Amanda’s Violin And Viola Lessons

I love hearing my students play what they are currently working on. I approach my lessons with positive and constructive feedback. My number one goal in my lessons is to have my students improve sections in their piece and to leave their lesson feeling confident and happy!

I am currently in the process of obtaining my Bachelor's in Viola Performance at the Chicago College of Performing Arts. I currently study with Roger Chase, Li-Kuo Chang, and Igor Fedotov as part of a Lab initiative. I have also had the honor to participate in faculty chamber concerts as well as masterclasses with notable violists, such as Helen Callus.

I am completely open to negotiating a price for my lessons! I understand every family has financial limitations, and many families love to have their children experience a variety of interests, whether musical or active. Such interests can add up, and we can come up with a price that works for you! 

I started teaching with hesitance. I personally had a negative experience with an old private teacher of mine and I vowed I would never commit the same mistake he did, which was to neglect set up. In my last year of middle school, I was asked by my orchestra director to help a fellow violist with some of the pieces we were working on. I was nervous at first, since I had just found out my set up was inefficient, but as I worked with the student, I noticed that I really enjoyed the overall experience and we became close friends after working together! 

I have worked with a variety of students as I volunteered with the P!ng program in Oak Park for 5 years. I have worked with students who have special needs and students that Do not display a high level of enthusiasm towards music. I always encourage my students to find what inspires them, whether it is Hilary Hahn's interpretation of the Mendelssohn Violin concerto, or parody videos by TwoSet Violin on youtube! 

I recently experienced a breakthrough moment with a student I currently teach. She was severely underdeveloped in finger dexterity in the left hand, but after slow work with Galamian Scales and Schradieck, she improved so much! I took two videos of her playing, one in the beginning of her studies, and one after five weeks. Her improvement made me realize how proud I was to be a teacher and mentor!

Make sure you have a trial lesson with your teacher first! Sometimes you just don't click and that's completely fine. If they're charging $100 for a beginner violin lesson, then they are most definitely over charging. Just because a teacher does not charge as much does not mean they are less gifted as a mentor. I don't charge that much personally because I understand the financial strain many families go through and that is why I do not have a fixed price per lesson. 

Please don't ask me to teach you vibrato in the first lesson! This was the first question I asked my very first private teacher! Such techniques take time. What you should ask is the following:

-What goals should I set for myself when it comes to this piece? 

-Is there something in my technique that I could be doing that is more efficient? 

-Is there something I can do to make this easier to play? 

-How can I achieve a more resonant sound here? 

-Can you show me/explain to me again how to do "...."?

-How can I make sure I practice this efficiently at home?