Hello prospective students! I've been playing violin for 23 of my 29 years of age and teaching for 13 years. I believe that the most important part of learning the violin is having fun and building a passion for music. Though I teach mainly classical violin, I can play all styles and I am happy to work with students towards specific goals, like playing bluegrass or jazz. However, it is usually necessary to learn classical technique to play any genre of violin music. Once you can play classical, you can play anything. ***LGBTQIA+/BIPOC/disabled/Neurodiverse friendly*** Teaching method: TECHNIQUE For my beginners, we start with simple scales to work on bowing and intonation. We also do whole-bow open-string practice in front of a mirror to work on having a straight bow. After the simple scales, we move on to slightly more complex ones such minor key and 2 octave scales. For intermediate students who want to excel in classical music, we will work on etudes such as Kreutzer or Wolfhart, as well as scales. MUSIC THEORY I teach music theory as it applies to what the student is currently playing so as not to cause confusion. For example, if the student is learning to play a new piece with a more complex rhythm, we will go over time signatures, how many beats each note gets, how it is counted and so on. I will also teach the basics of counterpoint and chord structure if the student is interested. PRACTICAL APPLICATION In practical application, the student can apply what they learn about technique to a fun song. I start with the Suzuki books because I like the way they’re structured in terms of technique, and because I love the repertoire. I also use the Solos For Young Violinists books, as well as a few other carefully chosen books. However, if the student isn't enjoying the books I normally use, I am more than happy to find something more suitable which will excite them musically and elevate their playing. Recently I've been teaching "Waiting on a Miracle" and "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Encanto and it's been very popular. I also record tutorials and post them on my google drive, where students can access a variety of helpful videos explaining everything from proper left hand technique to how to play songs from Encanto. MUSIC HISTORY If the student is interested, I will discuss the lives and milieus of composers from the medieval era to the modern era of classical music. This is one of my favorite subjects! :)