A lesson plan built around you
Every student is different, so every lesson plan is too. Here's what learning violin or viola at Glebe Strings Studio looks like at every stage.
Beginners: make it fun, set a goal
New students start with a song they already know and love — a favourite pop hit or movie theme — giving lessons a clear, exciting goal from week one. Along the way:
- Suzuki-inspired ear training builds real pitch, tone, and rhythm instincts
- A compassionate, encouraging approach keeps confidence high
- Practice challenges, streaks, and small rewards turn daily practice into a game
- Royal Conservatory basics are introduced gradually, so reading music feels natural
Advancing players: refine the details
For students ready to level up, lessons shift toward the technical and expressive elements of virtuosic playing:
- Hand, arm, and body positioning
- Shifting and advanced left-hand technique
- Bow control, tone production, and dynamics
- Musical phrasing and expressive performance
- Royal Conservatory repertoire, theory, and exam preparation
What every lesson covers
Each lesson balances three areas, with the mix adjusted to the student's age and level.
Technique & Healthy Playing
Posture, hand and bow positioning, and ways to play without tension or injury, plus practice methods that make home practice effective.
Scales & Etudes
Focused technical studies that build intonation, bowing, and finger skills, and reinforce what's learned in the repertoire.
Core Repertoire
The main piece each student is working to perfect, shaped with attention to tone, dynamics, and musical expression.
Lesson details
Instruments
Violin and viola, for beginner through advanced players.
Lesson length
30, 45, or 60 minutes, depending on the student's age and level.
Fees
30 minutes: $30
45 minutes: $45
60 minutes: $55
Where lessons happen
In-person lessons at my home studio in the Glebe are always preferred for students in the Ottawa area. Online lessons are available for students outside Ottawa, and are a handy option when an in-person student is under the weather but well enough to play.
Ready to book your first lesson?
Tell me a bit about yourself (or your child) and their current experience, and let's get started.
Get in Touch