I'm looking for a violin teacher for my middle schooler (NoVA)

[Anonymous]

Who is your child's violin teacher? Do you recommend him/her? My child has taken private lessons for 3 years. I want to find a teacher that is good at teaching posture and expressiveness.

[Anonymous]

My child in NoVA goes to MD for her violin lessons with a very well regarded instructor. When we were looking for a new teacher two years ago, she had trial lessons with Matt Richardson and Dr. Kobayashi, among others.

Some of the good instructors in this area include Ronda Cole and David Strom, Olga Khroulevitch, Shen-Pang Chien, Natalia Yampolsk, June Huang (not sure she’s taking students), and Ricardo Cyncynates. The students of these instructors tend to be fairly serious about their music, even if they do not have professional ambitions.

[Anonymous]

Hi PP. Thank you very much for sharing the names of some good instructors in the area. I appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

How much are violin lessons with well regarded instructors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much are violin lessons with well regarded instructors?

Our rate is 90/hr

[Anonymous]

Where are you in NoVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child in NoVA goes to MD for her violin lessons with a very well regarded instructor. When we were looking for a new teacher two years ago, she had trial lessons with Matt Richardson and Dr. Kobayashi, among others.

Some of the good instructors in this area include Ronda Cole and David Strom, Olga Khroulevitch, Shen-Pang Chien, Natalia Yampolsk, June Huang (not sure she’s taking students), and Ricardo Cyncynates. The students of these instructors tend to be fairly serious about their music, even if they do not have professional ambitions.

The question is, do any of these instructors take middle schoolers who have only been studying privately for a few years. I would be shocked if Ronda Cole had room in her studio for an older, relatively less advanced student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child in NoVA goes to MD for her violin lessons with a very well regarded instructor. When we were looking for a new teacher two years ago, she had trial lessons with Matt Richardson and Dr. Kobayashi, among others.

Some of the good instructors in this area include Ronda Cole and David Strom, Olga Khroulevitch, Shen-Pang Chien, Natalia Yampolsk, June Huang (not sure she’s taking students), and Ricardo Cyncynates. The students of these instructors tend to be fairly serious about their music, even if they do not have professional ambitions.

The question is, do any of these instructors take middle schoolers who have only been studying privately for a few years. I would be shocked if Ronda Cole had room in her studio for an older, relatively less advanced student.

This is a good list. We studied with Heidi Daniels. Heidi studied with Ronda Cole and started violin at a later age than your typical Suzuki kid. DC has studied with Strom and Cole during summers and both are wonderful, but one may be better than the other for your kid. I don't think your child's age would matter to them. It's important to do trial lessons with any teacher you are considering. I don't want to post anyone's specific rate on here but expect to pay between $100-175. We paid an NSO member $150/hr for lessons/coaching.

[Anonymous]

Paul at Classic Fiddle

https://www.classicalfiddle.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child in NoVA goes to MD for her violin lessons with a very well regarded instructor. When we were looking for a new teacher two years ago, she had trial lessons with Matt Richardson and Dr. Kobayashi, among others.

Some of the good instructors in this area include Ronda Cole and David Strom, Olga Khroulevitch, Shen-Pang Chien, Natalia Yampolsk, June Huang (not sure she’s taking students), and Ricardo Cyncynates. The students of these instructors tend to be fairly serious about their music, even if they do not have professional ambitions.

The question is, do any of these instructors take middle schoolers who have only been studying privately for a few years. I would be shocked if Ronda Cole had room in her studio for an older, relatively less advanced student.

This is a good list. We studied with Heidi Daniels. Heidi studied with Ronda Cole and started violin at a later age than your typical Suzuki kid. DC has studied with Strom and Cole during summers and both are wonderful, but one may be better than the other for your kid. I don't think your child's age would matter to them. It's important to do trial lessons with any teacher you are considering. I don't want to post anyone's specific rate on here but expect to pay between $100-175. We paid an NSO member $150/hr for lessons/coaching.

NP here. Are you happy with the NSO member? What does he or she bring to your child that some of the other studios mentioned above do not?
We've been at a respected private studio for years, but I'm wondering what else is out there. Specifically, I'm not that happy with the lack of competition opportunities. Is your teacher more knowledgeable about these things?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child in NoVA goes to MD for her violin lessons with a very well regarded instructor. When we were looking for a new teacher two years ago, she had trial lessons with Matt Richardson and Dr. Kobayashi, among others.

Some of the good instructors in this area include Ronda Cole and David Strom, Olga Khroulevitch, Shen-Pang Chien, Natalia Yampolsk, June Huang (not sure she’s taking students), and Ricardo Cyncynates. The students of these instructors tend to be fairly serious about their music, even if they do not have professional ambitions.

The question is, do any of these instructors take middle schoolers who have only been studying privately for a few years. I would be shocked if Ronda Cole had room in her studio for an older, relatively less advanced student.

This is a good list. We studied with Heidi Daniels. Heidi studied with Ronda Cole and started violin at a later age than your typical Suzuki kid. DC has studied with Strom and Cole during summers and both are wonderful, but one may be better than the other for your kid. I don't think your child's age would matter to them. It's important to do trial lessons with any teacher you are considering. I don't want to post anyone's specific rate on here but expect to pay between $100-175. We paid an NSO member $150/hr for lessons/coaching.

NP here. Are you happy with the NSO member? What does he or she bring to your child that some of the other studios mentioned above do not?
We've been at a respected private studio for years, but I'm wondering what else is out there. Specifically, I'm not that happy with the lack of competition opportunities. Is your teacher more knowledgeable about these things?

We've gone to the NSO member for coaching for auditions and help with particular pieces and still keep our main teacher. DH said the difference is the NSO member has played these pieces before and just pulls up her own music and already has the fingerings there. Our teacher can help figure out fingerings but it saves a lot time when someone already has them. Also NSO member knows the style the piece should be played, has played all these pieces, ect.... NSO member is also constantly working to improve her own technique and intonation so is more demanding about DH's intonation and technique (hers' are already good, her main teacher also demanding, but NSO member is even more demanding about it).

[Anonymous]

We've gone to the NSO member for coaching for auditions and help with particular pieces and still keep our main teacher. DH said the difference is the NSO member has played these pieces before and just pulls up her own music and already has the fingerings there. Our teacher can help figure out fingerings but it saves a lot time when someone already has them. Also NSO member knows the style the piece should be played, has played all these pieces, ect.... NSO member is also constantly working to improve her own technique and intonation so is more demanding about DH's intonation and technique (hers' are already good, her main teacher also demanding, but NSO member is even more demanding about it).

Meant DD not DH!

[Anonymous]

Wow are violin instructors more money because they are more in demand? My kid plays a less popular instrument and we pay $50 for 45 minutes and teacher has experience with high level students.

[Anonymous]

OP not sure what your child is looking to get out of it, but my middle schooler just wants to be a contributing member of one of the higher levels of orchestra in her public nova middle school and to play in the high school orchestra. No post-graduate ambitions at least not for now. We’ve been very happy with Levine school and pay much much less that the prices quoted above.

[Anonymous]

Dear all - Thank you so much for your replies. Violin is my child’s second instrument. I regret stating him late because he likes it more than the piano. Our teacher prepared him for the mid-level exam at the end of the second year (ascap?) and he passed it. This school year he was part of a youth orchestra group that’s mostly high school students. He works hard and practices every day. To me what he needs help with is playing beautifully and dynamically. I often watch YouTube videos with him of his pieces and wished he could play as expressively as those musicians.

I will think about finding a summer teacher for him and reach out to the teachers that you recommended. We can go to Maryland as well since we are in Falls Church and it’ll be easy to go to everywhere.