Hello there fiddle players and violinists! My name is Matt, and I play the violin (or the fiddle, depending on the gig!). I currently reside and perform regularly in New Orleans, one of the most musical cities in the United States. I grew up playing classically and reading music, but it was not long before I moved into playing with rock, blues, and hip-hop bands. When I discovered jazz as a teenager I delved in deeply into the genre, becoming fully committed to learning how to perform it on the violin. I have since studied with many of the most accomplished jazz violinists in the US and Europe, and toured and performed around the country in a number of different bands. I most often perform in gypsy jazz, swing, and traditional New Orleans jazz bands, but I am also comfortable playing country, western swing, and bluegrass - and I continue to play classically as well. I have years of experience teaching violin in a flexible way that takes the students unique interests and needs into account. Traditional violin teaching methods can yield great results for some students (and I am happy to go that route when desired) but I am also in favor of a balanced approach that not only focuses on reading music, but also spends time on ear training, improvising, and playing music from a variety of non-classical genres tailored to the students interests.