Purchasing a new instrument

One of the services I also provide for my students is helping them find an instrument that suits their budget and their needs.

My student, Rebecca, was unable to make a few lessons due to unforeseen work and study commitments. So we had a chat about it and agreed to trade those lessons in for assistance with helping her purchase a new instrument.

She had been a little intimidated by the process of finding a new cello and I provided her with my expertise in seeking out a cello with whose voice and fit she loved.

We visited Heaney Violins in Mountain View where she traded in the one she had been renting from them and walked out with this little number: an Ivan Dunov with a CodaBow Diamond SX carbon fiber bow.

Here’s a little note she posted on Facebook (and reproduced here with permission):

I am pleased to announce a new addition to my family. Her name is Clara.

She is an Ivan Dunov from Romania (via Mountain View) and sounds best with a CodaBow Diamond SX carbon fiber bow.

I had quite a time finding a suitable case for her more Montagnana-esque dimensions, but eventually found the right one. I love the mint green!

As soon as I held her and heard her voice, I knew she was the one for me. She’s a wonderful fit in our menagerie of instruments and I feel we are going to be very happy together. 

Many thanks to Belinda for her patience and expertise in helping me find her.

Rebecca

I am so glad that you’re happy with your purchase, Rebecca, and it was lovely to be part of such a happy experience! This is a beautiful instrument that you will have for a long time and will be a perfect one for you to grow into.

It has already helped her progress to the next level in her learning and offers her an opportunity to do far more than her previous instrument.

Belinda xx

PS: If you need assistance with purchasing a new instrument, please let me know and we can work together to help you find the right one for you.

It’s the little things…

It’s the little things that make my life as a music teacher so enriching. Take this card, for example.

One of my very young students wrote me a thank you note for teaching her this year. How could it not warm your heart, looking at how studied and hard she tried to make it perfect! Lovely!

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Her parents wrote me a note on the other side. I asked them if it would be alright to share their kind words, and they agreed.

Dear Belinda, 

I cannot thank you enough for being the perfect music teacher for our very distractible child. Your energy has allowed her to blossom musically just at the exact rate she needed in order for her to love what she has learned. 

Thank you, thank you!

Sincerely, 

Pari and Javier

A very big hug and thank you right back to Heleyna, Pari and Javier! It’s been a pleasure and I look forward to continuing to see Heleyna grow as a musician.

Belinda xx