What are my lessons like?

Thank you so much for taking a look at my site! I am a full-time violin and viola teacher, and I really enjoy my occupation. I love working with students of almost all ages (I don’t do so well with kids 5 and under). Are you an adult who has never picked up an instrument but wants to try it now? Don’t be afraid to give it a go! I find adults usually learn faster than kids, and many of my adult students have really enjoyed picking up the violin later in life. I have had lots of advanced high-school students who enjoy learning more difficult classical repertoire; I also have had lots of elementary- and middle-school students who play in the orchestra at school and get an extra boost from private lessons.

Violin is very difficult to learn, especially without a private teacher. Every student that learns violin or viola at school and later comes to me for lessons has several technical issues that need to be corrected to enable them to play to their full potential. Private lessons are crucial to the development of strong and beautiful playing. I know if I hadn’t had them myself, I would have missed tons of important tips that ultimately shaped me into the violinist I am today.

What I stress above all else in my lessons is the enjoyment of playing music. I have found that if playing an instrument is not enjoyable, the student will not want to continue practicing and learning. Because of this, I work with my students to find out what genres of music they enjoy the most (classical, pop, soundtrack, etc.). Sometimes they enjoy a combination, and that works too. Sometimes a student needs help in discovering what kind of music they enjoy playing on their instrument, and I work with them to find that out. Of course, ease in playing an instrument also helps with the enjoyment aspect, so I strive to help my students feel confident and comfortable in their playing.

Another aspect of lessons that I find to be very important is connecting with my students. It’s also my favorite part of being a teacher! It has been so rewarding to teach students for several years and really get to know them on a personal level. In a few cases, I’ve had the privilege of watching my students grow up! It’s so rewarding to see a student grow from the age of 12 to 19 and see how much they change and mature. I really feel blessed to be a part of their lives.

I can be flexible about the seriousness of lessons. If you want a strict lesson with clear practicing requirements, I’ve got you covered. If you’re a parent who just wants your child to have a fun lesson each week, de-stress, and also improve at their instrument, I can do that, too. Please be clear with me about what you would like from the lessons so I can best meet your preferences!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out! Thanks again for visiting!