Studio at Cambridge Music Consortium
At-a-Glance
My studio at CMC enrolls 20+ enthusiastic learners of all ages and levels. I offer lessons year-round, with most students enrolling on a nine-month academic calendar (September to May) supplemented by additional summer study. Students receive 1:1 private lessons on a regular weekly or bi-weekly cadence, periodic enrichment activities (studio class, group projects, practice coaching, parent conferences), and at least two recital opportunities.
Some of my young students opt for a Suzuki experience - in addition to private lessons with me, they enroll in the group class program offered by my wonderful colleague Lisa Lederer (Cambridge Suzuki Violins). Others are active participants in school music programs (Boston Latin School, Cambridge Rindge & Latin), youth orchestras (Rivers School Conservatory, NEC Prep), community orchestras (Parkway Community Orchestra), and/or summer festivals (Apple Hill, BYSO).
Core Values
1. Violin teaches us how to pay attention. Paying attention is an act of love. There is a beautiful scene in Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird in which a character describes the connection between love and attention. Ever since seeing that movie, I’ve been stuck on this idea that learning an instrument - a pursuit that usually requires years of careful attention to detail - is a way of teaching ourselves how to show love and care.
2. Violin builds an engaged inner life. Learning an instrument can also give us space to experience deep emotion. On one level, it helps us to build an awareness of and appreciation for beauty. On another, it grows our sense of empathy, as we learn to understand, share, and interpret the aural and written stories embedded in a particular musical style or piece. Working on these abilities - appreciating beauty, interpreting texts, relating to others - is really hard work, but it comes with a beautiful side-effect. Over time, it encourages us to feel deeply, without shortcuts.
3. “Success” is Defined Individually - I believe that a healthy studio can accommodate a wide-range of musical paths. Some of my students are high schoolers working on advanced repertoire and practicing multiple hours per day. Others are young children (or adults!) picking up an instrument for the first time. In each of these cases, “success” comes from honest discussion around what is possible, mutual respect, and a consistent rhythm of daily practice (be it 5 minutes or 5 hours!).
Curriculum
Students in my studio progress through material such as:
- Shirley Givens, Adventures in Violinland
- the Suzuki Violin School
- Elise Winters, Kaleidoscopes
- core studies by Wohlfahrt, Whistler, Trott, Kreutzer
- scale methods by Barbara Barber and Carl Flesch
- student concerti by Seitz, Küchler, Rieding, Viotti, Accolay, Kabalevsky
- standard concert repertoire by Bach, Bruch, Kreisler, Lalo, Mozart and beyond
- requests drawn from popular, video game, and film music
I aim to build musicianship skills (literacy, singing, rhythm, harmonic awareness) at all stages of the learning process, and I support participation in ensemble programs by reserving lesson time for coaching on orchestra and chamber music assignments.
Key Policies
Student Absences
Absences are excused if caused by illness/emergency, or if 48+hrs notice is given for an approved reason (ex. significant academic/athletic/artistic conflict, family obligation, planned travel).
Absences are unexcused if less than 48hrs notice has been provided for a non-emergency reason, or if the reason given is unapproved (ex. studying for finals, didn’t practice this week).
Makeups / Lesson Credits
Makeup credits are issued for excused absences or teacher absences only. If a pattern of chronic absence emerges, the teacher may cap the number of makeup credits allowed. Makeup lessons will stick closely to the usual teaching schedule (Mon/Tues/Wed/Sun) - if a makeup timeslot cannot be found, an equivalent asynchronous (recorded) lesson will be offered.
My Music Staff
Every student and parent in my studio receives a dedicated, password-protected portal on My Music Staff (the software platform I use to manage studio admin). MMS portals display currently scheduled lessons (syncable to all major calendar apps!), billing history, online resources (recordings, links), and lesson notes or repertoire guides. Please bookmark your MMS portal and check it periodically.
Tuition + Rates
Tuition Breakdown
+ tuition is billed on a semester basis (Fall Semester, Spring Semester + optional Summer Term)
+ 60min lessons are valued at $109 each // 45min lessons at $86 // 35min lessons at $68
+ once-annual registration fee of $300 divided as follows -
$120 toward enrichment activities (studio class, special projects, practice supports, etc.)
$120 toward fall + spring studio recitals (venue rental, piano rehearsals, reception)
$60 toward supplemental materials (chin rests, shoulder rests, music library)
+ My studio accepts check, credit card via PayPal, and Venmo payments.
Financial Aid + Equipment Loan
For 8+ years, I taught exclusively for non-profit organizations offering tuition-free or affordable lessons. Though I currently teach in a market-rate, private studio setting, my values haven’t changed - I still believe that violin lessons should be accessible to anyone with the desire to learn.
As such, I redirect ~10% of my studio’s revenue toward an internal scholarship fund. I distribute these funds amongst returning students who have indicated financial need and demonstrated a significant commitment to violin study.
Students who are ready for advanced instruments might not yet be in a financial position to purchase them. To assist with this need, I currently loan out two of my professional-level bows on a rotating basis.