Best Violin Lessons in Rollins Fork, VA

Hi, my name is Gabriel and I'm a violinist currently serving as Assistant Concertmaster of the Annapolis Symphony, Principal Violin II of the York Symphony, and a section violinist in the Harrisburg Symphony. In addition to extensive orchestral experience, I am looking forward to performing as soloist in an upcoming concert with the York Symphony, and I have given numerous chamber music performances and other small recitals.

My musical education was completed at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, where I received three music performance degrees: BM, MM, and GPD. I was awarded top merit scholarships for all of my studies there, and I received the first prize in the undergraduate violin competition.

Feel free to check out sample videos of my playing below!

I enjoy teaching violinists of all levels, from first time beginners to those with years of experience looking to audition for colleges/conservatories or orchestral opportunities.

For beginners and ...

Congratulations! I mean it! Looking for violin lessons is a big step, and the first to achieving your goals as a budding musician.

In your lessons with me, you will first learn proper set-up and technique, and we will mainly work from the Suzuki method books. Additionally, I will provide you with various scales, exercises, and "fun pieces" as you progress. I wholeheartedly believe that learning the violin should be enjoyable, and not a chore. So, wherever you are at with current skill level, and whatever your motives are for taking lessons, you can rest assured that we will have a great time together!

I have been playing viola for 17 years and teaching violin, viola, and cello for 8 years. I graduated from the University of West Florida in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance - Viola. My viola instructor was Dr. Leonid Yanovskiy, current and former concert master of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, and many others.
While earning my degree, I also learned how to play violin and cello and am able to teach them up to an intermediate level.
My teaching ideology is that ANYONE can learn an instrument at any age. I have taught students as young as 4 and as old as 65! Many adult students of mine have expressed difficulty and even shame in trying to find a teacher for them who would take them on, simply because they were starting as an adult.
We don't have to train for the symphony (unless you want to!); your goals are my goals and I will help you reach them!

My violin lessons are customized to meet your specific musical goals, and whether you are an adult wanting to take lessons for the first time, or an amateur aspiring to make music your full-time career, I am excited to work with you. My lessons are rooted in a classical foundation, and I am also open to incorporating contemporary techniques and violin improvisation into the curriculum.

When it comes to violin I use both book and audio. I want to help my students learn to not only read the music but to also hear and feel it. I have been teaching this way for the last few years and found that my students have a deeper understanding of the music by learning the see with their ears. Each student is tasked with coming up with goals that they want to reach, goals their parents would like for them to reach and from there a personalized path for learning is created and followed.

Students can start with me as a beginner or as an advanced student looking to learn new practice skills, new technique, skills, and bow strokes. Students work on reading music, music theory, solo music, scales, exercises for tone and coordination, vibrato, sight reading, rhythm, audition music, and orchestral music. I have zoom performances several times a year. I teach a variety of music styles such as jazz, classical, romantic period music, 20th Century music, contemporary music, bluegrass, Celtic, Irish Fiddle, Scottish Fiddle, movie music, and popular music. I recommend many youth orchestras in the area that I encourage my students to join. I help students work on audition music for All Southern Youth Orchestra and All State Youth Orchestras and other Youth Orchestras and university auditions. I go at the student's pace and have started out many beginners that have reached Suzuki Book 10 level.