Viola with Michael L.

I am a professional freelance violinist and teacher living in San Francisco. I began studying violin at the age of 5 and have had the privilege of studying with renowned teachers who taught at Moscow Conservatory, Stanford, and Curtis Institute of Music. I have performed violin and viola in North and South America (including Carnegie Hall and the National Theater of Costa Rica) and in Europe. I am very experienced teaching via Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, and Google Meet. I have had success with online lessons for students from 4 years old to adults, ranging from beginners to advanced students. I'm excited to continue to use and explore technologies like Acapella to record duets with students, Google Drive to share my example recordings, sheet music, lesson notes and other resources, and online platforms to offer occasional recitals or workshops going forward. My violin and viola students can expect me to tailor the way I teach to their unique goals and learning styles. Everyone's hands and arms are different, and string technique is not "one size fits all." I believe that all students can achieve success and play musically if they have the right tools. My job is to provide students with those tools. I specialize in teaching a relaxed technique that allows players to get a warm, beautiful tone from their instrument so that they are free to play musically and expressively with confidence! I teach violin and viola students of all different ages and experience levels. I've studied classical violin for 24 years. I can teach students to read music and pursue excellence in a traditional classical way, or I can teach students how to play their favorite pop tunes, depending on students' personal goals. I currently serve as concertmaster of the Mozart to Mendelssohn Orchestra in San Francisco, lead chamber music nights with the SF Civic Music Association, and play gigs around the Bay Area. I love being a part of community music-making and believe that the benefits of music education reach far beyond the instrument itself to social and cognitive skills, confidence, and creativity. My personal passion is classical music but the kind of technique I teach applies to all styles, and I am experienced teaching fiddling, pop music, or whatever music inspires you. I look forward to meeting you and helping you to become a better musician!