• About Hannah
    • Contact
  • Performances
  • Study with Hannah
    • Creative Ability Development Classes
    • Student Resource Pages >
      • Calendar
      • Policies
  • About Hannah
    • Contact
  • Performances
  • Study with Hannah
    • Creative Ability Development Classes
    • Student Resource Pages >
      • Calendar
      • Policies
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Violin and Viola Lessons For All Ages

Hannah is currently accepting new violin and viola students starting in May so please contact her with questions. (St Louis, Missouri) At this time due to COVID-19 she is only teaching lessons online. She is currently only accepting students who will make violin lessons a priority in their activities and can practice on average at least 5 days a week.

Hannah is accepting students for group lessons in improvisation and Creative Ability Development on select Saturdays. These are group lessons, online for now, for students who already can play the violin, viola, and cello at an elementary level. Please contact her for more information if you are interested. She also offers recitals and "performance happy hours" for adult learners. 

Hannah has over 20 years of experience teaching violin (and viola). She believes anyone can learn to the play the violin (or viola) at any age, and teaches lessons to each student on a personal level, trying to give them what they need and enjoy in order to become the best musician they can, while focusing on technique as the way to open the door to success on the instrument. Hannah also hopes to spread her love of the music to everybody. 

Her basic philosophy is that all children can learn to play, all children are creative (and adults too!) and that playing a musical instrument is a fantastic way to be creative and express oneself. 
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Hannah teaches private violin lessons out of her home near The Hill neighborhood in St Louis (a few minutes from I-44 and Hampton). (Not at this time, due to COVID-19, but in the future she will again.) She welcomes new students of all ages and levels but generally requires a weekly time commitment and encourages daily practice and participation in other studio activities such as recitals, festivals, and classes.  She teaches using a primarily Suzuki inspired method and philosophy but uses the Mark O'Connor Method with some students who prefer a less classical approach, and accepts students who have started in many different ways. She is happy to teach a mix of styles and her only requirement is that students try to practice at least 5 days a week and strive towards excellence in whatever approach they take.  Please contact her for more information about fees and hours. ​

Her students have many performance and honor opportunities through her membership in the Missouri Federation of Music Clubs and the Music Teachers National Association. Many of her students participate in Solo and Ensemble through their school programs and she helps them prepare, and they often achieve high marks. She also has several students who have gotten college scholarships for music and a few who currently hope to pursue music education. At Washington University her students have won the Friends of Music award and the Antoinette Dames award, and at Lindenwood University her students have majored in music, music education, and music business, and some are currently working as music teachers and performers, both full and part-time. Visit this link for an overall of some competitive groups her students have participated in and some honors they have achieved over the years.

Hannah encourages her students to seek outside ensemble opportunities, as part of the fun of playing an instrument is getting to play music with other people. Her students participate in their school orchestras, in orchestras such as the Young People's Symphonic Orchestra at the Community Music School at Webster University, in District Honors Orchestras and All-Suburban Orchestras. They have attended summer music camps at the Community Music School, SIUE-Edwardsville, Eureka College, University of Illinois, and more.

"I want to thank you for being the perfect teacher for my daughter." -Micaela
"As an educator myself, I can see what a gifted teacher you are and your rapport with students is spot on."
​                                                                                                                            -Beth​
Hannah holds two degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music: a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance (1999) and a Master of Music in Violin Performance (2001).

Additionally, Hannah is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music through the Music Teachers National Association. She has received Suzuki training with Rudy Hazucha, Susan Kempter, Carol Smith, Vera McCoy-Sulentic, and has taken Suzuki Online Seminars with Teri Einfeldt,  Kirsten Marshall, and Daina Volodka Staggs. She has attended Indiana University's Retreat for Violin and Viola Teachers with Mimi Zweig and she also has certification for teaching Books 1 -4 of the Mark O'Connor Method from Mark O'Connor and Pamela Wiley. She received a certificate in Soft Skills from the Rochester Institute of Technology through EdX and continues to take classes and seminars online, including a long term class on teaching the Creative Ability Development Method with Laura Nerenberg.
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Suzuki Violin Pedagogy Training (for more information, visit the Suzuki Association website)

  • Every Child Can with Edward Kreitman, 2020
  • Developing the Ear from the First Lesson withTeri Einfeldt, 2020
  • Revisiting Violin Book 1 with Teri Einfeldt, 2021
  • Volume 1A and 1B from South Carolina Suzuki Institute with Rudy Hazucha, 1992-3
  • Volume 2 and 3 from Suzuki Music Columbus Institute with Carol Smith, 2009
  • Volume 4 from Ottawa Mid-Southwest Suzuki Institute with Susan Kempter, 2010
  • Volume 5 from Ottawa Mid-Southwest Suzuki Institute with Susan Kempter, 2011
  • Volumes 5 through 10 from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville with Vera McCoy- Sulentic, 2009-2010
  • Dr. Suzuki's Position Etudes: How? Where? When? with Daina Volodka Staggs, 2020
  • Developing Spiccato with Kirsten Marshall, 2020
  • Parent Education & Online Learning: Supporting Parents & Helping Families Succeed in Your Studio with Christine Goodner, 2020
  • Teaching Beginning Improvisation Using Fiddle and Gospel Tunes with Renata Bratt, 2020
  • Always with Excellence: Developing Technique, Musicianship, and Character from PreTwinkle to Mozart with Charles Krigbaum, 2020
  • Viola Volume 6 with Sarah Montzka, 2020-2021



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