Experiences with ViolinCircus

Prof. Veronika Hagen Di-Ronza, violist in the Hagen Quartet and professor for viola at the University Mozarteum Salzburg

I can only recommend this wonderfully successful “card game”, and not only for children. Even adults can benefit from it, if only to revive and inspire the inner child.

Erich Scheungraber, musician, music educator, owner of Amarillis Publishing

In three different situations I had the opportunity to gain experience with the violin circus last week.
A. 8 – year – old (3 years of lessons) tasted all the “addictive potential” of the game. She could not draw enough cards. The lesson was much too short. The perfect appearance of the cards – they look just like the other games the kids are used to – makes the kids submerge in their positively connotated game world. At the same time: What is written has to be done otherwise you are a spoilsport. (I used to use dice in my lessons.(…)) I’ve had some mixed experiences with it, and some have come to love that game, on the other hand repeating only until the number is full is not worth anything.)
B: Violist 14 years. She plays in tune but very quiet. Safety and comfort zone lover. Surprisingly, she smiled about the tasks on the cards. Especially amazing: in “Play with an ugly sound” I showed her by pressing on her hand while bowing, how much pressure a pressed sound needs. For the first time in years, she played a nice, full forte in her own first attempt. I’m looking forward to the next lesson.
C: Self-experiment: 3 lines Brahms concerto with all cards. Astonishing result: After 30 years of teaching there is still, or increasingly ? the discrepancy between knowing what helps and using one’s knowledge. Impatience? The cards are an authority. I can outsource the “command authority”. At the same time, I decide for myself how the task will be carried out exactly. What seems to be an ugly sound for younger children can be a well-defined undertone for a grown-up. Unlike the aforementioned dice, the cards have something to do with the music and before I play the game, I make the decision for myself, what exactly I use from the suggestion on the cards.

Patricia, medical doctor

I have been playing the violin since elementary school age. Kundri teaches me and advises my string quartet. I work as a doctor and have a doctorate in the field of neuroscience. I dealt with learning processes in the hippocampus. In the exercises with Kundri’s musical cards, the concentration of the violin is directed to a simultaneous motor exercise. Or, for example, the use of different dynamics is required. Due to the frequent, varied repetition, the learned passages are easily stored in the long-term memory. And the most important thing, the practice method is a lot of fun. This alone facilitates the learning process and creates motivating small successes.

Mario, 32 years old

At thirty, I decided to learn how to play the violin. In Kundri I found a patient and always cheerful teacher. But how do I manage to practice motivated after a working day with nine to ten hours, let alone follow the lessons attentively?
Kundri had the idea of using the cards, which seemed more suitable for children, than for me. They are divided into different categories and each card has its own task, which is illustrated by a picture drawn by Kundri herself.
And indeed: Due to the lovingly and partly funny designed cards it is easier for me to follow the instructions. By the way, the funny pictures also make for a good mood, not only in the classroom.
I can only recommend the cards!

Jonathan, 7 years old

My name is Jonathan, I’m 7 years old and have been taking violin lessons with Kundri Schäfer for a few months now. From the beginning Kundri played the violin circus game with me. I like it a lot because there are so many different things on the violin: plucking, lying on the floor with the violin, playing very fast, playing very slowly, with eyes closed, with a crooked bow … I think that’s good, because then I can always choose something and not always just play what someone tells me. I can also think up my own variations, I like to do that. I like to play with sordino.

Tabea, 5 years old

I play violin since I turned 4. I find Kundris card game funny because a clown and a dwarf are on it. The pictures are very pretty. I like to practice with it.

Lili, 8 years old

I’m playing violin for 3 years now. Even when I practice more difficult pieces, I can work great with the card game. It’s funny and you learn something. I really like the character cards.

Press

The game ViolinZirkus was awarded a prize for excellency by the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg on the 20. June 2017.