David Dyer Violin, Viola, Recorder Lessons
About
I have a Bachelor's degree in violin performance, from Boston University, a Master's degree in violin performance from the University of Michigan, and a Master's degree in recorder performance from Oberlin Conservatory. I have been a professional musician since 1980, always a successful auditioner for professional orchestras including the Toledo Symphony and Puerto Rico Symphony orchestra. I was selected to perform with the Spoleto Festival Orchestra and The Tanglewood Fellowship Orchestra where I was assistant concertmaster under Leonard Bernstein. I have had as many as 20 private students at a time but currently have openings. I am also a professional recorder player and am the contracted recorder player for the Toledo Symphony. I have also played it with over a dozen baroque orchestras including Apollo's Fire, a Grammy-winning ensemble.
I love teaching, it fills my soul and rejuvenates me. I have Suzuki training and prefer to start students that way but I am not bound to it, I am willing to work with students to find their special path. My first lesson is always free and is not limited in time. I want my students to get to know me before they commit to lessons. I have a tremendous amount of experience and many highly successful performing and teaching former students including the chairman of string chamber music at Boston University and many teachers placed in schools around the country. I will listen to your goals and tailor your lessons to your desired outcome. I know a lot about what makes playing work physically and how to adapt instruments to bodies. I am also a Baroque violinist/violist so if you are interested in those instruments I have a historical performance master's degree and experience with many professional Baroque orchestras so I can help you with that as well. Please try out your first free lesson and see what you think!
I enjoy seeing the light go on, the moment when a student "gets it", when they are able to do something for the first time, like the first time they're able to ride a bike. I like seeing students that look and sound confident and are proud of themselves. As a student myself I was confused for many years about how to play the violin properly and was very uncomfortable. I like setting up students with a good physical foundation so they can play with ease and comfort and the flexibility to tackle new challenges. I like seeing parents who are proud of their kids but understand their kids have their own goals. Parents need to be there to support the student, almost no student is 100% self-motivated at all times, and here parents play the important role of being the surrogate teacher at home, encouraging them in their daily work. Ultimately, our goal together is to be able to perform music, be it alone, for family and friends, or for the general public with confidence and pride. Nothing is more enjoyable than seeing this realized.
Highlights
Payment methods
Photos and videos
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I typically use the Suzuki method to start students of any age, but I am not bound to it and taught traditionally most of my life. I start with a free lesson demonstrating the basics as I understand them and evaluating the student and what their needs and desires might be. This initial encounter does not have a fixed time.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have several years of Suzuki teacher training. I taught for many years at the Toledo Symphony School of Music using the Suzuki method and I am currently assisting string teachers in the Toledo Public Schools System. I have been a private teacher since 1986 with at times up to 20 students. I have had many students go on to be professional performers and teachers.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
After the first free lesson I charge $20 for 1/2 hour lessons, $30 for 45 min. lessons, and $40 for hour lessons. I frequently go overtime with no extra charge if I think the student needs more time, but only if the student arrives on time for the lesson.
How did you get started teaching?
I became known through my community as a professional member of a professional orchestra and was referred by word of mouth. Truthfully, I cannot remember a time when I was not teaching. My parents were both violin and viola teachers and I observed them teaching virtually every day so I learned through them.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have taught students from 3 to 80 years old. 3-year-olds are not always ready to start, but some are and I'm always willing to try. I have also taught handicapped students including students with missing fingers, students with partial arms, and students with mental challenges. We have always managed to meet challenges and these have been particularly rewarding students.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
One of my former students became a teacher in Columbus Ohio and formed his own community orchestra of disadvantaged children. His concerts have been of high quality and he does his own arrangements of many pieces. He has also conducted the Toledo Symphony in arrangements of his own. He is a tremendous success story and I'm very proud of him. One former student is chairman of string chamber music at Boston University. It doesn't get much better than that!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Look for a teacher who is willing to give you an introductory lesson in which you are able to articulate your goals and describe your experience and in which the teacher is able to describe their approach to help you meet your goals. You need a teacher who can not only demonstrate good playing but be discerning about your individual needs.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What kind of music do I wish to play? How can I play more comfortably and easily with less effort and no pain? What teacher might lead me to music and repertory I might not have been familiar with and expand my horizons? Has my teacher been a successful performer themself?