About
You deserve tailored, high-quality lessons that fit your unique musical goals. Whether you’d like to learn Bach or epic violin rock solos I am here to help! My teaching style is warm and patient, with a focus on encouraging my student’s creativity. I believe that good violin and viola lessons can build strong skills without being boring. As a teacher I will share powerful fundamentals of classical string technique and enable you to explore different genres, improvise, and write your own music—you don’t have to settle for one or the other. For my younger students, my 7+ years of teaching experience help me create lessons that are highly interactive with lots of movement and games for exploring creativity and developing musicality. With my adult students I believe in building great technique while supportively addressing any negative self-talk that might be impeding progress. My qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in violin performance from Berklee College of Music where I studied classical, fiddle, jazz ,and songwriting, and extensive experience as a live performer. I’ve also worked with several well-known teaching companies over the years and integrated the approaches that work best from each of them into how I approach lessons. I can’t wait to meet you and be a part of your journey with learning strings!
I love helping students learn the songs that make them tick and seeing the excitement and progress that builds when they are in a challenging but supported lesson environement!
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Diane D.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I like to get in touch before the first lesson to discuss the student's goals and interests and smooth out any logistical concerns! If the student is a beginner in the 1st lesson we'll usually go over the fundamentals of how to hold the bow/violin, learn a short but fun song, and play a couple games. With more advanced students I use the first lesson as a time to take stock of their skills with playing and theory, and make customized recommendations from there!
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Education: Bachelor's - double degree in Music Performance (on violin) and Songwriting from Berklee College of Music.
Lessons.com stuff:
Past teaching experience:
-Elementary After School String Program Assistant
-Assistant Instrumental Music Teacher at Kentucky Governer's School of the Arts
-Songwriting and tune-writing and composition teacher at Louisville Folk School
-Violin, Viola and Piano Instructor at Guitar Center, Knauer Pianos Music School, and Red Pelican Music
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Lesson rates depend on whether lesson is online, in-person at my studio, or in the clients home. I run local discounts for Noho, Burbank, Studio City, Sherman Oaks and Van Nuys areas on in-home lessons.
How did you get started teaching?
I volunteered to help teach strings to beginning 7-10 year old students in my local community orchestra program while I was in high school and loved it! The rest is history
What types of students have you worked with?
All ages and stages! I have regularly work with young students as young as 4 and as old as 70+. I have extensive experience working with beginning students and also coach advanced/pre-professional clients.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
A regular event I'm fond of in my studio is seeing students look back on the progress they've made after their first year of playing and being excited to see how much they've progressed!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Make sure your teacher is approaching your needs and interests as an individual whether than just applying one blanket approach in one genre to all their students!
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
-What kind of music do you like? Are you more interested in learning certain genres or styles?
-Is there anything I should know about that you need to learn optimally? For example: do you like a more gentle fun approach or do you like things to be very structured and regimented?
-Do you have an instrument or do you need help getting one?
-Do you have the time to commit to regular lessons and practicing your instrument?