Olivia M
5.0
(39)
Instruments: Violin, Viola
Styles: Classical, Pop
Olivia M
5.0
(39)
Instruments: Violin, Viola
Styles:
Classical, Pop
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 13-80
2016 - Hartt Chamber Competition
2018 /19- Hartt School Honors Chamber Ensemble
2018/ 19- Hartt School 20/20 Scholarship
2019-2021 - University of Ottawa Merit Scholarship and Assistantship
2021 - Finalist for NACO Bursary Competition
Music has been such a huge part of my life. I began the violin when I was 4 years old and have loved it ever since. One of the aspects I love the most about music is the passion that comes with it and being able to share it with the people around me. This is not only why I love to perform but also why I love being a teacher. We are extremely lucky to have the talent and opportunity to play such beautiful music. This is something I like to show and teach my students. I plan on getting my Doctorate of Music next Fall with the hopes of being a university teacher. Being able to teach students who are passionate about learning, makes me a better teacher and allows me to love more what I do everyday.
My mother, who is also a violinist, was able to provide me with my first student at 16 years old. I was a very advanced player at 16 but wasn’t sure if I would be good at communicating these skills well. Somehow, I fell right into place as a teacher, and loved it. I was able to communicate what I wanted to say and found it was something I was very passionate about it. From there, I continued to teach privately in my home. I did my undergraduate degree in my home state so throughout college was able to continue teaching. For the past 4 years, I have spent 1 week in the summers doing intense coaching sessions with a string quartet in Canada . I love chamber music and hope to continue doing this in the future as well. I have continued teaching students from all over the country (via zoom and in person) throughout my education as a violinist. I am going to pursue my Doctorate of Musical Arts in Violin Performance in the Fall of 2021 and would love to continue teaching and to someday make this my career.
I would like to begin by saying that I do not think there is any right method to learn by. I was brought up with the Suzuki method. Therefore, I do use that as my main method to teach. However, since the start of my experience as a teacher, I have learned new methods of teaching. As a result, I am very open to different teaching methods. My preferred method is Suzuki. I also want to know that students are enjoying playing and practicing their instrument. To achieve this, I generally provide duets for students to play with me as well as another piece of music outside of the method we are using.
As you have read in my other descriptions, I am extremely passionate about teaching and playing violin. I find myself very lucky to be a part of something in which I can share this with the people around me (my students especially). I love students that take the time to practice and to see the importance in music. As I have said previously, I like to collaborate with my students. Therefore, I will usually add duets to their repertoire as to show them a different aspect of playing violin. I also encourage students to find pieces they want to play, or maybe a tune (ex:Christmas music during the holidays) that they really want to work on. I just want my students to love what they are doing, appreciate the music, and most importantly have fun with it since that is the root of the passion!
Grace Henderson
Olivia is a such wonderful and talented teacher. I have gone to her for years now and I have learned so much. She is very knowledgeable on different ways to teach a piece or exercise and how to help a student out. Olivia makes the violin lessons both fun and educational. She always wants the best for her students and will make sure to help them get there. She is also a genuinely kind person.
Julien Audet-Welke
Olivia is a great violin teacher. She makes lessons fun and educational and really helps you progress your technique and abilities as a violinist. She has also been very proficient in adapting to new methods of teaching during the pandemic allowing students like me to continue practicing our instrument. I highly recommend getting lessons from Olivia!
Dr. Jacqueline McClaran
5 out of 5. Olivia M. is a GREAT role model, a gentle AND strict string master, capable of finding what even an amateur can do, and capable of identifying both interpretive stylistic and technical skiills that can and should be pursued within each person's and each quartet's possible horizons. she can sustain enthusiasm and perseverance of those she is coaching or teaching. Confidence builder. well loved. Dr. Jacqueline McClaran, McGill Faculty of Medicine
Lylliane Le Quellec
Olivia has been coaching my string quartet for the past 4 years, at our annual week long chamber music camp. She is wonderful. She knows how to get the best out of the group. She is demanding, yet encouraging and respectful. She helps with individual technical issues, as well as the group’s overall interpretation and musicality. We always leave the camp enchanted, feeling that we progressed so much under her coaching!
Camila Apon Lake
We love Olivia! She has so much patience and understanding for the technical difficulties of learning violin over Zoom! Thank you
Tamisha Baptiste
Great teacher, love her patience and her kindness. 100% recommend!
Tiffaney Fomby
I'm an adult student with previous experience playing the violin looking to fine tune my skills and Olivia makes that easy. Her teaching style is easy to follow and I am just now learning basic skills that I missed out on during childhood. She clearly has the skills and experience to properly teach others. I am very pleased with my lessons and development so far and look forward to seeing how far I can go. Highly recommend!
Alex Co
Olivia is a fabulous teacher! She is patient, kind, and so knowledgeable. My son is having so much fun with her and learning a lot. We especially appreciate her summary of class emails and what he can work on before the next lesson.
PALOMA SHORROSSH
She is excellent! I receive a follow up email from her after every lesson to keep me updated on the progress. My daughter loves the lessons.
Anand Mahadevan
Very exciting to learn from Olivia. Meticulous and thorough, and extremely patient. It’s always tough to teach the basics, and that too over Zoom. Requires a lot of patience and perseverance. I have had a wonderful experience learning, and the email follow ups is very useful for recaps.
S ILANGO
Excellent teacher. My son is making good progress learning with Olivia. Patient and constructive - the follow-up notes from the class a very helpful!
Archana
I was looking for a music teacher to enhance my son's viola skills. I am glad I found Olivia as his teacher. She is very patient, friendly, and knowledgeable. My son has been taking lessons with her for the past 2 months and I already see a lot of improvement in him. She tailors every secession to his interest and also encourages him to push his abilities. She gives follow-up notes after every class and that is very helpful. I highly recommend Olivia to anyone who wishes to learn viola regardless of age and skill level.
Jack
Olivia is intuitive, patient and very skilled. It's only been a month, but I see a lot of improvement in my son's violin skills. She makes sure each lesson is interesting, just the right level of challenging, and thoroughly taught. She makes sure he knows how to practice at home during the lesson, but also sends notes to remind him what they went over in the lesson. She is willing to take the time to tailor the lesson and songs to him especially. I highly recommend Olivia to anyone looking for a violin teacher.
Christine Allanach
Our daughter (12) has been studying with Olivia via online for about two months now. We are all very impressed how she has flourished under her tutelage. She has come such a long way already and we appreciate the focus on technique and followup notes.
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