

Laura profile and its contact details have been verified by our experts
Laura
- Rate R1151
- Response 1h
-
Students3
Number of students Laura has accompanied since joining Superprof
Number of students Laura has accompanied since joining Superprof

R1151/h
1st lesson free
- Violin
- Viola
- Fiddle
Dr Laura Mitchell, violin/fiddle, multi-instrument, visual artist. Passionate teacher, 30+ years, ongoing performing/exhibiting. Lessons remote or local, my place or yours. Oldtime/Bluegrass, E.Europe
- Violin
- Viola
- Fiddle
Lesson location
About Laura
American-Australian violinist/fiddler and visual artist with 30+ years performing, exhibiting, recording and teaching. Growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, her classical training happened alongside traditional bluegrass, old-time, blues and roots fiddling. Other expertise is east european ‘gypsy’ and hot club jazz improv. Art school and Silicon Valley followed music conservatory where inspired by Laurie Anderson, Lauren Hill and spoken word DJ mixes, and ongoing jamming, recording and gigging with variety of bands and collaborators, Laura developed a post-punk-hillbilly-gypsy-cabaret approach to fiddling, secondary skills on bass/guitar, mandolin, percussion and vocals, as well as collaborating on soundtracks and performances integrated with her artworks and exhibitions.
QUALIFICATIONS: PhD Creative Arts, B.A. in Mus Perf (classical+jazz violin) Indiana Univ Conservatory & Univ of Virginia, USA, Adv Dip Mus Ed Suzuki Method, MFA design & visual comm, VA Commonwealth Univ, USA
About the lesson
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- +6
levels :
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Professional
Kids
1st Year
2nd Year
3rd Year
4th Year
- English
- Spanish
Languages in which the lesson is available :
English
Spanish
*dr laura is a violinist/fiddler, multi-instrumentalist, visual-artist/musical-artist, ethnomusicology researcher in world string band traditions*
I am a passionate teacher, performer and artist dedicated to empowering you to find your voice and reach your goals with fiddle/violin, to expand your skills as a multi-instrumentalist, musical artist/writer/producer or hybrid visual artist-musician.
My violin/fiddle teaching practice is grounded in the following traditions: western classical, jazz improvisation, the old-time-bluegrass fiddle music of my homeland, east european-gypsy-klezmer, hot club swing and latin dance rhythms.
Particularly useful for students who want to develop their own unique voice on the fiddle,
I love the creative practice of inventingnew hybrid genres, in the way that streaming audio platforms categorise as can be seen on streaming music platforms (i.e., ‘alt gypsy punk’, ‘dark-country’ ‘electronic swing’, ‘southern gothic’ etc).
I offer multi-intrumental basics on the following instruments: bass/guitar, mandolin, percussion, piano/keyboards, vocals or electronic applications.
I pair this with what I call my "i iv v" method for violinist/fiddlers and other melody instrumentalists to learn how to hear chord progressions, read or create their own chord charts and tablature.
These are critical skills needed to enjoy jamming, improvising and playing in bands, and arranging, composing or writing your own tunes.
Lastly, for students so inclined, I would be ecstastic to facilitate you in developing a hybrid visual arts/music project: performance art piece, music video, film soundtrack, multimedia installation.
Whether you want to learn old-time/bluegrass or east european string band fiddle, develop your improv and jamming fluency in any genre from gypsy-punk to hot-club-jazz to alt-southern-gothic, hone your classical skills for orchestras or AMEB, learn basic create performance art or soundtracks, or write music using music theory or chord charts and tablature, I have a unique method to find your unique musical voice.
YOUR LESSONS:
I am a certified Suzuki instructor. However over many years of teaching, I am convinced that each student, especially youth and adults, must engage with the type of music they most love, listen or dance to the most, rather than being limited to violin/fiddle specific repertoire.
Therefore, in our initial session we will identify your primary violin/fiddle technique goals, any repertoire you *need* to learn, and some repertoire you're passionate to learn, whether it includes violin or not.
Violin is not an instrument where reasonable progress is made quickly, so I recommend a bank of 10 sessions minimum. Lessons 2-3 we develop lesson plans for your bank of sessions, and a daily practice template with incentives and/or goal dates, both ambitious and achievable goal.
I will help you curate and organising your personal repertoire into a playlist we can share as well as a "slow practice" app.
QUALIFICATIONS: PhD Creative Arts, B.A. in Mus Perf (classical+jazz violin), Indiana Univ & Univ of VA, USA, Adv Dip Mus Ed Suzuki Method, MFA design & visual comm.
TERMS & CONDITIONS: Payment must be made within 24 hours of the initial session of a bundle or interest fees will be charged. If the instructor must cancel a lesson, a rescheduled lesson will be negotiated. If the student misses or cancels a lesson with less than 48 hours notice, the instructor reserves the right not to reschedule or refund the lesson. In case of common cold, feeling "unwell" or other mild symptoms, we will conduct the lesson at the usual time over Zoom or Facetime. In the case of life threatening or other acute unforseen events, contact the instructor and concessions will be made.
Rates
Rate
- R1151
Package rates
- 5h: R5526
- 10h: R10937
online
- R1151/h
free lesson
The free first lesson with Laura allows you to get to know the tutor and discuss your needs and expectations.
- 1h
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