When the Covid-19 pandemic forced most music teachers online for the first time, it was business as usual for this teaching studio. As reported back by the New York Times, I became a pioneering music teacher when I added an online lessons option to my already robust in-person teaching studio of beginning through advanced level violin, viola, fiddle, and cello students way back in 2009. As an internationally touring violinist, violist, composer, recording artist, author, and a private lessons teacher and workshop string instructor for nearly 30 years, I'd been noticing a need and found a way to deliver, with the same quality and success as I experienced teaching in-person.
Online violin, viola, fiddle, or cello lessons via Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom are a convenient and effective form of private or group instruction for beginners through advanced players of almost any age. They allow dedicated students around the world to learn from talented teachers they may not be able to access locally, even in metropolitan areas, let alone in small towns and remote regions.
For general information about lessons with me, including my background, methods, and philosophy, visit my Teaching page.
For answers to common questions about lessons, visit my Lessons Q&A and Online Lessons Q&A pages or send me an email.
Curious, determined, and perceptive, I found I was able to troubleshoot playing problems, instruct beginners, and help students interpret and polish their Classical repertoire, audition material, or their fiddle tunes, just as gracefully in online lessons as I would have with an in-person student. The idea of helping someone sound better, have more confidence, and feel more comfortable and at ease in their playing, sometimes literally on the other side of the planet, quickly had me hooked on online teaching and had my online students hooked as well.
Early on, taking violin, viola, fiddle, and cello lessons via Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom, also seemed to have an interesting and positive effect on the students I usually saw in-person. Instead of taking a break from teaching lessons while on tour, I was able to transition my in-person students online and keep up their regular lessons schedule from the road. I noticed that many of them were often more focused and engaged during lessons online. Perhaps they were simply inspired to see me out there performing for the world, traveling to different places, playing concerts and holding workshops, or perhaps the familiar sights and sounds of being at home put them more at ease and able to focus?
My final test was finding out whether it would be possible to teach young children online. Within a few months of beginning to offer online lessons, the parents of some 3-5 year olds living in remote regions, contacted me. I decided to give it a try and found that with parental help during the lessons, these students were able to learn to play just as smoothly as the average in-person student, in some cases with more success, likely attributed to the fact that parental help during lessons meant more parental help with practicing during the week as well. Those first few little ones I taught online are now becoming teenagers and most still take lessons with me!
Now almost 15 years have passed since I first started offering a virtual lessons option. Technology and internet speeds have steadily continued to improve worldwide and 100% of my students are now scattered around the world, living on every continent except Antarctica. Ranging from 3 years old to seniors, and beginners all the way up through students auditioning for conservatories and orchestras, preparing for music exams, performing with touring bands, or performing at Carnegie Hall, my online violin, viola, fiddle, and cello students are making serious progress each week via Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom!