I welcome viola students of all experience levels to my studio. Whether it’s a beginner’s first private lesson, or preparation for a college entrance audition, I accommodate my teaching to meet the needs of all students I work with.
My studio embraces musicians of all colors, religions, gender identity/expressions and ages. The lesson environment is a place where we celebrate each other’s differences and actively develop empathy to better understand the world around us.
Please contact me if you are interested in setting up a free trial lesson!
teaching philosophy.
As a teacher, I believe it is my job to inspire a thirst for excellence within each student I work with. Whether a young beginner or advanced high school student, the technical demands of playing a stringed instrument require a level of dedication and problem solving skills that can translate to any life discipline. Achieving excellence in playing is not unlike training for a sport or preparing for the SAT - all require a level of commitment, consistency, and dedication to yield success. In my studio, students cultivate skills I like to refer to as the Three E’s: Ease, Efficiency, & Enthusiasm.
To play with ease means to play freely. This sense of freedom applies to both the physical and mental aspects of performance. Physically, we strive to play free of tension, making every note that’s played effortless. This is facilitated by a strong emphasis on foundational skills and technique (scales, arpeggios, etudes, etc.) that lay the groundwork for true command over the instrument. A strong technical foundation also enables the student to be free musically, allowing them to explore the expressive side of their musicianship. In the end, we want playing the instrument to feel easy and inherently natural. As I say to every student: “Don’t bring yourself to the viola... let it become a part of you.”
In a world where a student’s extracurricular activities are rarely limited to just private lessons, efficiency is a key component of successful musical development. Many students tend to go through the motions when practicing, mindlessly going over what their teacher told them to within a prescribed amount of time. Lather, rinse, and repeat, the student is now at their lesson a week later and not much has improved since our last meeting. This puzzled me until I realized that in order for a student to grow consistently, the focus must shift from merely WHAT they are practicing to HOW and WHY they choose to approach it. This degree of critical thinking not only improves the quality of their work, but also positively affects the student’s time management. Truly efficient practice allows us to achieve twice the amount of work in half the time.
The final “E”, enthusiasm, is in many ways the most important element of my teaching philosophy. In my studio, I aim to not only develop smart musicians, but students who also love what they do. By teaching them to celebrate the small victories in their playing and to embrace the process of learning, we can find the real joy in making music. Whether a student further pursues it as a profession or just keeps music as a hobby, I want them to look back at their time with me as a positive and rewarding experience.
What People Are Saying
"Private lessons with Mr. Privitera made an enormous difference in my progress with both the viola and piano. Mr. P is a patient and fun teacher and can take a student’s ability to a much higher level."— Olivia, student
“We are very grateful for the improvement in our daughter’s playing after taking private lessons with Louis. Even more important, her enjoyment and appreciation of music increased, which has resulted in self-motivation and self-study beyond anything we could have expected.”
— MICHELE & JEFF, PARENTS
“Our son has been taking lessons from Louis Privitera for the past 6 years. During this time, our son has grown so much as a musician. We couldn’t be more pleased with the progress he has made. Louis immediately took him from the level he was at, and began challenging him to better his viola playing each and every week. Louis is encouraging and supportive, while also holding his students accountable for their practice time. Louis is always professional with his students and parents, but also manages to show his students that he really cares about them and wants what is best for them and their future as a musician. We can truly say we would have been lost without Louis’s guidance as our son has navigated his way through high school and now into the college admissions process. Without a doubt, Louis is a blessing to any family that seeks viola lessons for their child.”
— Tina, PARENT
“Thank you, Louis. Thank you for your dedication to not just my son, but to all of your students. I have watched my son transform into a more skillful, better disciplined, dedicated and motivated musician because you take the time to not only teach music, but to guide your students into the network of the music community, qualm performance fears – even qualm life fears. You have been a strong and positive life influence for my son and he truly values your mentorship – and most importantly – your friendship both now and future to share. So, thank you for being part of our family, Louis!”
— Rebecca, student
“I have had the pleasure of seeing Louis work with students for several years now, both in his private studio work and as a section coach for our orchestras. I always appreciate the professionalism and mastery he brings in his teaching and in working with others. He has a great ability to relate well with his students while challenging them to be the best they can be, and I highly recommend him as a string instructor.”
