Violin with Vicky O.

Hi there! My name is Vicky. Since 2005, I have been working with students as first an academic tutor, then a violin teacher, then both! This includes over ten years of experience in tutoring math and language arts, two years of tutoring science, and ten years of teaching violin. I use a patient, friendly approach that seeks to make learning both effective and fun. I truly care about my students, and I like to incorporate a mentoring aspect into my sessions. Their success is my number one priority, and I will do everything in my power to help them achieve it. I graduated at the top of my class from Jacksonville University in 2002 with a BA degree in communications and strong minor in music. In 2004, I went back to school for 18 credits in education classes. For academic tutoring, I teach students in grades 3-8. Whether it's math, science, or language arts, students get a custom tailored tutoring program that address their unique learning style, needs, goals, and expectations. I work with students to find and fill any gaps in their knowledge. Difficult concepts are broken down into components that are easy to understand. Examples and explanations are followed with application of knowledge. Guided practice leads to independent practice, which then leads to mastery. Music has been a love of mine for as long as I can remember. The sum total of my musical training includes six years of piano lessons, fourteen years of violin, two years of percussion, and a semester of cello. Having a particular love for orchestral music, I spent seven years in the JU Orchestra -- before, during, and after college. I’ve had many years of experience playing in quartets and small ensembles as well. Trained primarily in classical music, I branched out several years ago into fiddling to add to my repertoire. I began teaching violin in 2011 and have loved it ever since. Drawing on over 30 years of playing experience allows me to have an extensive familiarity with all aspects of playing the violin, from instrument care to learning materials to how best to explain different techniques. Because not all students learn the same way, I tailor my teaching methods to their individual learning styles. I use a variety of method books and approaches, including the Suzuki method, traditional instruction, and often a combination of the two. During the first lesson, I will ask students what their goals are. Then, we will develop a plan to meet those goals. From that point forward, a typical lesson begins with tuning (if necessary), a warm up technical exercise or scale, and then the main piece to be learned. If applicable, I will also listen to the student play a review piece, just for tips on polishing it. Because of Covid-19, all lessons are conducted online for the safety of the student and teacher alike. All that is needed is a reliable, high-speed internet connection, a web cam with microphone, a violin, and music. Please note that online violin lessons are only offered to students who already know the basics of playing the instrument. Brand new beginners, especially young ones, benefit much more from in-person lessons.