Violin Lessons in Westchester, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Viola Drums Conga Latin Percussion Music Electric Guitar Djembe Acoustic Guitar

I am motivated to keep students constantly engaged and passionate about their instrument! As a multi-instrumentalist I always play different instruments with students to give them a sense of playing in a group, which is what music should be all about! I also do my best to acknowledge the students strengths and weaknesses and take some time aside in class to speak to them about them. I believe it is important to have positive feedback but also to recognizes areas in which students can improve. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Fiddle

As a student I had many teachers who made me achieve at their pace and with their understanding of what the violin required. Ultimately the classical route did not give me enough freedom to play the way I wanted to. In my work as a teacher I have found that the pursuit of an instrument, though hard work, should fundamentally be enjoyable for the student. Whether it is finding the music that resonates deeply with you, or constructing practice assignments that are clear and achievable within a week, I want to connect with each student I teach and help them to find a regular rhythm in their lessons that keeps them feeling productive. Read More

Instruments: Violin

My early forays into education began during my undergraduate work at The Evergreen State College. I quickly learned how fulfilling the process was, and was routinely complimented on the patience I exhibited with my beginner students. After taking time off to work on my graduate degree and launch my freelance career, I resumed teaching again after graduation, volunteering as a faculty assistant with a music theory course at a local community college. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Music

I believe in the power of demonstration and playing along with the students. I also encourage students to practice vocal-instrumental coordination when establishing the concepts of musical expression within structures. I adopt some ear training for younger students as they develop a sense of pitch and theoretical knowledge for adults who learn better with checkpoints. I design and adjust learning plans constantly for individual students as they learn and help them with specific goals, long-term and short-term, and have achieved them 100% of the time. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin

I use an organized step by step method as a general rule, depending on the students age and ability, seeking to have each student master the fundamentals of rhythm, note reading, technique and expression in a logical easy to understand way. I require practice at least 4 days a week to ensure progress. For preschool age children, I use the Wunderkeys method. I seek to minimize frustration, encourage students to e-mail with questions, use games as a learning tool and assign pieces they like and pieces that are standard repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Violin

I create a personalized lesson plan for each and every student I teach, because not everyone learns the same way. I incorporate music and exercises from a variety of different books in a way that I think would best suit my student. I will often also have my students learn music that has a part for a second violin, so that I can accompany them. For a complicated instrument like the violin, learning left-hand technique comes before right-hand technique, and then combining them together. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

With consistent practice and lessons I’ve had success with having some of my youngest students start with Mozarts twinkle little star and in 2-3 years play at a very high level with skill, artistry and reading abilities in Suzuki books 4/5 Vivaldi Concertos. Students start off with a box violin to focus on posture and ear training right away. Once some of the fine motor skills are established, we transfer these skills directly to the violin, and begin create sound on the instrument. Read More