
Laura S.

Teaching Locations:

I can also help an advanced student who's interested in fiddle repertoire.
About Laura S.
Laura has taught throughout her musical career and loves nothing better than to introduce students of all ages to the magic of creating their own music! As a teacher, she focuses on balancing inspiration and explanation. Inspiration: because if you don’t love your music, what’s the point? And technique: because if it’s easy to play and sounds good, you’ll keep coming back for more!
Laura has a BA in Violin Performance and a minor in American Roots Music from Berklee School of Music, has taught privately for ten years, and plays in the nationally touring Appalacian Celtic Rock band Tuatha Dea. Laura has taken firsts in her age division at several fiddle contests, including the California and Nevada Oldtime Fiddle State Champions, Western Open Championships and top 5 in the National Oldtime Fiddle Championships.
*** Studio Equipment ***
I provide sheet music for new tunes, stickers, and I keep on hand a basic fix-it kit for common instrument issues. I also try to keep backup books and a shoulder rest around at my studios so if someone forgets their equipment we can still make good use of the lesson.
I expect the student to provide their instrument, shoulder rest, binder and sheet protectors for loose pages, blank notebook, and any supplementary books we may need. I don't require lots of books - just ones you'll use!
*** Online Supplies***
I keep downloadable pdfs and links on my personal website so they're handy whenever you need them.
*** Specialties ***
I love teaching oldtime, bluegrass, country and celtic fiddle - most of what I do as a performer fits in along those lines. I teach Suzuki method violin as well. My Suzuki teacher learned directly from Shinichi Suzuki!
I encourage all my students to improvise, to try different musical styles, and to experiment with composition. My goals are to share my own love for music, and enable students to discover their unique musical voice.
Reviews
Write a ReviewSuch a sweet teacher!

Very professional and innovative techniques that guarantee success!

Laura has been a great teacher for my 6 year-old daughter (starting taking lessons when she was 5). She is endlessly patient and has a perfect balance of fun and instruction in all her lessons. She helped us every step of the way--picking out the right rental instrument, finding extra workbooks that would be fun, coming up with ways to make practicing at home enticing. Laura is made to be a fiddle teacher--she has a obvious passion both for the music and sharing it with her students. My daughter left every lesson with Laura beaming with pride. I'd recommend anyone searching for a teacher to go with Laura!

Excellent teacher, superb fiddler.

The lesson was excellent. Laura is really pleasant, a good teacher, and a truly fine fiddle player.

She's really cool. I really like her. She's patient when I can't figure it out, which is extremely often.

Forgive me but I do not have any experience with this instructor. But does the previous reviewer have a lesson critique? It sounded like a professional associated with a school went out of their way to write a snarky ominous statement? Ms. Laura appears to have all five star reviews besides this non performance related review.

laura is very competent and adaptable to different approches to learning Im looking forward to more.

She is the best teacher I have found to date for my daughter. She has been taking lessons from her for a year and a half so far and is doing very well. I wish I had a teacher like her when I was a child.

First lesson with Laura. Really enjoyed it. She seems very focused on fundamentals like holding the bow properly. Frankly, that is exactly what I want right now.

Great teaching! Excellent service with recordings and sheet music!

She's amazing

So fun!! I love it!

Even though my wifi wasn't working well, the lesson was great!
Ok instructor but she was asked to leave
Music academy of Asheville

Laura, is amazing! I am over the moon pleased. She is professional, knowledgeable, & pleasure to work with. I am a mature student with no music background. And looking forward to my next lesson with Laura S.
Feel she is the perfect fit for my music lessons. Happy, Happy, Happy 😊😊😊🎻🎻🎻

My daughter (15) had two classes with Laura so far and she loves learning from her. Laura is very cheerful and encouraging, and at the same time, she clearly points out areas that need to be improved and how to practice those techniques. We are very happy :)

Laura is a thorough teacher and teaches with a good sense of humor.

Laura is kind and patient with my (beginner) child, which makes her enjoy learning the violin. Her flexibility in teaching styles and scheduling has helped us with our busy schedule. Clearly a talented violin player herself, we feel confident that Laura knows what she's doing in teaching our child.

Laura is sweet, smart, personable, patient, and has achieved miracles with my daughter. My daughter has a short attention span and is very impatient with most things, and has quit other classes we've tried. Not with Laura. She has just the right mix of patience and encouragement, and it's one of the only courses my girl genuinely wants to go back to every week. Most of that is due to her amazing teacher. Thanks, Laura!

Laura is a wonderful instructor, my daughter really enjoys learning from her. She is positive, cheerful and encouraging during her lessons.

We love Laura! My seven year old daughter has been taking lessons once a week since March and we have seen much improvement. She is great at encouraging and correcting with kindness and purpose.
Laura is instilling a love of violin in our child while teaching correct methods.
She provides appropriate challenges and goals with a plan to achieve those goals.
She has a sweet spirit that is peaceful and my child loves to learn with her.
She goes out of her way to help my child learn a song is has asked to learn on her own by breaking it down in learnable chunks. An excellant teacher!

Laura is fantastic!! She is gentle, yet firm in her approach and her demeanor works very well with my shy 5 year old. I can't believe the progress my daughter has made within such a short period of time. I have a strong feeling we wouldn't have been able to hold her interest in the frustrating beginning stages with many other instructors. Laura is a real find.

She is great with my son! She keeps his attention and he seems to really enjoy going.

I met Laura at a Songwriter meet up. I play guitar and the moment I heard her play I knew she was special. I'd been wanted to learn fiddle and when I found out she was a teacher, I signed up. I've been very satisfied. Laura is the real thing. Professional, patient and has good communication skills and a good work flow. I'm interested in blue grass and old time. Lucky for me, Laura excels in these genres. I've been taking lessons for 5 months. I'm making steady progress, but I have to say, fiddle is tougher than guitar. But with Laura's expertise and guidance, I know I'm going to get there.

Laura is a natural teacher- she is able to identify strengths and needs and come up with steps to improve weak areas and also ideas on how to build on the strengths. What I value most about the lessons that I take with her is that she seems undaunted by my inability to grasp something and just comes up with another approach to help me. She is flexible and a master of many styles of fiddle playing. She can work with anyone from beginning to accomplished; child to senior citizen. I look forward to each lesson.

Laura is a top-notch instructor! She is incredibly talented and committed to helping students learn and have fun. Highly recommended!

Laura is a top-notch instructor! She is incredibly talented and committed to helping students learn and have fun. Highly recommended!

Laura is wonderful! She's totally inspired my daughter, who now walks around the house playing all our favorite fiddle tunes. There was one piece my dad in particular loves (Truck Drivin' Man) and Laura wrote it out for us. My daughter played it for her granpa's birthday, it was so sweet!
Photos & Videos
7 Photos & VideosExperience
Private Music Instructor
Feb 2015 - PresentSelf-Employed
I'm currently teaching privately in Asheville NC!
Private Music Instructor
Nov 2013 - Nov 2014Jammin' With You
I taught with these folks in the Boston area for a year after graduation!
Private Music Instructor
Sep 2003 - Sep 2011Self-Employed
I ran my own music business for eight years in northern California before leaving to go back to school. Many great students and wonderful memories!
Education
BA in Music Performance
Sep 2009 - May 2012Berklee College of Music
Awards
5th place, Young Adults
Jun 2011National Oldtime Fiddle Championships
Young Adult Champion
Mar 2010California State Old Time Fiddle Contest
Young Adult Champion
Oct 2009Western Open Fiddle Championships
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