TECHNIQUES

I teach from a student's strengths. We start with what is the very easiest, and use that easy feeling to tackle harder elements of technique. If the D string sounds better, for example, we use the D string as home base.

Playing by ear seems insurmountable to some. But within one lesson, a connection is made to internal singing, and every student has immediately learned to find notes.

And finally, the guiding rule to my teaching is a visual technique. As we hear a melody, we imagine the bow as our brush and paint that melody onto the strings. This prevents the mind from dwelling on outside pressures, and increases musicality and focus without any effort.

TEACHING BACKGROUND

I began teaching at age 13 when my H.S. Orchestra conductor asked me to help the 2nd violins learn their parts. As early as that time I concluded that the greatest deterrent to learning is a poor perception of what is possible. My techniques help a student to be less judgemental about his/her weaknesses. There is merely problem solving, and determining what methods to use so that the practice process becomes more efficient.

My wonderful teachers include Sanford Allen, formerly of the New York Philharmonic, Peter Marsh, of the Lenox String Quartet, Ruth Waterman, former Concert Mistress of the Orpheus Ensemble, and fiddlers Neil Rossi, Marty Laster, and James Kelly.

Yet, despite the fantastic fiddle lessons, I felt that I needed to invent the transition from a Classical player to a folk musician and improviser on my own, and this took many years. I believe that having done so in a wide variety of styles enables me to cut that time dramatically for my students.

Many of my adult students are, or have become, professional or semi-professional, and the children who also study classical violin are able to move easily from one style to the other.

AVAILABILITY

I am available for private lessons in NYC, Skype lessons and master classes internationally, and as a consultant for other teachers. I teach mostly Irish, Klezmer and American fiddling, some Blues and Jazz, and have helped students studying Swedish, Norwegian, Middle Eastern, and many other styles as well.

To contact Lisa, please send an email to .