I specialize in teaching Celtic, Klezmer and Bluegrass fiddle styles. I also teach Irish, Scottish, English, Contra, southern/Appalachian/old-time, Texas Swing, Cape Breton styles, as well as viola, mandolin and bouzouki. My method is to teach people to read music, but I'm happy to teach by ear, by rote and via cassette tapes as well. For beginners, the focus is on how to hold the instrument, make a good sound, play in tune, and learn to play a few scales and a few tunes. For more advanced players, the focus is on building a repertoire of tunes in a particular style or styles, bow patterns, ornamentation, chords and harmonies, and playing with a good danceable rhythm. Group classes of 2 to 5 students are an efficient and fun way to learn and review tunes and learn to play with other people, while private lessons give us a chance to work on specific technical or musical goals or problems