Meet Juliana Chung – Maxx Music violin teacher
Juliana is a relatively new member of our Maxx Music family, but she has proved to be a great addition already! She has been playing violin for 13 years and has achieved AMEB Grade 8. She has a wealth of performance experience, gained whilst at school, playing violin in the school’s Chamber Orchestra, Senior Strings Ensemble and the Symphony Orchestra. Now she performs as both a solo artist and accompanist for private hosted events.
Find out more about Juliana and what makes her tick in our short interview.
Why did you decide to teach music?
I’ve always enjoyed playing music, learning more about how to best handle my instrument, and the unique experiences that performing both by myself and with others has brought me. Beginning to teach my younger siblings about music taught me about where my passions lie: in wanting to share the joy that music has brought me with everyone.
How did you get into music?
At age 5, I was eased into it by my parents with the hope of me turning into somewhat of a prodigy. My love for music actually started a little later, when I had developed consciousness and received my first iPad. I discovered TwoSetViolin on YouTube, whilst also simultaneously discovering that music could actually be fun, and not just about being marked on how I held my tiny violin by some stranger every year– with everything snowballing from there on.
What are your top tips for getting the most out of practicing?
The most important thing is thinking of practicing as playing, rather than being a perfectionist. Beating yourself up for every mistake you play really can get you down and can kickstart that love-hate relationship many have with their instrument. But remember, songs aren’t just played– they’re also enjoyed! And that also applies to you. It’s very similar to homework– thinking of it as “studying” rather than “learning new things” really makes the whole act of it sound like a chore. Like, how “playing my favourite song” for an hour sounds much better than “I have to practice this exam song for an hour”. It’s all in the mindset.
How do your personal values and beliefs influence your music?
My personal values all draw back to the importance of my family, especially how they’ve helped me find my joys and talents in life. Expressing this has naturally shown itself through my taste in pieces and repertoire, always being drawn into romantic pieces, no matter how sad or happy they are. Their long, drawn-out notes, and melodic passages allow me to express emotion, show off a little (haha), and really feel the music I’m playing. I’m a simple (and very emotionally mushy) person when it comes to playing my violin. If I don’t get stuck into a piece, I don’t want it!
Feeling inspired to learn violin? Check out our violin lesson page.
Call us on 0298940000 or contact us via the form to book your FREE trial lesson.
