Viola Lessons in San Marin, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Organ Ukulele Electric Violin Music Keyboard Electric Guitar

Each student learns at their own pace and it's important to understand that not everybody learns the same. Setting both short and long term goals with the student helps me understand what they want out of lessons. This makes it easier for me to engage with them and bring it back to something relevant to them at the end of the day. For example, no child understands advanced rhythm unless you disguise it in familiar terms e.g. using the phrase "run po-ny run" to describe two eighth notes sandwiched in between to quarter notes. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Viola Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I love seeing my students grow in their knowledge and appreciation of music! Excellence is rewarding, and I teach the process to get there from whatever level we begin. I use positive reinforcement and notice what the student is doing right. Then, I give critique and an action plan to improve performance. It feels good for the student and teacher when they learn the methods to break down what is currently difficult into smaller pieces so that it is both manageable and possible to go further than they thought. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin Music

I've developed my own methodology, combining the means offered by the finest violin schools and all the alternative, related disciplines such as Alexander Technique, Yoga, and Meditation working all together towards the importance of knowledge of our body, awareness of the self, need for enjoyment and educational relationship centered on student needs. I'm looking to transmit all my knowledge as I'm confident it would optimize and benefit your performance, health, wellbeing and teaching skills by integrating body, mind, emotions and instrument into one-a balanced and fulfilled artist. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin Fiddle

For my beginning students, I start out with a mixture of my own exercises, as well as basic songs using open strings, string crossings and rhythms, before moving to songs with basic fingerwork on one string (scale plus rhythm based). I usually supplement this beginning process with Essential Elements, before intruducing the Suzuki Method Book 1, Doflein Method Book 1, and rhythmic exercises from the Kodaly method. For my intermediate students, I use a mixture of Galamian bowing technique, emphasis on etudes and position work, Suzuki method, Barbara Barber scales and rep. books, and level-appropriate classical literature, combined with solo repetoire of the student's interest/choosing. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

My teaching experiences date back to my high school days where I was a teacher assistant to my school's orchestra program. I have had the opportunity to work with students of all skill levels from basic beginners to more intermediate students auditioning for youth orchestras. I have also been teaching privately on and off according to my school schedule. Through my experiences and love for teaching, I am certain that I can provide each student with their own unique and motivating violin experience. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Mandolin Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass

Normally with very young students I start with the parallel study of written music, basic technique and music learned by imitation. It is a question of repeating short fragments of melody and then composing the whole piece piece by piece. This practice is widely used in many musical traditions and leads the student to develop the ear and the memory, that is the main elements of the musical practice. This practice can be applied to all levels from the most basic to the most advanced. Read More

Instruments: Viola

Music has been an integral part of my life from a young age. Although I have been studying the viola seriously for some years, I am now picking up college credits in order to get a music degree. Memorably, I just completed a semester at San Francisco State University, working with a coach from the Alexander Quartet alongside music majors at the school. I feel lucky to have excellent teachers, and want to share that knowledge with people who are learning viola for the first time, or at the intermediate level. Read More