The benefits of violin playing on development through childhood are invaluable and far wider-reaching than may be expected at first glance. Violin students gain significant advantages in the following areas, to name but a few:

Intellectual capacity – The results of countless scientific studies testify to the remarkable benefits that learning an instrument at an early age has on brain development. Recently research has shown that these widespread cognitive advantages are particularly evident in students of the violin and other string instruments. It is clear that the earlier a child starts with the learning of an instrument, the more keenly these wider developmental benefits are felt. However the advantages of starting to learn at later ages are still proven and significant. Violin learning has a highly positive affect on the brains plasticity and capacity for memory, leading to an increased potential for learning across academic disciplines, higher speeds of spatial processing and even promoting a higher overall IQ. Particularly strong links are found between musical study and the area of the brain that coordinates language, resulting in heightened verbal reasoning, speech development and language processing.

Coordination skills – It is impossible to deny that violin playing is a highly complicated and challenging activity. However it is this difficulty that makes it especially valuable in developing a students wider coordination skills. Dexterity and precision is required to coordinate simultaneously complex and different movements in the arms and hands whilst controlling the position of the entire body. As a result violin students gain enhanced capacity for spatial coordination, multi-tasking and physical awareness,- skills with wide-reaching effects throughout life.

Creativity and emotional understanding – Violin students are encouraged to treat the sound of their instrument as an extension of their own voice. Therefore to make music on the instrument they engage their own imagination to shape and inspire the sound quality and dynamics of their output. To interpret the repertoire they study, students learn to harness their own emotions to bring sensitivity and meaning to their playing. This fosters empathy and emotional security.

Self analysis – The ambition of every music teacher should be to guide the pupil not only towards security and mastery of their instrument, but more importantly to teach them how to become their own teachers. Positive self analysis and critique is essential to successful practice of the violin and encouraged from the outset of learning. This ability to reflect and self-evaluate is of utmost importance throughout life and strengthened hugely by the learning process on the violin.

Self-confidence – Students will be encouraged to share the gift of their music-making in positive performance scenarios. By learning to perform on the violin, students are guided to unlock their courage and self-belief. Attainment on their instrument reinforces this confidence and provides a tangible point of pride and self-worth that can be very influential to wider development.

Social opportunities – Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of all of violin playing are the many possibilities it provides to perform. As a violinist, students will be able to take part in wonderful social and educational opportunities as part of large orchestras or smaller chamber music groups such as string quartets and piano trios. The experience of making music in these formats can be electrifying and form a significant and highly enjoyable and valuable part of life as students progress on their instrument. Additionally, as the 'queen' of musical instruments, the violin is constantly in demand as a solo instrument and as such the student can work towards a rich wealth of solo repertoire and reasonably expect to play this exciting repertoire in concerts as they advance on their instrument. Opportunities of leadership will also arise with success on the instrument as the violin can take a leading role in two sections of a symphony orchestra and is regularly called upon to lead rehearsals in smaller chamber music groups. Whilst these experiences alone are very gratifying, the leadership responsibilities that are offered to violinists can prove highly significant in promote success in all walks of life and professions.

Musical understanding – Students are taught to understand and appreciate all aspects of the music they play, not only focusing on the technical requirements but also learning the history of the composition, stylistic details and the place of their repertoire in musical development. This musical understanding is a real skill in itself, which unlocks a wealth of possibilities to listen to music with an informed mind and ears, and brings an entire sphere of the arts into reach to be enjoyed to its fullest throughout life.