Viola Lessons Southwest

Instruments: Violin, Cello, Viola, Double Bass, Music

As a beginning student who is starting from "scratch" I use the "Strictly Strings". book 1 for the basic instruction. As the student progresses I will add sheet music or may have a book the student can borrow. I will ask the parent to by a book on occasion especially if the child has a particular interest that would benefit from it, There is a wide variety of materials that a well suited for private lessons, but I have used the Strictly Strings" series of books and collaborative materials. Read More

Instruments: Piano, Violin, Viola

I began teaching private students in high school, and have been consistently teaching students in my studio for the past five years. Many of my students have gone on to be very successful in youth orchestras, school programs, and music conservatories. During my senior year at university, I had the opportunity to serve as a faculty member for my university's pre-college music program. In this role, I represented the university by providing musical instruction to young upper string students. Read More

Instruments: Violin, Viola

With children, I typically start with Essential Elements for Strings by Michael Allen, Robert Gillespie and Pamela Tellejohn Hayes. I complement that with the Suzuki method and other fun easy songs I have picked through the years of experience . Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce etudes, scales, vibrato and eventually shifting; and of course solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. Read More

Instruments: Piano, Voice, Violin, Cello, Viola, Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Drums, Recorder, Double Bass, Euphonium, French Horn, Tuba, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Oboe, Bassoon, English Horn, Keyboard

I like to create lessons in which students learn to read traditional music notation, develop technique, and play familiar tunes. I use musictheory.net to help student practice reading note names. The faster a student can read musical notation, the faster the student can pick up new pieces. To develop technique, I want students to lean scales and arpeggios. Sometimes, we use a technique book to develop muscle memory, and other times technical exercises are created based on the tricky musical passages of solo or ensemble pieces. Read More

Instruments: Violin, Viola, Recorder, Fiddle

My goal is for students to love playing their instrument so much after every lesson that they are motivated to keep working on concepts outside of their lesson time. Thus far, all of my private lesson students practice outside of their lessons, and I hope to keep it that way! I believe that all students are capable of learning music regardless of preconceived notions about talent level. I understand that people have busy schedules, but I expect them to make some time to practice outside of lessons even if it is only for 10 or 20 minutes per day. Read More