Individual Focus

Private lessons are a great way to work through your music and technique as each lesson is focused on you. If you would like to play a solo or other work in recital, these lessons will help prepare you. If you are a group student and have missed class, a private lesson can keep you up to date. Also, if our group class schedule is impossible for you to attend, private lessons can keep you on track with your group class until the next session begins (usually a lesson weekly or every other week will keep you moving forward so you may enter at the next level.)

About Your Teacher

Over the years, I've been delighted to help people make violin and viola playing a part of their lives. I've been teaching for over 30 years in Seattle, and Olympia, Washington, Eugene, Oregon, New York City, Portland, and Windham, Maine. While in Eugene I taught for the 4J School District as an orchestra director, and conducted sectionals, and auditions, for the Eugene Youth Symphony. I've taught at the Suzuki Institute of Seattle, Tacoma Youth Symphony Music Camp, and been director of the Thalia Olympic Music Camp, and Seabeck Music Camp.

I have built a school that offers music education for not only children, but also for adults. This school has various programs for all stages in one's musical development, and it is such a school that says: "It is never too late to start. It is never too late to experience, and express through music."

I have had the honor of studying with some of the world's finest teachers/performers, including Peggy Olson, Edward Seferian, Walter Schwede, Marjorie Kransberg-Talvi, Milton Katims, Eric Shumsky, and Leslie Straka.

It is my belief that the arts are interrelated and when given an insights into music making, these insights can lend a fresh approach to other processes. Playing an instrument is not merely learning technique, or reproduction of pieces, it can be a diving board for an exciting journey into self discovery through the world of the arts: composers, musicians, dance, theater, visual art and literature. I hope to pass this feeling of inter-relatedness on to my students and to give my students something to take home in their hearts.

It gives me great joy see students discover, and grow. 

Ed Davis

Need an Instrument?

Instruments may be found online, and at local dealers, please see the link below for more info.

Advice on renting or purchasing a violin.

How to Schedule a Lesson

To schedule a lesson, please see the calendar below, on it you'll find times marked "Open Lesson", these times are available for private lessons. Once you've found a time that you would like to have a lesson, please email to schedule the lesson—you'll receive a confirmation in a day or two. If none of the calendar times work for you, please write and let me know what's good for you and I can see if it works in my schedule as well. Please swipe up or down to move the calendar forward or backward in time, also, it is not possible to alter the calendar, you must email to request the lesson time.

All times listed below are Eastern Time, USA.
Video chat lessons will be held using Zoom.us chat software.

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Make the Most of Your Lesson

Beginner group students who are not yet reading out of a book may prepare what we have been playing in class. Experienced students may wish to prepare any questions you may have, and identify places in your music that need help. Students are encouraged to take notes, either directly to the music at hand, or in a separate booklet, in the case of young children, it is best to have a parent or guardian observe and take notes during the lesson. Some parents of very young children may also wish to have a violin and learn along with the child.

The various lengths of lesson are dependent on the experience and age of the student. Here are some recommendations as to selecting a lesson length:

     20 Minute Lesson: for young children who are just starting out (4-5 years old.)
     30 Minute Lesson: for a young child with a greater attention span, who has some experience, perhaps a little older child (6-7 years of age.) Also for adults wishing to have a brush up, or a quick lesson along specific topics.
     40 Minute Lesson: for adults making up a missed group class, and for older children (8-13 years old.)
     50 Minute Lesson and Longer: for intermediate to advanced students, enough time to have guidance with scales, etudes, and works.

Online Meeting Room

In-Person Lessons

If you are in the Windham, or Portland, Maine area, please be in touch to schedule an in-person lesson. It is required that everyone attending the lesson be fully vaccinated, and masking may be needed depending on the current state of Covid, and your, and my personal preference. Many styles of playing are available to learn, classical, jazz, folk, and if you wish, approaches to improvisation, how to support and harmonize with a band or vocalists, etc. It would be my pleasure to design a program tailored to your interests, and development.

Cancellation Policy

Please make any cancellation/rescheduling request 24 hours in advance. Lessons canceled inside of this time frame should be paid. Short-notice illness cancelations are acceptable, but please, not frequently. Thank you for your understanding.

Tuition

Please make tuition by Zelle (zelle@stringschool.com) Venmo (stringschool). You may also remit tuition via PayPal (pmts@stringschool.com). If using a credit card via PayPal, please add 4% of the amount as PayPal adds a processing fee.

If you wish to have a semi-private lesson with another student, please add $10 per additional student.

Students must be enrolled and attending a class at the time of the lesson to qualify for the "Currently Enrolled Group Student" rate.