Jim Mihara
~~ private instruction on violin and viola ~~

About Lessons
Lessons are given weekly, or more frequently, in a positive and encouraging environment. Typically lessons are one hour or 1.5 hours for age 12 and above. For ages 7-12 lessons are either 45 or 60 minutes depending upon the child's attention span.

People often ask me what my teaching "method" is. I draw on a number of methods, approaches, and materials from different teaching traditions, such as Suzuki, Paul Roland, and Kato Havas. For instance, I do not consider myself a "Suzuki Teacher", yet I often use the Suzuki collection of beginning violin pieces.

I usually include the following components at lessons, and in structuring student's practice times:

• Mechanical Work: attention to the specific physiology of playing - posture, strength, etc.
• Basic Concepts: method books, note reading, theory, etc.
• Repertoire: the fun part! learning pieces, often with a piano accompaniment or as a duet.