Instrumental

Lessons

  Violin & Viola  

Our Program

Weekly Lesson

Students take an individual lesson once a week at their private teacher's studio. The private lesson is when parent, student, and teacher are able to focus on the learning.  Lesson lengths vary based on the what is developmentally appropriate for each child.  The basic guidelines

Performances

Music as a gift. Performing is an invaluable experience for our students. Our students to perform regularly and offer studio recitals, workshops, and other performance experiences throughout the year. Many of our students also perform at the GASA Graduation Recital in the Wintertime. We also encourage our students for service events to share their gift with the community. Our students gain confidence, poise, and stage presence from these experiences.

Group Lessons

Students learn from one another. ASMS students regularly attend group classes based on developmental readiness and ability. Group lessons reinforce the concepts first introduced in private lessons and add the element of playing as a part of a group. In our collective experience, students in music groups show a greater sense of motivation and progress at a more accelerated rate. Students will perform with their group class at group recitals, play-ins, and at outreach events in the community.

Suzuki Method

  • Shin’ichi Suzuki discovered that children learn language effortlessly. Later, Neuroscientists discovered that music shares the same pathways in the brain as language. Learning by ear first helps students develop fluency in music. Once the skills are ready, reading music is introduced in the same way we learn to speak before we read and write.

  • Students are encouraged to begin music training from birth. Students can attend Parent & Me classes and begin listening to Suzuki recordings before the age of 4. Students typically start violin between the ages of 4-7.

  • Each part of the Parent-Student-Teacher triangle is equally important. The teacher has the expertise in violin pedagogy, the parent is the practice partner and cheerleader, and the student is there to learn.

  • Suzuki Students spend their beginning years learning to make a beautiful tone. With simple, step-by-step instructions, students can easily master an instrument as intricate as the violin. Once students learn the skills necessary for tone we begin working on mastering repertoire.

  • Daily listening and weekly group class are unique aspects of the Suzuki Method. Children are immersed in music and inspire each other to reach for the next step.

  • Lessons are not just about learning the violin, but the development of the whole child. The violin a vehicle for developing character, a love of culture, and to become good citizens of the world.

Instruments

Violin Lessons

There is something thrilling about the violin. The highest pitched stringed instrument, its exuberant and nimbleness makes its appearance in music genres around the world. Since the violin can pierce through the texture of an orchestra, it often plays a virtuosic role will music that question the limits of what is possible.

Violin Faculty: Rachel Alvarado, Connor Bell, Megan Canney, Daniel Gee Cordova

Viola Lessons

The viola is a tone color instrument. In the orchestra, it mimics the depth and warmth of the french horn or creates a haunting mellow color. With a range between the violin and cello, it often switches between the roles of both instruments in orchestras and chamber ensembles. Violists are students with sensitive ears and hearts who feel a visceral connection to tone quality.

Viola Faculty: Rachel Alvarado, Connor Bell, Daniel Gee Cordova

Testimonials

“Daniel Gee has been my children's teacher, guide and mentor for the past 8 years from the time they were 5 years old. Few teachers have as natural a gift with children as Danny has. I often tell people he knows my children, how they learn and what they need, better than I do. Even though my children are twins and their progression of pieces run parallel, their individual lessons could not be more different, and that is because of Danny. He knows how to bring out the best in his students and because of his unwavering attention to detail has earned the reputation of being one of the best violin instructors in Texas.

We have had master classes with clinicians from across the country, prolonged study in the summers in Canada and auditions with various orchestra directors in town and every time, after a knowing nod when Danny's name is mentioned, he is always complimented very highly.

Whether a student is the tiniest little child or the stubbornest of teenagers, Danny has a casual, yet effective way to connect very deeply with them. His leadership and vision has propelled his studio to one of the strongest, most innovative studios with vibrant group classes, meaningful performance opportunities and master classes and workshops with renowned clinicians. The guidance and experiences given to the students will remain with them forever.”

— Raji P.