Mountain Marimba

Offers online services

About

1. Marimba lessons:

My focus on playing the marimba is to make it sound beautiful. A lot of the marimba community focuses solely on technique and misses out on the incredible and unique soundscape the marimba has to offer. Yes, you need strong technique but that's only half the equation! I know how to make the most out of the instrument from mallet choice to individual strokes to truly knowing your marimba.

I have a BM and and MM from Ithaca College where I studied with famed marimba master Gordon Stout. I have performed across the state of Virginia as a member of the Virginia Commission for the Arts Touring Artist Directory. I have also recorded and produced two marimba albums; Neshamarimba and Lullabies for Marimba. For more on my background check out my website at www.larissavenzie.com and my YouTube channel at Larissa Venzie Mountain Marimba

2. Adult beginner piano lessons:

I truly love teaching adults to read music and begin their piano journey. I firmly belive that with practice everyone can create music, even the ones who insist they don't have a musical bone in their bodies! I have taught adults of all ages, including a 93 year old!

Marimba is my passion and I love sharing it with the world! It's an honor to help a student discover the magic of the classical marimba and acheive their individual goals. It's always a great feeling to see that moment when something "clicks" with a student.

I live in a very rural area in Virginia and am new to online teaching. But I am excited to share all my tips on how to learn to read music, how to practice, how to master techniques, how to conquer trouble areas, and most of all how to enjoy yourself!

Highlights

1 employee

17 years in business

Serves Independence , VA

Offers online services

Social media

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Reviews

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Matthew G.

I have studied with Mountain Marimba for about two years now. She is a wealth of information about all facets of music, teaching music, and learning music. I had some previous experience with music lessons as a child. I knew the basics of learning music, but was very rusty. She is a highly trained musician, but is very adept at working with people who are just beginning. She breaks down everything to a level where anyone can understand it.

She loves answering questions! I have never known her to get frustrated, even when explaining the simplest thing again, after Ive asked her several times before. If theres something she doesnt know, and thats not much, she wont stop until she has an answer. I have had conversations with her, more than once, on all sorts of music technique, which might seem boring to others, just for the pleasure of learning, and shes always happy to talk about it!

Her approach to teaching comes from all angles. Not only does she teach you how to play, she also has a very well designed system that teaches you how to practice most effectively. 5 excellent points that will help get the most out of your practice time, both with her, and on your own.

In addition to her practice method, she has a highly developed system for reading and counting music that made it so much easier to pick up where I had left off decades before. After just 3 months of weekly lessons, I was ready to play in public for the first time, on a new instrument.

I can say I have learned a wealth of information in my two years under her instruction! And more than that, I have learned to listen to, study, and appreciate music in a whole new way! I look forward to our lessons, and what new thing I am going to learn from her every week.

April 01, 2020

David G.

Larissa has been amazing to work with. I have studied marimba with her on and off for several years (when Im too busy to take regular lessons, she has been flexible enough to fit me in on an intermittent basis as her schedule allows). When I have a specific goal in mind, she listens to what I want to accomplish and helps me get there; and when I dont have a specific goal but just want to generally improve, she is really good with giving me an honest feedback and suggesting a direction for my focus. She is tremendously musical and verbally articulate --- an excellent and valuable teacher. Highly recommended.

March 23, 2020

Gordon S.

Larissa is a great musician, and wonderful marimbist. She can also teach piano and handbells. She has an engaging personality, and is extremely intelligent, well read, speak well, and loves kitties! I recommend her with no reservations whatsoever.

March 17, 2020

Services offered

Marimba