Viola Lessons in Howard Beach, NY

Instruments: Viola

I am a 25 year old graduate of Manhattan School of Music, studying with Karen Ritscher. I attended the last two years of high school at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, where I studied with David Holland, and moved on to do my undergraduate degree at Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of Carol Rodland. I recently won a job with the Glens Falls Symphony in upstate NY and have performed as principal/first stand of various orchestras. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Cello Viola

For violin and viola students, I use All For Strings for beginners, and for more advanced students, use various books, including the Suzuki book. Fun and learning, are the key! And, if a student wants some pointers on how to write a song, I am quite experienced in that, having written several Off Broadway kid's shows, including my popular, "The Everyday Life Of Kids", which played throughout the Westchester NY school system. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Piano Voice

Growing up with both Suzuki books and Hal Leonard Essential Elements books, those are what I prefer to use. Essential Elements, especially for string players, offers an incredible foundation for beginners. One thing I really love about those books is the use of scales from the start. As a college musician, you quickly learn the importance of scales. I place a high priority on scale practice as it is the foundation of all we play. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin

My approach to teaching is to share my love for music with my students. I will allow students to go at their own pace, and set realistic goals and expectations. I like to focus on intonation heavily, as anything other than excellent intonation is not good playing, in the words of a former instructor. I also encourage creative expression in my students, and will often ask them to try different methods of playing a single phrase in order to increase the depth of their musicality. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Cello Viola Electric Violin Fiddle

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in, and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun, no matter their ability level. For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in, and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun, no matter their ability level. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

I first discovered my love of teaching in college, more than 10 years ago. Since then, I have made it my mission to make learning informative, engaging, and fun. It is important to encourage regular and consistent practice time during the week in between lessons so we can use our lesson time most productively and make your learning experience more enjoyable. My students are encouraged to participate in recitals and competitions to give them a goal to work towards, help keep them motivated, and give them a way to measure their progress and accomplishments.  Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Drums Bass Guitar

I have been a student of the art since I was 11 years old. I studied at Five Towns College and have since performed with all manner of ensembles including Musical Theatre, Rock and Pop, Metal, Blues, and Opera. As well as teaching and performing, I am also an experienced guitar technician and repair professional. Music, and my commitment to my students has been my life for as long as memory serves. Read More