Studio Z Violin

$85/hour

estimated price

Zip code

Interested musical styles

Lesson length

Playing style

It’s free, with no obligation to book

Introduction: Hey there! My name is Kevin, and I've been playing classical violin for more than 20 years. I have music degrees in violin performance from Yale University and Rice University, and I am also the music director and conductor of the New Haven Chamber Orchestra. I hold my students to very high standards, but I do so in a very friendly and patient manner. I have an unusually large amount of teaching experience, as I began teaching violin from a very young age (Had my first student when I was 14? Geez that was a while ago) I like to approach teaching from a very friendly and accessible angle. I've come across many teachers in the past that are rather unpleasant, and I'd like to move as far from that as possible. I stress the fundamentals of violin technique, which I find a lot of teachers fail to do, as many students come to me having built up bad habits that could have been easily remedied early on. I arm my students with a solid understanding of the fundamentals so they can overcome any challenge they face, and ultimately become their own teachers. I love to keep my students engaged in lessons. It makes me so sad to hear parents tell me how their child's previous teacher was incredibly boring. An active mind absorbs so much more information! I really love teaching as a whole. I think it's a great privilege to be able to inspire and educate both younger and older generations in music. That being said, what I like most about teaching is watching my students develop and grow over time. It's a wonderful feeling to see a student make great leaps.

Overview

Hired 8 times

Serves West Haven, CT

Background checked

1 employee

9 years in business

Payment methods

This pro accepts payments via Cash, Check, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.

Featured Projects

11 photos

Specialties

Interested musical styles

Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, professionalism, and responsiveness.

Exceptional 5.0

8 reviews

100%

Read reviews that mention:

Timothy O.

Nov 26, 2023

Hired on Thumbtack

Kevin is a great teacher for adults. He is patient but demanding in terms of tone, tempo, rhythm, technique, and musicality. He is always pleasant and good natured during lessons.

Details: 65 years or older • 4+ yrs of formal training • Yes, the student can read music • Classical violin • Classical • Yes, the student has a violin • 60 minutes • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc.

Violin Lessons

Vincent C.

Apr 26, 2015

Hired on Thumbtack

Helpful and patient. Makes sure I don't develop bad habits and goes through lessons at a good pace. A perfect instructor for someone that is learning the instrument for the very first time. The lessons made me want to play the violin even more.

Violin Lessons

Vickie W.

Jan 8, 2015

I took private violin lessons with Kevin for a few summers in order to prepare for auditions for my community orchestra. Kevin was extremely helpful and nice, and between lessons he was always available in case I needed to reschedule.

Katrina E.

Feb 17, 2015

Hired on Thumbtack

Kevin is a phenomenal instructor who have a remarkable attention to detail. My daughter feels comfortable around him and he encourages and motivates her while identifying and correcting her mistakes in a helpful and reassuring manner. Kevin is very patient person and I feel with his expertise, that he can get my daughter to play her violin at a level of her expectations while instilling the confidence she needs to be able to perform. K.E.

Violin Lessons

Basak D.

Jan 21, 2016

Hired on Thumbtack

Patient teacher for my beginner 6 year old daughter. She enjoys the lessons and the violin. Punctual, detail oriented.

Violin Lessons (for children or teenagers)

Credentials

Background Check

Kevin Zheng

FAQs

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
The first lesson I provide is a 'trial lesson'. I listen to anything the student is working on, or if they are new, provide them with materials to start with. The first lesson gives me a chance to get to know my new student and to establish a starting point we can work from. More importantly, it allows my student to make an informed opinion about whether or not they would like to keep taking lesson from me in the future. It's a win-win for both sides!
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Education: I got my Masters of Music in Violin Performance from the Yale School of Music in 2018, and my Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. My full education history is listed below: Yale University (Syoko Aki) | New Haven, CT (2016-2018) Masters of Music (M.M.) in Violin Performance (2018) Rice University (Kathleen Winkler) | Houston, TX (2013-2016) Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Violin Performance (2016) UNC Chapel Hill (Richard Luby) | Chapel Hill, NC (2012-2013) University of North Carolina School of the Arts (Kevin Lawrence) | Winston Salem, NC (2008-2012) I have won many music-related awards and scholarships: George Wellington Miles Scholarship | Yale School of Music (Fall 2016) Elizabeth and Albert Kidd Prize (Fall 2015) Fellowship | Music Academy of the West (Summer 2015) Dorothy Starling Foundation Scholar | Rice University (Fall 2013) Aspen Fellowship | Aspen Summer Music Festival (Summer 2013) Kenan Music Scholarship | UNC-Chapel Hill (Fall 2012) Menuhin International Competition Semi-finalist (Spring 2010) Stradivarius International Competition Semi-finalist (Summer 2010) 1st prize: Durham Symphony Competition, Raleigh Symphony Competition, UNCSA Symphony Competition, Winston-Salem Symphony Competition I have worked with many of today's greatest classical musicians: Pamela Frank, William Bolcom, Andres Cardenes, Victor Danchenko, Paul Kantor, Sylvia Rosenberg, Dmitri Sitkovetsky, David Updegraff, Glenn Dicterow, and members of the Emerson and Orion String Quartets no
How did you get started doing this type of work?
It started off very gradually; I began providing private lessons to some of my neighbors in high school just in my free time (or when they needed help). I started getting serious about teaching my freshman year of college in North Carolina, when I ran my own teaching "studio" from home over the weekends.

Studio Z Violin

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