ESL Blogs

Besides teaching English, I teach violin (fiddle) to beginners of all ages all around the world. See Pauline Lerner's Violin Studio and the page on my personal website called Violin / Fiddle Teacher for Beginners of All Ages.

I love and play almost all kinds of music. I grew up listening to European - American classical music, and I still love it. That's where my musical roots are. I also love, play, and listen to other forms of music including folk / traditional, bluegrass, Celtic, world, ethnic, and anything my students are interested in. I have played in several community (amateur) orchestras, most recently the NIH Community Orchestra (NIHCO) and a ceilidh (Celtic music) band. I also love music jams.

The way I got involved with the NIHCO is interesting. The founder of this orchestra used to live next door to me in a condo / apartment building. He could hear me practicing my violin, and he liked it. Sometimes he couldn't sleep because he heard the people in the unit beneath his playing recordings of country music including "Ache-y Break-y Heart," and they played it loudly. He could not stand it. He would move from his bedroom to his living room, where he could hear me play my violin. He loved listening to me, especially when I played Bach. After he moved away, he started the NIHCO, and he called me to invite me to join. I never knew that I was playing a sort of audition when I played my violin at home. I really enjoyed playing in the NIHCO.

I love to jam. Each jam is run a little bit differently. My favorite one now is CABOMA. This jam is fun because you never know in advance who will attend (although there are a lot of regular attendees), what instruments they will play, and what kind of music they will play. Someone chooses a tune and leads the rest of us. We don't use sheet music. We just play by ear. I have learned a lot of new songs that way. I have also learned how to improvise harmony and rhythm backup. Jamming is one of the biggest highs for me.

I love teaching the violin / fiddle. I am a patient, encouraging teacher, specializing in violin / fiddle for beginners of all ages. I welcome adults and children with or without any background in music. If you don’t have a violin, I can help you get one. I tailor my teaching to each individual, understanding his/her skills, needs, and goals. I do my best to make the learning process enriching and fun, and I love to bring out the best in each student.

Now I can teach students almost anywhere in the world because I use Skype. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact me. I love music and I love teaching, so the combination of the two is great fun.