NYC Violin Studio

How do private violin lessons work?
Adults typically take one hour classes once a week. Young children typically take half hour classes and older children, adult musicians and adults on a budget typically take 45 minute classes. The most common lesson length is 60 minutes, especially in the beginning as the teacher will need to tune your instrument and help you get set up. Lessons are typically held once per week. Some students choose to take lessons twice per week when a concert is coming up, to catch up from a vacation or if they have some extra time off and just want to make faster progress.

In class, you will learn new techniques, receive guidance on how to achieve the best sound possible and learn songs that you like and that interest you. You are expected to take this guidance and practice it thoroughly at home until you feel comfortable with it, so that when you are in class next, the teacher can move on to a new concept or skill which builds upon the skill practiced at home. They will only move you forward once you can do the more basic technique.

How do group violin classes work?
Group classes are held once per week. We will be working through a curriculum, so it is important that each student takes the material covered in class and practices it at home. Each lesson will build one upon the other. Many students like learning in a group setting as they are all learning a new, difficult instrument at the same time. Even beginners learn from one another. You will learn a lot just from playing with other musicians of any level and any instrument.

Beginner students are encouraged to start at the beginning of the semester so they can first learn how to hold the violin and bow, and the basics of reading sheet music as it pertains to the violin. Our system allows us to get this out of the way quickly. You are welcome to join the class once the semester has already started, but know that it will take at least 1-2 private lessons to catch you up to the group class, at which point you are welcome to join in for the rest of the semester. Any further catching up you need to do can be done in the group class setting with the help of the assistant violin teacher.

Intermediate students may join the class at any time since you already have a good idea of how to read sheet music, how to count, and how to play.  If you can read half, quarter and eighth notes on at least two strings, you may join this class. The Violin III part will be easy, Violin II will be appropriate for late beginners, and the Violin I parts will offer a bit of a challenge to the early-mid intermediate student. There are no Advanced parts in this orchestra. This class is intended to give you more experience playing in an ensemble setting, as well as improving your ability to read and play sheet music. Your skill will be increased through playing with others and working through the challenges that playing new music offers.  Playing in an ensemble is fun, keeps you accountable on your violin progress and you will get to perform for family and friends in a concert at the end of the semester. Violists and Cellists are encouraged to join the ensemble.

Children, Adults, special needs. I enjoy working with all types of students because I enjoy having a variety of students to work with. I love working with kids because they have more time to practice, but I love working with adults because they can learn a song they've really been wanting to play and it's very fulfilling.