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Levels taught:
Beginner, Intermediate, AdvancedI have enjoyed playing it and performed it as a soloist with a Chinese orchestra.
I can teach you how to play this instrument and bring out it's unique, beautiful sound. I will also build your confidence, knowledge and skills and help you attain your goals. I have also composed original music for this instrument.
About Mimi D.
Mimi is a world class musician. She has been teaching Viola, Violin, Composition and Improvisation techniques for over 25 years.
Mimi studied personally for several years with Itzhak Perlman, the great, legendary, violin concert soloist.
Mimi toured with Barbra Streisand and also recorded movie scores in Los Angeles. In New York City she has played in The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, The New York Philharmonic, and debuted as a soloist at Carnegie Hall.
Mimi also played in The San Francisco Ballet Orchestra as principal violist, The San Francisco Opera Orchestra and The San Francisco Symphony.
Mimi has also recorded and released 5 CD's featuring her as a soloist.
Reviews
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Mimi is very compassionate and creative and inspiring, and I always learn a lot about songwriting and many other important things from her. Definitely several points above average!:)

She is so encouraging of any little thing I do correctly.

Mimi is very compassionate, patient, knowledgeable, and inspiring, and I always learn a lot in her classes. Definitely several points above average!:)

She is absolutely amazing. She has helped my daughter continue to learn how to play her viola. She is constantly challenging my daughter to improve.

Mimi made me feel right at home, was gracious with her comments and patient with my 10 thumbs.

Great rhythm training teacher.

Mimi is helping me learn how to play the Erhu. Her assessment of my existing knowlege of music theory was very spot on and she is a patient and skilled instructor, even online, which I thought might be difficult. She is encouraging and able to help me understand how to best learn and practice the instrument. I highly recommend her!

Mimi is a true inspiration and very good to work with and learn from My songwriting has improved significantly from working with her. Definitely several points above average!:)

I LOVED it! Mimi was so nice! I'm looking forward to the next lesson!!!!

Great first experience, looking forward to the next lesson.

Mimi is a very patient, compassionate, knowledgeable, and inspiring songwriting teacher, and I am learning a lot and gaining self-confidence from working with her. Most definitely several points above average!

Mimi really helped educate and inspire and encourage me in my songwriting today, She is truly a gifted teacher and most definitely several points above average!:)

This was a first lesson with the Erhu, and Mimi was very patient with my level of knowledge. It took us a moment to figure out how to get the video sorted out but she was very calm and easy to learn from, patient, and kind as well as very clear in her instruction as to what I could work on in-between lessons.

Mimi was very patient and encouraging. She helped me understand some aspects of music theory that I was having difficulty with, Definitely several points above average!:)

Mimi is wonderful! Both my children loved taking violin lessons with her and she was wonderful to work with. I definitely recommend her!

I am learning a lot from Mimi. She is a very patient, compassionate, knowledgeable, and inspiring teacher. Definitely several points above average!

Today Mimi helped me with a song I am writing, Mimi is a very patient, empathic, and inspiring teacher, and I am learning a lot about songwriting from her. Definitely she is several points above average.

Today Mimi helped me learn about primary and secondary triads. She was very patient and instructive in teaching me this. She also helped me understand how to write melodies using some intervals and was very positive and complimentary about this. She was also very positive and complimentary in critiquing a transcription that I wrote. I am learning a lot with Mimi and she is very inspiring. Definitely several points above average!:)

Mimi is a very patient, compassionate, and informative teacher, and I am learning a lot about music theory from her and am beginning to write lead sheets for songs I have written. She is most definitely several points above average!:)

Mimi is a very patient, compassionate, knowledgeable, and inspiring songwriting teacher. She does not merely give me a fish, she teaches me to fish. I wrote one of my best songs while in lessons with her-most definitely several points above average!:)

We were amazed that our children learned violin online! Mimi was very patient and great with our 7 and 10 year old. We moved along with the violin suzuki book with ease with Mimi's help. Both of our children looked forward to her lessons. We look forward to working with her again.

Mimi is a very patient, compassionate, instructive, and inspirational teacher, and I am learning a lot about songwriting from her. Definitely several points above average!:)

Mimi is a very good teacher with super sweet personality, but the Skype lesson did not work for Jasmine. She prefers in person music lessons.

Mimi is a very patient, compassionate, and knowledgeable teacher, and I learned a lot in my first music theory lesson.

Mimi is a generous teacher. Very knowledge and patient. We’ve only had one lesson, but are looking forward to many more!

Very patient. A wonderful teacher.

Mimi is very patient and knowledgeable and informative. She is a true inspiration for my songwriting. Definitely several points above average!

If you’re reading reviews I bet you’re kinda curious how someone can help you learn Viola online. Let me tell you it really does work!! I am a 26 year old adult who decided to learn viola and Mimi has been helping me fine tune my notes and read music and theory to get better! I wouldn’t recommend online in the very beginning. I feel it was best to go to a shop, get tape on your instrument to know where the baseline for your fingers go. How much rosin to put on your bow because that is tough to tell via a camera, but once you have the basics taking lessons online is great! Mimi is very patient, she can hear my notes and tell me if it’s flat or my bowing is crooked. I send her sheet music I’m interested, we work on basics like scales then we work on sheet music! And if you’re not happy with it they offer a full refund. I would definitely give it a shot if I were you!

Mimi is very compassionate, patient, instructive, and she really inspires my creativity and gives me more self confidence- she is a great songwriting teacher-definitely several points above average!

I had a great first lesson! Mimi was able to relate the piano to my background as a strings player, which was very helpful.

Mimi helps me to gain confidence in my singing and songwriting and helps me feel good about the songs I write. She also helps inspire my creativity and gives me good ideas for what I can work on. She is a very patient, knowledgeable, and compassionate instructor, definitely several points above average!

Wonderful first viola lesson! I look forward to learning with you. Thank you Mimi!

My daughter enjoyed her lesson very much! She felt so much more comfortable with her music after the lesson.

I love my lessons with Mimi, she is so patient and so very helpful to me !! I love this!!

This was my first songwriting lesson with Mimi. She helped me with one of my sings and listened to 2 of my other songs. I have found Mimi to be a very knowledgeable and patient and creative teacher who inspires self-confidence in her students. Definitely several points above average.

Mimi continues to be very patient and kind. I feel I am progressing in my learning/skills nicely. I could not ask for a better instructor!

My first lesson was wonderful!! I can now confidently hold my violin, tune it, know strings, how to hold my bow and more!! I am still so thrilled! Thanks Mimi, I am so looking forward to next week!

Have had only one lesson, and Mimi was very encouraging. Am looking forward to more. She was very motivating!

I only wish I could better express my appreciation for finding such a wonderful and creative teacher as Mimi! 5 little gold stars are hardly enough of a description for her experience, encouragement, expressiveness, and articulation of the violin. I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone at any stage of their music!

I write contemporary Christian and inspirational music. Mimi was great and helped me with my song melody's and structure. She was very encouraging, and knowledgeable. Showed me how to change the melody in the bridge to make my song stronger. I am pitching songs to have them recorded by Christian artist. I think one of the songs we worked on has good chance of being recorded. Thank you Mimi. Will come back for more sessions.

Mimi is a great teacher. She’s very encouraging and I enjoy the pieces we play. I’m already making great progress with intonation, bowing, and vibrato. I feel very fortunate to have found her for a violin teacher!

Mimi was awesome. She let me play some things. She could evaluate where I was based on giving some songs to play. She was patient and encouraging.

My first lesson was wonderful , I had been trying to learn on my own for the last three months, Mimis instruction was very helpful. She was friendly warm and encouraging. I look forward to my next lesson. I was a little intimidated by her vast experience , she reassured me and put my fears at ease. She also has experience teaching adults which is what I was looking for . I am 50 years old and have no experience playing violin .

Our first lesson went great; Mimi helped me pick up where I left off, and I'm really looking forward to future lessons. The lesson was productive and Mimi provided helpful instruction.

Great teacher! I typically don’t leave reviews but my daughter really likes the time spent with Mimi. Thank you Mimi, our family appreciates every minute you spend teaching Ana. Rick & Family

Very good. Appreciate your Lesson and the teaching techniques.


It is a very delightful experience to work with Mimi. She is helping me get those deep lovely tones from the viola and helping me with techniques to help me play without fatigue so I can play longer and with more enjoyment!

I am learning so much! I enjoy my weekly lessons and I am always looking forward to the next one. She is an encouraging and patient teacher.

Mimi is an excellent and patient teacher and very sweet person. I recommend all to have her as a tutor.

Excellent instruction, patient and kind

A++ instructor. If you are looking for that unique combination of world class violinist AND masterfully experienced at teaching the violin, then Mimi is for you. I've progressed rapidly in eight months of weekly instruction from a complete beginner playing his first notes through Suzuki Book II. Mimi is FUN to work with -- patient, encouraging and inspiring. She truly loves to teach and it shows.
Photos & Videos
Education
Masters Degree
Sep 1986 - Jun 1988Brooklyn College
Certifications
Certified Soloist Evaluator, Distinguished Faculty
Sep 2012Music Teachers Association/ Cremona Academy
Awards
Finalist
May 1988Naumberg International Viola Competition
Affiliations
The Recording Academy
Feb 1994Music Teachers' Association of California
Sep 1985Let Our Student Counselors Help You
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