Violin Lessons in Ballard, WA

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin Fiddle

I started violin lessons at age 7, after 2 years of begging my mom! I can still remember that blustery Saturday morning in November when I had my first lesson, and since then, I have learned so much. I joined the studio orchestra after just a year of lessons, then began teacher training and luthier (violin repair) classes in high school. I took a break from teaching while getting my bachelor's degree, but continued while I got my master's. Read More

Instruments: Violin

I also work as a vocal performer and have sung classically in many choral ensembles and churches. I worked at the University of South Carolina String Project and have taught elementary and middle school orchestra. My greatest passion remains sharing my love of violin with private students who are excited to learn - many of my students have made all state orchestra, gained acceptance into youth orchestras, and won music scholarships for college. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

I am not Suzuki certified but I utilize the early Suzuki violin books for repertoire; that being said, I always take the requests of students into account meaning it is important to me that students are learning music they are excited about learning. For beginners who are new to music as a whole, I employ volumes 1 and 2 of "I Can Read Music" to get students learning both pitch and rhythm in easy, digestible, sections. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin

In addition to lesson and scale books I like to heavily supplement technical material, finger strengthening exercises, repertoire appropriate to playing level, and theory. I also send students home with listening homework from time to time, which includes listening to works from famous composers on youtube and then having a brief conversation about those pieces at the start of our next lesson. I believe understanding the scope of an instrument from more than just the technical aspect of it really enhances the learning experience and makes students value the techniques they are learning. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Harmonica Ukulele Recorder Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My motto is my students create their own lesson. I formulate lesson plans off of the styles of music you are most interested in. If my student has a more "just for fun" attitude, the lesson will inevitably be a more light hearted feel. If the student would like to focus on more technicalities, that as well is a different approach. However, I do have a more structured plan for younger students. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Viola

I know each student is different in terms of learning style and musical goals. I make it a priority to keep the student's best interest in mind when giving assignments and setting weekly goals for practicing. The most important thing I want to leave the student with is a sense of fascination and appreciation for music. Whether an interest in classical or country music, I can transform any material into a learning opportunity that is fun, educational, and progressive for the student's musical and technical development. Read More

Instruments: Violin

For beginning students, I typically start with the Essential Elements method book, which introduces the fundamentals in a way that is friendly to all learners, easy to understand, and interesting. Once the students has an understanding of the fundamentals, we will typically move on to Suzuki Book One, supplemented with various other exercises. At this stage, the student is able to give their first recital performance. For intermediate or more experienced students, I will typically find out what the student is interested in and provide solo repertoire based on their interests. Read More