Welcome!
I’m Molly.
I run a private violin studio for people who want to be awesome violinists.
I’m so glad you are here. Read on to learn about me, the studio, and how to apply!
Who do I teach?
My studio is open to violinists of all levels. From new beginners to seasoned professionals, I have something to offer everyone. I love to work with both kids and adults who are just starting out on their instruments to give them the best foundation for their musical future.
For advancing students taking on college admissions to professional players looking to level up their performances or play a great audition, I offer a mix of practical instruction and performance coaching to meet all players where they are and help them move forward toward their goals.
Where do lessons take place?
Virtual lessons take place online, so you don’t need to live near me to be a part of my studio! In-person lessons occur in my home studio in the Scenic Heights neighborhood of Pensacola, FL. Hybrid lesson slots are available for those close enough to come in person part time and meet online the rest.
What can students expect to gain?
Along with learning the ins and outs of how to play and enjoy the violin, my students can expect to gain proficiency in musical literacy alongside critical knowledge of music theory, history, tradition, and etiquette.
As my student, you will receive whole-person centered coaching and mentorship that prioritizes dignity and respect, and encourages you to become the best version of yourself while working toward technical and artistic excellence.
About Me
I am a wife, mother, and violinist.
I have crafted a musical career out of the things I love to do most: perform great music, and teach great musicians.
As a player, you’ll see me onstage with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Mobile Symphony Orchestra, and with the Palafox Quartet. Though my performance schedule keeps me busy, I currently keep two days a week open for private lessons.
My teaching career began in 2006, when I took on my first students as a college music major. Since obtaining my bachelor and masters degrees in violin performance, I have spent years coaching student ensembles, directing youth symphonies, working in community engagement for the Pensacola Symphony, teaching middle school orchestra for Escambia County Public Schools, and serving on the teaching faculties of colleges including Northwest Florida State College and the University of West Florida. (read my full biography here.) And now, I teach a select group of students out of my home studio.
There are lots of violin teachers out there.
Why choose me?
As a violinist, one thing has always been clear to me. Playing the violin is super difficult. The kind of dedication required to master an instrument like this takes guts, spirit, and grit - and the process, for many of us musicians, is so demanding that we don’t always come out on the other side as the happiest, healthiest version of ourselves.
That’s the state I found myself in after grinding away at my instrument, desperate not only to get better at violin, but to feel better when I played, and feel better about myself as a player. Years of struggling to prove myself to my teachers and peers and advance as quickly as possible had taken their toll on me, and I was seriously burnt out.
I realized that I needed to rebuild my relationship to my instrument from the ground up. I experimented. I worked hard. I found a new path forward. And as I went, not only did this change me for the better as a person, it revolutionized my playing and totally reinvigorated my life and career.
This is now the basis of how I teach.
I utilize tried and true pedagogical principles and traditional instruction alongside new-school skills of radical self compassion and acceptance to help students lay a foundation that supports the pursuit of excellence throughout their musical journey without sacrificing personal wellness.
For beginners, these skills begin at day 1. For advancing students and professionals, we dig deep and pull back the layers to revitalize the joy of music that so often gets lost along the way.
student testimonials
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student testimonials //
As a professional musician, I was struggling to break through some technical challenges as well as mental barriers in my playing. Molly has helped me overcome both. My intonation, technique, and overall confidence have improved tremendously through her thoughtful and encouraging instruction.
-J, student
In just a short time, I’ve seen significant improvement in my kids’ playing. They are learning how to think differently about music and overall, I am seeing a deepening foundation for musicianship itself. I see them gradually becoming more aware of how they relate to their practice and performance. They’re becoming more realistic, have a healthier response to challenge, and they are finding more joy as musicians.
-C, studio mom
I played violin in high school but was uncertain about starting back up after 20+ years. Molly has made picking back up the violin as an adult student accessible and fun. I’m grateful for her creativity, patience and wide variety of teaching methods that have helped me find my way back to a love for playing.
-E, student
