Violin Lessons in Franklin Lakes, NJ

Instruments: Violin Cello Viola Double Bass

I began violin in 5th grade, and that started me down a path committed towards music teaching and learning. I had participated in every musical curricular and extracurricular offering- from Orchestra and Music Theory to Chamber Choir and Pit Orchestra. I attended the State University of New York at Fredonia, where I began a rigorous but rewarding course of study and continued to perform on viola at a high level, as well as learn cello, bass, piano, and various other instruments. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin Fiddle Music

I value my ability to tailor lessons and my curriculum to the particular needs and goals of each individual student. I truly believe that there is not a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to learning the violin! I have created my own combination of sequential exercises and repertoire selections, using influences from pedagogues that I have studied under, including Shirley Givens, Bettina Mussumeli, and Elizabeth Faidley, and major pedagogy styles including that of Shinichi Suzuki and Paul Rolland. Read More

Instruments: Violin

Most importantly, I believe every student is different and I always try to avoid a "one size fits all" approach to teaching. That said, I'm a big advocate of scales, etudes, and technical exercises, as well as exploring repertoire (solo, chamber music, and symphonic). I encourage students to listen to a wide variety of music, in addition to their work on the violin, sometimes with weekly listening assignments. Daily, systematic practice at home is required of all my students (especially younger ones) for clear progress to happen. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin

I adapt the method to the student. I usually use Nancy Faber series for the young child. I try to familiarize the student with different types of music so he/she is exposed to many styles and periods of musicand therefore, can choose what he/she prefers. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Violin Saxophone Bassoon

I like my lessons to be fun! I like to start my lesson with a "music swap": we each play one minute of a song that we found that week from youtube or spotify and take 30-60 seconds to say why we found it interesting or inspiring (it can be any genre). We then aim to discuss and practice a new technical skill and use exercises to develop it, we work on a song from the method series or a song that the student wants to work on (I often transpose pop/rock songs for my students), and then rhythm training, ear training, and music theory concepts are interspersed throughout. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin Fiddle

I cater the lessons towards the individual needs of the students.  For beginning students 6 years old and under, I prefer to use Shirley Givens' books, "Adventures In Violinland", along with Suzuki materials through rote memorization.  When the student is 5 or 6 years old or older, I like to use Suzuki materials but supplement with note reading right away.  Also, I love it when a student brings a specific piece of music in that they would like to play, whether it is from the classical repertoire, or jazz, pop, etc. Read More