Sara T. says, "We highly recommend Emanuela for violin lessons. All 3 of our children have lessons with her. My older 2 daughters have been with her for about 4 years, and our youngest son for the last year. All 3 enjoy their lessons and have made tremendous progress, despite the last 6 months having lessons exclusively online (they are now having some outdoor lessons, maintaining social distancing protocols with everyone wearing masks). My children are invested in their learning and practice independently because Emanuela talks to them about what her expectations are and what they need to do to master a piece. These days, when they like a song, they will ask me to look for the violin sheet music and they have even asked for extra lessons with Emanuela to get the support they need to learn a new piece, like music from Dear Evan Hansen, Frozen 2, or Newsies. Emanuela has found the balance between being firm but warm--holding my children to what she knows they are capable of doing, but empathizing when they are tired or having an off day. She communicates with my husband and me proactively and makes suggestions on adjustments that can be made with scheduling, set up, or other relevant factors, so that she can better meet their needs. She is invested in our children's musical development and goes above and beyond--organizing violin seminars for all her students to play together in the school where they are at (pre-COVID--this was a highlight for my kids to be able to sit with their friends and play together. She has also been able to organize this virtually). During COVID, she will oftentimes spend more time with my children especially when she sees they need time to warm up on a virtual platform. She sends us videos of music they are learning so that they can hear it, and will send bow markings on pieces via email attachments so that my children can better learn a piece.
My son really struggled with piano lessons prior to starting violin, and we thought we would see the same challenges with violin, but Emanuela has been able to reach him, teach him, and tap into potential we did not know was there. He has made tremendous progress in the last year and while practicing piano was always a chore, practicing the violin is a joy for him, and something that he pursues independently. I can only attribute that to the high caliber of instruction he is receiving under Emanuela.
Emanuela has filled our home with music during an incredible stressful period of time. Her flexibility, commitment, and diligence has been a source of comfort in our home. She has been sensitive to our needs as a family, compassionate and sympathetic to our reality as working parents of 3 children. She has brought consistency, taught my children the value of discipline and practice, creatively planned lessons to inspire them (e.g. themed music for Halloween), treated them with respect and gently redirected them when they are not being respectful. She is more than a violin teacher; she has become indispensable to my children's education on the whole, because learning how to play an instrument is ultimately a lesson in patience, consistency, and collaboration. We are so very grateful for the guidance and support that she has provided, and cannot imagine our children's musical education in more capable hands than hers." Read more