Viola Lessons in Cos Cob, CT

Instruments: Violin Viola

Ever since I started playing viola in the third grade, I have been drawn to performing and teaching music. I am a graduate of the Hartt School, where I was a member of an honors chamber music program, Performance 20-20. Since 2007 I have been a violist in the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and freelance on both viola and violin throughout Connecticut and Westchester County, NY. Chamber music, however, is my number one passion and one of the reasons I love playing and teaching the violin and viola!! Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

I set different goals for each student. I realize that every student learns at a different pace and has special ways of comprehending the information. I want to push the student to work hard, but would never give them more than they can handle. I want my students to love music and look forward to practicing each day. I look for different ways to inspire them and motivate them to want to learn more. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

For beginning students, I use the Essential Elements book 1. This book introduces the student to the instrument in the most practical way while making it fun, and it has the student reading music from the beginning, which I find very important. After this, we go on to Suzuki book 2 and a scale book. Then we move our way through the Suzuki books and start to incorporate more complex scales and etudes. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Organ Accordion Ukulele Double Bass Keyboard

The learning process should be, for the most part, fun and based upon a strong relationship between the teacher and the student. Curriculum and lesson plans are based on student's abilities and aspirations with appropriate balance between theoretical and practical work. The lesson material is always carefully chosen, and when necessary, adapted to specific learning needs. With a proper approach, everyone can learn to play music. Whether you want to pursue a music career, or just play for fun and enjoyment I can help you attain your goals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Viola Music

I began teaching private lessons as a sophomore in high school, where at first I had only one violin student. By the time I was a senior in high school I taught 10 students a week, all based on word of mouth recommendation through contacts at my former middle school. My aim for lessons is to present fun yet challenging material in a captivating and exploratory manner. Learning is a very individual experience, thus I employ different mediums and presentation techniques to introduce new concepts and revisit old ones. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Cello Viola

For young piano students, I useJohn Thompson's Easiest Piano Course and A Dozen a Day. For adults, I like to useAlfred's Basic Adult Piano Course for a lesson book. I use various books for additional songs or technique depending upon a student's interests and abilities. I like to use different types of music - classical, traditional, pop, modern, etc. For strings, I like to use String Builder, Suzuki, and other method and etude books. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Cello Viola Electric Violin Fiddle

In 1994 Oleg Rutkovsky immigrated to USA and settled in Fort Lee, NJ. He made his American debut recital in Memphis, TN in 1995. Since 1994 he performed with such orchestras as New Jersey Symphony, Albany Symphony, New York Virtuosi Chamber Symphony, New Philharmonic of New Jersey, Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, Bachanalia Chamber Ensemble and appeared in a few Broadway productions such "Ragtime" and "Music Man". In 1996, Oleg was invited to perform with the Houston Festival Orchestra as Concertmaster under the the button of Maxim Shostakovich, son of the the great Russian composer, Dmitry Shostakovich. Read More