Private Violin Lessons

Hello! My name is Francesca Bass, and I am a professional violinist. I have over twenty years of experience as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. I received my Bachelor of Music Degree in violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music where I studied with Joel Smirnoff, Jaime Laredo, and Jinjoo Cho, and I received my Masters Degree from Rice Univeristy's Shepherd School of Music where I studied with Paul Kantor. My orchestral and chamber music experiences have allowed me to travel to Europe and Asia, and I have performed in Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall, the Musikverein in Vienna, and the Concertgebouw. I want to share my love of music and the violin with students of all ages. As a teacher, I am encouraging, empathetic, and dedicated. I am certified in the Suzuki Violin Method Book I, and I will soon be certified in Book II. As a student in my studio, you will feel supported and gently challenged. I encourage development of a student's individual artistic ear by listening often to classical music because, as musicians, we have to constantly be listening to ourselves and critiquing our own sound, intonation, and musical intention. Some of the best music ever composed was written for the violin, and I hope my students feel fulfilled in being able to play that music! During COVID, I will be teaching virtually via Zoom or Facetime. Of course, this is not optimal, but health and safety during this time is an absolute priority.

I love witnessing musical, mental, and emotional growth in my students, and I want my students to feel proud of themselves. I hope to pass along to my students the knowledge I received from my teachers and mentors over the years.