About Viola Lessons in Pasadena, CA
The Academy of Music, serving hundreds of students from the vibrant city of Pasadena, California, is a distinguished institution that offers exceptional viola lessons to aspiring musicians of all ages (including adults) and skill levels. With a rich musical heritage and commitment to nurturing artistic talent, the academy has become a hub for individuals seeking comprehensive world-class viola lessons in the area.
At the Academy of Music, students embark on a musical journey under the guidance of highly skilled and experienced Pasadena based viola teachers. Viola students at our Academy will learn using a combination of Suzuki as well as our own curriculum, honed over the past two decades.
Although the fundamental viola instruction remains the same, including sight reading, ear training, technique, and music theory, all of these elements vary slightly depending on the student's goals and needs.
Beginners and students aged 4.5 through 7 typically start with a 30-minute lesson once a week with one of our highly educated and experienced viola teachers. As part of all viola lessons, students will learn to read music, build an understanding of bowing technique, as well as enjoy creative exploration through composition, improvisation, and performance opportunities.
New students enrolling in viola lessons receive a welcome package as well as an Academy of Music Practice Tote Bag. For more information regarding viola lessons at the Academy of Music, please contact our office by calling us at (626) 296-0799 or registering for lessons by clicking the button below. The Academy proudly offers viola lessons to students in Pasadena, CA.
Viola Lessons Tuition in Pasadena, CA
The prices listed here are for private viola lessons taking place at the Academy once a week, as well as virtual and online viola lessons.
30 Minutes
$154
Per Month
45 Minutes
$235
Per Month
60 Minutes
$295
Per Month
Levels of Viola Lessons
No matter the level at which you currently are - whether a complete beginner or an advanced student who has been taking viola lessons for a decade - the Academy of Music is here to help you get the most out of viola lessons. Since we specialize in private lessons which we have been delivering since 2003, we ensure that your experience with viola lessons is tailored to your current level, the pace at which you are comfortable to work at, as well as your goals and ambitions within music.
Beginner
Our beginner viola lessons are designed for students of all ages with little to no viola experience. If you are brand new to viola lessons, you can expect a wonderful experience that covers all of the important fundamentals, including positioning, technique, basics of music theory and sight reading, musical notations, and other important elements.
Intermediate
Intermediate viola lessons are ideal for students who have been playing for over two and a half years and want to continue improving their skills, including technique, sight reading, and musicianship. It is important to note that we emphasize music theory as part of all of our lessons, so if you are behind on a certain aspect of theory, we will make sure that you are in sync between your practical knowledge and technique, as well as your theoretical knowledge.
Advanced
Advanced lessons are generally the path for students who have been playing for a minimum of seven years who wish to either hone their existing skills, learn a new piece, or prepare for a rigorous audition to professional-level competitions, exams (MTAC/MTNA/Royal), and auditions to music schools and conservatories.
Why Choose Our Pasadena Academy for Viola Lessons
Our Viola Teachers
Our teachers are truly the core of our institution. As mentioned previously, we receive hundreds of teaching applications every year, and every viola teacher on our team is a proven professional with a great personality (and their educational, performance, and teaching background speaks for themselves too!).
Our Facility
We pride ourselves on teaching students on the finest upright and grand pianos, including a large array of Yamaha U-1s and U-3s, as well as Steinway & Sons Grand Pianos. We feature a comfortable lounge for parents with high-speed WiFi, an area for little kids to play and check out Lego magazines and coloring books, as well as plenty of free parking. The Academy, located on the border of Pasadena and Altadena, is central to grocery stores, even allowing you to make a quick grocery run while your child is in class.
Our Experience
We have been part of the Pasadena, Altadena, and La Cañada communities since 2003. Delivering piano lessons to thousands of students (both children and adults) over the years has allowed us to foster the best possible environment for learning music.
Our Policies
We provide students with month-to-month lessons with no long-term commitments. Switching gears away from music? Simply give us a 30-day heads up and you are good to go! Need to change your lesson time? Let us know and we'll be glad to look at other options. And of course - need to miss a lesson? Let us know in advance and you can always receive a private make up credit, rather than lose your lesson or do a group make up.
Our Accolades
We genuinely hate to brag - but we have been chosen as the Best Music School by Expertise Magazine for several years in a row. We are also a Pasadena Weekly Reader Recommended Music School (every year since 2015). Lastly, we are a Steinway & Sons Teaching and Educational Partner, an extremely rare designation for private music schools, as well as members of the Music Teachers' Association of California. The list of the Academy's accolades, including students' competition wins, goes on, and we really hope it speaks for itself!
Meet Some of Our Viola Teachers in Pasadena, CA
As Pasadena's top-rated music school and academy for viola lessons, we generally attract over fifty top viola teachers' resumes for a single viola teacher opening at our school located in Pasadena. As you can imagine, the selection process to teach viola at the Academy of Music is extremely rigorous and includes not only technical and behavioral interviews, but also sample lessons and feedback collection from students.
Due to this rigorous interview process for viola teachers, we pride ourselves in having the most dedicated and prestigious faculty of any school in the Pasadena area. Teachers on our team have received degrees from the world's best music programs, including the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, USC Thornton School of Music, Juilliard, Peabody Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, Columbia University, and the Curtis Institute of Music.
All of our private viola teachers possess not only excellent teaching ability, but also hands-on performance experience which allows them to share unparalleled real-world expertise during each and every viola lesson.
Mr. Kevin
Ms. Valerie
Our Viola Lesson Gallery in Pasadena, CA
Frequently Asked Questions About Viola Lessons
If you would like an instrument to practice on at home, there are several options. One popular option is to purchase or rent a viola. Another option is to rent a viola, which is optimal for children who are expected to outgrow their current viola size.
Generally, children ages 7 and up are old enough to begin viola lessons. Students younger than 5 are able to enroll in General Music Private lessons, which will cover many of the fundamentals needed to successfully transition to viola lessons once a student is at the right age.
Starting early is encouraged as there are a multitude of benefits of taking viola lessons as a child. These include better cognitive development, enhanced memory, as well as the social benefits of being in a music school setting. Additionally, taking music lessons has been proven to improve students' results in math, as well as shown improvement in mental health and self-esteem. Of course, aside from the scientific benefits, music lessons are fun and enjoyable, and give children a unique hobby to be passionate about.
As the old saying goes (pun intended), you are never too old to pursue a new hobby. Adults make up about one-third of the Academy's students, and adult viola lessons specifically are a very popular choice. Adults choosing to pick up music usually do so to engage in a new hobby, meet friends , and hone their musical abilities.
Additionally, students looking into improving their memory, as well as controlling certain conditions, such as Parkinson's tremors, are actually encouraged to begin viola lessons, as playing music is scientifically proven to stimulate the brain and allow you to strengthen and improve your hand coordination.
All of our viola lessons here at the Academy of Music include sight reading and music theory. Learning music and taking viola lessons without learning how to sight read is akin to learning a foreign language without learning the alphabet. You may be able to recite a few phrases extremely well, but once faced with a phrase that may not be exactly what you have learned, you will not be able to make any progress. The same goes for music, hence the need for all students taking viola lessons to learn how to sight read, as well as understand basic music theory.