimize practice time and accelerate progress.

Vibrato can definitely be challenging, but rest assured, you can learn it! While the technical concepts are easy to understand, it requires time and consistent practice for muscles to develop this very special type of coordination. The key is to work on it consistently and daily; gaps in practice often lead to setbacks. This is true: every Violin Lab student who has committed to learning vibrato has succeeded, though the timeline varies greatly from person to person. With patience and persistence, your muscles WILL learn, and WILL learn it too!

As an intermediate player, you’ll be introduced to technical concepts like shifting and advanced articulations, which require more practice time to master. Consistent practice is key to making progress, and since you’ll be working with more repertoire and technical studies, it’s important to dedicate enough time to cover everything. A minimum of one hour a day is recommended, but ideally, practicing for one and a half hours or more will help you see significant improvement.

While Violin Lab offers a comprehensive, step-by-step curriculum that can guide you to proficiency, having a knowledgeable teacher to provide feedback on things you might not notice yourself can be invaluable for reaching higher levels of playing. It really depends on your goals. Many Violin Lab members successfully self-guide, but those with higher aspirations often opt for the Premium level to receive feedback from a master teacher. If you have access to a qualified teacher in your area, combining their lessons with Violin Lab can significantly enhance your progress.

Common Questions for Advanced Learners

Tension is such a common issue for any learning violinist, and identifying the source or sources requires knowledge and experience. We have many lessons dedicated to addressing the causes of tension and actionable recommendations on improving your technique to eliminate tension while playing. To find these lessons, click the green “Lesson Tags” button next to the search bar in the upper right hand corner of every page.

Many adult learners feel their vibrato isn’t as good as they’d like. A common misconception is that speeding up the hand movement will result in a better vibrato. However, the quality of your vibrato often depends on factors that may not be immediately obvious, such as an insecure violin hold or a tendency to grip the neck tightly with the left hand. Our vibrato course includes a dedicated section on troubleshooting vibrato issues, offering valuable insights and techniques to help you improve your vibrato effectively.

When time is limited, the key to effective practice is focusing on quality over quantity. Whether you have 10 minutes or an hour, make sure your practice is mindful and intentional. Even a short, focused session can be more productive than a longer, unfocused one.

Start by setting a clear intention for your practice. For example, you might decide to focus on intonation or bow usage. By concentrating on specific techniques, you build awareness that will enhance your overall playing. This focused approach helps you make the most of your practice time, allowing you to progress more quickly.

But remember that at the heart of it all, your goal is expressive music-making. By focusing on conveying emotion and musicality in your playing, you naturally reinforce the technical skills you’re working on. As you strive to express music is “saying”, you’ll find that your technical abilities improve because they’re being put to use in a meaningful context. This integration of expression and technique not only makes your practice more enjoyable but also ensures that your technical skills develop in service of your musical goals.

Advanced players come to Violin Lab with a wide range of experience, and hence a wide range of individual strengths and weaknesses. Even if they’re working on advanced pieces, there may be aspects of their technique that weren’t fully developed from the start. Our recommendation is to review the technique videos from the Fundamental and Beginning Levels that basics skills align with the Violin Lab curriculum standards. For selecting repertoire, they can use the “Lesson Tags” to search for pieces that are most suitable for their experience level.

Common Questions about Video Exchange

Submitting your video on your private video exchange page is simple. First, upload your video to a content-sharing platform like YouTube, Vimeo, or Dropbox. Then, paste the URL into the editor window, along with any message you’d like to include. Click the send button, and you’re done!

The purpose of your first video submission is to give Beth a chance to meet you, understand your goals, and assess the areas of your technique to focus on.

If you’re just starting out, it’s important to show your initial work on basics, such as bow hold, bowing on open strings, and any beginner-level pieces you’re practicing.

More advanced or intermediate players can share small excerpts from their current repertoire and highlight any areas where they’re looking for guidance.

The length of your video will vary depending on the amount of repertoire you’re working on. It can be as short as you like but should not exceed 15 minutes.

Absolutely. Many Premium members also work with private teachers and seek additional feedback on their lesson pieces. The only requirement is that the music you’re working on is specifically written or arranged for violin.

Beth usually responds between 24-48 hours. She prioritizes Premium Plus members as they submit weekly videos. If for any reason it is longer than 48 hours you will receive an email notification.

No, your lessons with Beth are private and will NOT be shared with the community.

While some platforms make video exchange lessons available to all members, claiming the shared experience adds value, we believe this can actually discourage participation. Knowing that others may be watching your lesson can make you hesitant to submit a video, or feel pressured to only submit your best performance.

For the best learning experience, it’s important to feel comfortable showing everything, even the “warts and all.” This allows Beth to provide the most helpful guidance. When you’re not worried about being judged and can trust that your video exchanges are a collaborative effort, you’ll feel more relaxed and ready to enjoy the process. You’ll be free from the pressure of performing for an audience, focusing solely on your growth and progress.

What is included in your Violin Lab Membership?

One monthly price, access to ALL content

For an affordable $35per month, you will have instant access to all content on Violin Lab. This includes our carefully sequenced violin lesson curriculum, consisting of over 600 videos for all playing levels.


No need to buy books

All the repertoire on Violin Lab comes with downloadable files. There are PDF files for sheet music, audio files for practice, as well as worksheets and handouts.


Private video exchange

Premium and Premium Plus Members can upload a video for feedback from VL creator and master teacher, Beth Blackerby. These videos are private and are not shared with the community.


Play Along Accompaniments (“Interactive Music”)

Experience enhanced practice sessions with human-recorded accompaniments, presented on interactive players from Soundslice.com. This fantastic tool accelerates your musical learning and is seamlessly integrated into the lesson pages for repertoire training.

Members only Live classes

We hold regular live Zoom sessions covering a wide range of topics like: Dealing with Frustration, How to Listen more Critically to Violin Performances on YouTube, Troubleshooting Vibrato Trouble and more.

Community forum

Our Community page is a vibrant hub where members can connect, collaborate, and inspire each other. Share your experiences, seek guidance, and celebrate successes together through discussions, insights, and even video demonstrations.

TAKE YoUR sKILLS to the next level

Start your membership today!

All plans include

  • Access to all Video Lesson Content
  • Sheet Music and Audio File Downloads
  • Play-Along Practice Players

Basic Plan
$35/month

Renews monthly, cancel anytime

Access all Video Lesson Content, Sheet Music and Audio File Downloads, Interactive Rehearsal Players, and Live Webinars.

~OR~

Pay at a discounted rate
with our yearly or lifetime plan

$315/year (get 3 months free!)
Renews yearly, cancel anytime

HOLIDAY
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Lifetime
$945 $567 Holiday Sale (save 40%)

Select Basic

Premium Plan
$65/month

Renews monthly, cancel anytime

Everything included in Basic Plan PLUS with the Premium Plan you will get Video Exchange Lessons with Beth once a month.

~OR~

Pay at a discounted rate
with our yearly or lifetime plan

$585/year (get 3 months free!)
Renews yearly, cancel anytime

Lifetime
$3120

Select Premium