Young Strings - Violin and Viola lessons. Learn to Play Classical, Pop, and Jazz with an Experienced Teacher.

From 52 C$ /h

Young Strings is the violin and viola studio of Liam, BMus. Liam offers online private music lessons via Zoom from his studio in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada that are fun, engaging, and impart a real sense of musical understanding.

Beginning students will learn from the Suzuki violin/viola method books, supplemented by more creative songs and arrangements. For intermediate/advanced students, we study more advanced techniques such as shifting, vibrato, and advanced bow strokes. The student also has flexibility in terms of style they would like to focus on - classical/pop/improvisation/etc.

Extra information

A laptop computer (Windows or Mac) with Zoom is required, ideally with a good quality microphone.

Location

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At student's location :

Around St. Catharines, 08, Canada

At teacher's location :

St Patrick St, St. Catharines, ON, Canada

Online from Canada

About Me

As once a young violin student, an older viola student, and now a teacher of both instruments, I have been involved with music nearly my entire life and greatly value its importance. My musical education started with fiddle lessons when I was 7, leading to classical violin when I was 12, and eventually a degree in viola performance, studying with Christine Vlajk at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Since 2012, I have had the opportunity to work with a large number of students ranging from complete beginners to advanced-level musicians wishing to further progress in their musical knowledge. I teach all ages of students, from children as young as 4 years old all the way up to older adults.

I encourage all my students to pursue learning music they are interested in, whether that is classical, fiddle/folk music, improvisation-based styles like pop/rock/hip hop/blues, or even exploring the possibilities of electronic music using the violin/viola. As a classically trained musician that deeply understands the technical side of physical movement and sound production involved in playing the violin and viola, I am able to impart a strong Suzuki-based technical foundation onto my students that effectively sets them up to be able to pursue whatever form of musical expression resonates with them the most.

First and foremost, I want my students to have fun, feel accomplished, and feel more musically enlightened every week. I base my teaching off Mimi Zweig's teaching philosophy, which emphasizes a non-judgmental learning environment that also promotes physical freedom while minimizing tension. In my studio, mistakes are not viewed as being negative, but rather they are useful information to learn from in order to succeed.

Besides maintaining a busy private teaching schedule, I teach group violin classes with Suzuki Niagara, hold a section viola position with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, play violin at weddings and other special events with pianist Zach Dekker as part of my company The Fox Duo, and pursue a number of creative projects mainly centred around producing and composing electronic music.

Education

Bachelor of Music, Honours Viola Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, 2013
National Youth Orchestra of Canada - Section Violist, 2010
Book 1 Suzuki Violin Teacher Training, 2018

Experience / Qualifications

-8 years experience teaching private lessons full-time
-22 years experience playing violin
-15 years experience playing viola
-Section Violist with Niagara Symphony Orchestra, 2018-Present

Age

Children (7-12 years old)

Teenagers (13-17 years old)

Adults (18-64 years old)

Seniors (65+ years old)

Student level

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Duration

30 minutes

45 minutes

60 minutes

The class is taught in

English

Skills

Violin

Musical styles:

Classical

Pop

Jazz

Playing techniques:

Vibrato

Bowing techniques

Viola

Availability of a typical week

(GMT -05:00)

New York

At teacher's location and via webcam

At student's home

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

00-04

04-08

08-12

12-16

16-20

20-24

Felicia

Music is fundamental to my being, and I believe that it is integral to the education of any person. We all have rhythm and sound as a core part of our body, from the heartbeat to the sound of breath, and formal training in music is only an expansion of what already exists in every person. The body of a musician requires as much detailed physical analysis and focus as that of an elite athlete; all of my lessons begin with physical warm-ups to support the specific musculature required in the development of each instrument. Joy and play are essential elements of successful learning at any age, and I make certain that students learn without a lot of undue stress and anxiety. Adult students can expect the same support and respect as the youngest child. Music brings joy to the soul.

Felicia

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Contact Liam