Viola Lessons in Hyattsville. Amazing Teachers.

I am a professional violinist and violin instructor in the Washington, DC Metro Area. Currently teaching in Arlington, VA and Washington DC, I am now accepting new students to my home studio.
I have a great love for music and hope to be able to pass it on to anyone eager to learn. I teach beginner to advanced violin and viola students of any age, child to adult (adults, it’s never too late to learn if you have always wanted to!). Although there is no specified age limit, children younger than the age of 6 are admitted only at my discretion.
For beginners, I like using a combination of traditional and Suzuki methods. The materials used are Essential Elements and Suzuki Books. All my teaching is adapted to each student individually, catering to their specific level and interest.

Let's start playing together!

I'm a dedicated teacher and spend extra time outside of lessons thinking about how to best approach the following lesson. I find the style of teaching that works best for the student. I write plans after lessons and email or give them in person summarizing the lesson's key points to help make practicing at home easier and more organized in order to make lesson time as effective overall as possible.

I am a professional violinist and violist. I learned to play viola when I was 13 and our school music teacher was forming a string quartet. We had many terrific violinists at the school but no violists so I volunteered to learn. It opened up many worlds and opportunities for me. I received a big scholarship because I played viola when I did my Masters Degree at Boston U. I got chances to travel abroad that were only because I played viola. So it’s a wonderful thing for students to add if they already play violin or to switch to if they prefer the deeper, darker sound. Have fun! Add opportunities to your life!

Hello….the viola is a wonderful instrument and is tuned an octave higher than the cello. The viola's open-pitched strings are: from hi to low…A, D, G and C. No E string. The viola is played like the violin but with more natural arm weight as the strings are thicker. The viola also comes in fractional sizes: 12 inch up to 17 inch. A new viola student needs to be fitted for the correct size so the instrument is not so big and heavy that it will case frustration with playing and possibly an injury from being too big…this is especially true for children and adult women. We have viola's for rent, professional set up with good quality strings.

Students can expect a relaxed, fun, and encouraging atmosphere for learning. The viola can be an intimidating instrument- you will make a lot of unpleasant sounds before you start sounding great- and that's okay! I'll be there to guide you and help you reach your goals.

If you're already an experience player, you can expect me "workshopping" your technique. We will analyze your form, practice patterns, and playing style, to ensure that you are growing and improving from the moment we begin. I will push you to become the most expressive player that you can become, but at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

What young students can expect:

- Preparing for entry into school orchestra
- Polishing up school orchestra repertoire
- Learning new material and scales
- Perfecting their technique
- Preparing for NYSSMA
- Preparing college audition tapes (I do have the ability to record these as well)
- Learning to play with confidence
- Learning vibrato

What adult ...

I have been playing viola for 20+ years and I adore the sound and feel of the instrument. Playing viola has some unique challenges that make it just a bit more special than some of the other string instruments. I like tailor my lessons to the needs of each student. I like to focus on literature written specifically for the viola with some violin transcriptions. I strive to develop good musicianship, understanding of basic theory and good technique in both hands.