If you're reading this...

...at some point in your life, there's been a desire to have violin on your shoulder, feel your bow on the string and to make beautiful music.

Perhaps cost or life circumstances have made it impossible to pursue lessons, or the time to drive to and from a live weekly lesson is too much. Maybe you feel shy about playing for a teacher, or even had a teacher who made it difficult to learn. Perhaps the prospect of practicing hours a day seems unrealistic with a real world schedule. 

What if you discovered that you could make your dream of playing the violin come true in 15 minutes a day, from the comfort of home?


Welcome to the course that breaks the learning process down into small, proven, manageable steps to help you get one step closer to that dream of making music. Join us as we learn the step-by-step foundations of violin technique and music theory while creating easy-to-keep and efficient practice habits. Make friends, get personalized feedback, learn music that you know, and finish your 8 weeks with a tool box to continue making music long after our time together has come to an end. 

Violin from Scratch

Join us as we combine expert teaching, community support, personalized feedback and proven methods to help you on your way to playing the tunes you love and more.

Next cohort begins March 27th, 2023. Spaces are limited.
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What other learners are saying....

"a whole musical experience"

Carol B.

"A rare experience of brilliance. She considers the whole musical experience of playing the violin and makes it come alive in an inspiring and creative way... Rarely do you meet a teacher capable of capturing all elements of musical expression when studying an instrument."

The magic to make a positive change in you.

Aaron R.

She is one of the most inspiring teachers I have had the privilege of studying under. Apart from being a fine performer, she is also a teacher and mentor who has the knowledge, patience and that magic to make a positive change in you.

From a dream to reality.

David M.

I had always loved the violin, but always felt it was out of my reach, both due to my age and location. I can now see progress and my goals have expanded from simply hoping to maybe be able to play a few fiddle tunes to tackling more and more difficult repertoire than I ever thought I'd be able to play.”

"a whole musical experience"

Carol B.

"A rare experience of brilliance. She considers the whole musical experience of playing the violin and makes it come alive in an inspiring and creative way... Rarely do you meet a teacher capable of capturing all elements of musical expression when studying an instrument."

The magic to make a positive change in you.

Aaron R.

She is one of the most inspiring teachers I have had the privilege of studying under. Apart from being a fine performer, she is also a teacher and mentor who has the knowledge, patience and that magic to make a positive change in you.

From a dream to reality.

David M.

I had always loved the violin, but always felt it was out of my reach, both due to my age and location. I can now see progress and my goals have expanded from simply hoping to maybe be able to play a few fiddle tunes to tackling more and more difficult repertoire than I ever thought I'd be able to play.”

"a whole musical experience"

Carol B.

"A rare experience of brilliance. She considers the whole musical experience of playing the violin and makes it come alive in an inspiring and creative way... Rarely do you meet a teacher capable of capturing all elements of musical expression when studying an instrument."

What you'll learn

One by one, we'll learn the building blocks of technique, theory and musicality along with proven strategies to form healthy practice habits.

  • How to play 10 classical and traditional tunes

  • How to read basic notes and rhythms

  • How to make fulfilling practice a part of your daily life

  • How to troubleshoot a scratchy tone

  • How to make music a part of your life, your way.

The next cohort begins March 7th, 2023

Places are limited.

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Bonus material

It's more than just a bank of videos!

  • Peer Support

    Get to know a community of like-minded violinists, and post your weekly practice videos to the practice forum for accountability and encouragement.

  • Personalized Feedback

    Feedback is a key to growth. You'll be able to read personalized comments on your weekly assignments in order to move forward and progress more easily.

  • 30% off your subscription to TomPlay

    TomPlay is one of the world's largest online collections of sheet music and accompanying backing tracks for violinists of all levels. Use your new skills to learn and play new music all year long.

Instructor

Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Brown

Mary-Beth (as she is lovingly known by her students) has been helping violinists of all ages and stages develop their skills for 22 years. Whether online or in person, she's known for her smile, her joyful way of teaching, and her easy, step-by-step ways of breaking down even the most complex challenges in violin playing. The Founder and Director of the AVIVA Young Artists Program (one of the first web-based music education programs in the world) in 2012, she has taught more than 15,000 web-based lessons, and trained hundreds of teachers in the art of online pedagogy. She is widely regarded as an expert in the field of online education and was named Teacher of Distinction by the Royal Conservatory in 2020. Following parallel paths as a performer and pedagogue, her career as a concertmaster and soloist has taken her through five continents and some of the world's most beautiful concert halls. She received her education from the University of Toronto, Université de Montréal, The London School Economics and Harvard University. She lives in Montreal, Canada, with her family, and welcomes the opportunity to work with students of all levels and ages - including those with learning exceptionalities - in both English and French.

The next cohort starts soon

Reserve your spot today as places are limited.

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Pricing

Early bird pricing won't last forever!

  • $199.00

    Includes 8 weeks of instruction, weekly assignment assessments, feedback circles, downloadable pdfs, a discounted membership to TomPlay and more. A $760 value.

    Save your place now

  • 3 x $69.99

    Pay Monthly

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100% Guaranteed

If you don't love the first week, we'll refund your tuition, no questions asked.

FAQ

  • What equipment do I need to participate?

    You'll need a violin, bow, shoulder and rosin. A music stand would also be helpful. From the technology standpoint, you'll need a device with reliable internet connection to watch your lessons, and a device (like a smartphone) with a video recording function to make your practice forum videos.

  • What if I don't finish it all in 8 weeks?

    Not to worry! The practice form and personalized feedback come to an end after 8 weeks, but you'll have access to all the videos, lessons and downloads for a whole year.

  • Do you cover vibrato and shifting in this course?

    The short answer is "no." We'll build the foundation of your first position playing so that you're ready to take on the challenges of vibrato and shifting when the time is right.

  • I think I might be too old/young/tone deaf/uncoordinated to do this. Are you sure I can do this?

    YES! With some instruction, daily practice and patience, you'll start to see progress. When we break it down into little steps, everything is work-out-able.

  • Why are the lessons released one week at a time and not all at once?

    Strong habits and technical foundations form best when they aren't rushed. By going step by step, we allow our brains and bodies to absorb what we're learning and to develop the habits that will serve us in the months and years to come. Plus, it give us time to incorporate feedback so we're even better for the next week's step.

Not quite ready to join us?

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