About Private Lessons

  • These lessons take place at my home. Playing a stringed instrument is a kinesthetic skill and requires an environment to see the full picture, model skills, or help physically adjust positions, especially for beginners.

    Parents are encouraged to sit in on lessons! Take notes, enjoy learning alongside your student, and gain tools to help them continue practicing at home.

    See below to learn more of what you will learn on your instrument in our lessons.

  • Whether you need to study for an AP Music Theory exam, hope to be a music major in college, or simply want to learn more about music, music theory lessons are a fun way to explore the building blocks of music. Assuming that you may already play music, these lessons dive deeper than just notes and rhythms.

    Students will learn scales, chords, and formal structures of harmony. Lessons also include ear training, where students develop the ability to identify pitches, intervals, and chords. Overall, music theory lessons aim to help students appreciate and analyze music with a deeper understanding of its underlying principals.

    These can take place via Zoom or in-person.

  • Songwriting sessions are journeys of discovering the art of turning emotions into music. These start with learning basics of music theory, or are a great next step for those who already have a basic understanding and want to get to writing!

    Students will explore the structures of various genres of music, along with their respective historical contexts. They will be able to write music freely, experiment with different harmonies, and fill their toolbox with ways to create beautiful music. Lessons can be formally structured for teaching writing techniques, or for a kind audience and feedback on self-composed songs.

    These can take place via Zoom or in-person.

Tuition Rates

$40 for 30-min lesson

$50 for 45-min lesson

$60 for 60-min lesson

$70 for 75-min lesson

Tuition is invoiced monthly and can be paid by cash, check, or Zelle.

Learning Goals for Instrument Lessons

  • Beginner

    Beginning students get to explore the instrument with their teacher, and discover the expressivity that stringed instruments execute so well. Lessons focus on strong foundational technique: learning how to set up the instrument, how to correctly use their body to play, and methods for practicing at home. They will learn the basics of music theory, rhythms, and basic techniques on their instrument. Good foundations are integral to string playing, and launches students into learning more music.

  • Intermediate

    Students who have been taking private lessons for over 18 months will start to explore the full breadth of sound that their instrument can make. They will have an excellent grasp on the foundations, so they are be able to apply them intuitively and independently. This includes refining bow techniques, learning extended techniques, and shifting. Intermediate students begin using their skills to make musical decisions and play with emotion.

  • Advanced and Beyond

    Musicians never stop practicing or learning! Students who have been taking private lessons for 3 or more years have a breadth of knowledge of their instrument. They are able to play all 24 major and minor scales, execute various bow techniques, and play increasingly challenging repertoire. Advanced students also begin applying musical history and theory in context in their playing. They are discovering a whole new world in music—really, they’re just beginning!