Teaching a live online violin lesson
Pursue Your Musical Ideals
Through the study of music we become more attuned to beauty in the world around us.
I offer inspiring violin and viola lessons for intermediate and advanced pre-college and college students, young professionals, and adult amateurs who love to play simply for the value music brings to their life.
As a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for 28 years, I have learned from the styles of great singers past and present, and strive to imbue string playing with the expressiveness of the human voice.
I offer inspiring violin and viola lessons for intermediate and advanced pre-college and college students, young professionals, and adult amateurs who love to play simply for the value music brings to their life.
As a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for 28 years, I have learned from the styles of great singers past and present, and strive to imbue string playing with the expressiveness of the human voice.
Conscious Practicing
You will learn conscious, purposeful, and efficient strategies for use in the practice room, empowering you to become your own best teacher, and create meaningful and compelling musical performances.
Audition Coaching
Having won auditions for three major orchestras during my career, and also adjudicated auditions for the MET Orchestra, and concerto competitions at Juilliard Pre-College, I offer insightful and effective audition coaching.
As a college-division faculty member at Mannes School of Music, I have guided students toward the realization of their professional goals. My students have won scholarships to top music schools, and positions in major orchestras around the world.
As a college-division faculty member at Mannes School of Music, I have guided students toward the realization of their professional goals. My students have won scholarships to top music schools, and positions in major orchestras around the world.
Methods
My teaching is informed and inspired by a variety of pedagogies and traditions, most significantly the teachings of D.C. Dounis, which I absorbed during my 10 years of study with the Dounis pupil George Neikrug. My other private teachers were students of David Oistrakh, Efrem Zimbalist, Oscar Shumsky, Ilona Feher, Ivan Galamian, and Paul Rolland. It is my great pleasure and privilege to pass along these teachings and traditions to future generations.
Progress and Goals
I offer optional video recordings of your live online lessons, as well as written lesson notes and messaging between lessons. Communication is easy, and all your materials are in one place.
What are your musical goals and dreams? Let's work together to achieve them!
What are your musical goals and dreams? Let's work together to achieve them!
Testimonials
PRIVATE LESSONS
“Garrett is an extraordinary teacher. His attention to detail, commitment, energy and unending musical knowledge make lessons not only instructive and informative, but immensely rewarding. I leave lessons feeling not only as though I can reach my goals and have a plan to do so, but that I’ve also grown as a well-rounded musician. He excels at meeting students where they are, and my concerns or questions are thoroughly and efficiently understood and addressed. His solutions are creative, artistic, practical and technically brilliant. Studying with Garrett has been one of the best choices I’ve made in my career as a professional violinist.”
Jane Kittredge - Professor of Violin, University of Vermont; Section Violin, Vermont Symphony Orchestra (US)
“In my experience, Garrett is one of the top teachers in the country, especially for orchestral repertoire. He is a member of the Metropolitan Opera, after all, as well as a former faculty member of Mannes. I would highly recommend him regardless of your playing ability, but if you're an advanced player, he has knowledge and experience you simply can't get elsewhere, that will take your game to the next level.”
Oliver Kot - Principal Second Violin, Charlotte Symphony (US)
“Garrett is a wonderful and engaging teacher. I have studied with him for the past couple years and after every lesson feel inspired not just to practice violin, but to listen, study and enjoy music. This is without even mentioning his in-depth knowledge of violin technique, orchestra repertoire and musical understanding. Garrett has so much love and energy for teaching...you will leave your lesson excited and inspired!”
Victoria Wolf Lewis - Assistant Concertmaster, Israel Symphony Rishon LeZion; Section Violin, Sarasota Opera Company (Florida, US); Concertmaster, Bare Opera (NYC)
“Very kind and encouraging teacher. He is explaining everything with a lot of details and inspires you to play your best. I highly recommend you to have lessons [with Garrett].”
Dimitra Triantafyllou - Section Violin, Athens State Orchestra (Greece)
“Garrett Fischbach was my principal violin teacher from 2016-2018. He helped me prepare for MM auditions, and with his help I was able to get a full scholarship and Graduate Assistant position at my top-choice school. Garrett also helped me prepare for two orchestra auditions, (The Binghamton Philharmonic and Bard College's The Orchestra Now Fellowship), both of which I won. Garrett focuses a lot on intelligent phrasing, careful bow distribution and control of bow speed, and intonation. He adapts his teaching to the needs of the individual, and is very detail-oriented. Working with him opened my eyes to so many areas of my playing that I had neglected or never even considered. I came out of my studies with him equipped with the ability to practice much more efficiently and critically. He is both demanding and encouraging of his students, which I truly appreciate. He offers valuable real-world advice about auditions and the business of playing in a professional orchestra. He is a fantastic, inspiring teacher, and I feel very grateful that I was able to study with him.”
Holly Nelson, DMA - Violinist and Educator (US)
“I studied with Garrett when I was earning my MM degree at Yale school of Music several years ago. I highly recommend him as a mentor/teacher if you are preparing for job auditions or just want to take your playing to another level. He is an amazing teacher- He helped me with several orchestra auditions and I was able to win a tenure position in the New Haven symphony orchestra. His teaching style is detail oriented with great patience. His profound musical knowledge as a teacher and his precise demonstration truly creates an inspiring learning environment. He pays great attention to even the smallest details and his actionable feedback helped me to practice each piece better and master the techniques more efficiently. I felt enlightened, well-prepared and more confident after working with Garrett. Most importantly, he taught me many practical ways on how to control my techniques and present the best even when I’m nervous in an audition or a performance. Furthermore, after taking lessons with him for a while, my sound production had a noticeable improvement not only on playing orchestra excerpts but also on solo pieces. Now I’m a violin teacher in Connecticut and the lessons I took from Garrett had a big impact on the way I teach.”
Yuan Ma - Violinist and Educator (US)
“Garrett was my primary violin teacher for about a year and a half. I worked with him on a weekly basis in preparation for several Master's auditions at top conservatories. He is passionate and deeply knowledgeable about the violin standard repertoire and effectively inspires students with his enthusiasm and energy. He makes tasteful and well-informed musical suggestions while allowing the student the space to express their own musical ideas. As a technician, he has a meticulous eye for detail and demands that same level of attention from his students. He is a keen problem solver in the practice room and combines tried and true technical concepts and exercises with individually tailored solutions. Perhaps the most important skill I learned from Garrett was how to remain analytical and creative in the practice room to solve technical problems efficiently. During this time, I also prepared a fellowship audition for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra with him. His decades-long professional experience as a top orchestral player was invaluable. I had no prior experience with major audition preparation so I credit his expert guidance with my success in winning that audition.”
Yan Izquierdo - Violinist and Educator (US)
“I found Garrett in New York City after 25 years of playing violin. I was very fortunate and excited to be put in touch with him in order to continue my development as a professional player. As a teacher, I found him to be 100% prepared for each lesson, and I walked away from each lesson feeling inspired and empowered with my instrument. Garrett’s teaching style varies depending on the specific needs of each student, and in my case he was able to mentor me during my preparation for orchestra auditions as well as a recital at Carnegie Hall last year [2019]."
Krisztina Kiss - Violist and Educator, New York City
“Mr. Fischbach is an amazing, kind, and knowledgeable teacher who cares deeply about music as well as his students and their progress. I've already improved my technique and learned so much. I highly recommend Mr. Fischbach!”
High School Violin Student - Colorado (US)
“Garrett is a very meticulous and extremely considerate teacher. His explanation is very clear and objective, and the class flows in a light and inspiring way. He is, without a doubt, one of the best teachers I have ever had.”
Sérgio Lisbôa - Violinist and Educator, São Paulo, Brazil
“I am a serious amateur violinist/violist who has been playing for over 40 years. I have taken many lessons with Garrett on the viola, and each lesson has had a dramatic effect on my playing and my approach to musicianship, sound-production, and technique. Garrett got me to rethink how I approach practicing and I have found that my practice time is much more effective and enjoyable. In each lesson Garrett introduced musical and technical ideas that opened up new ways for me to think about the music I was working on. Lessons offered an excellent balance between focused practical advice to make my playing better and fascinating musical thoughts and interpretation to broaden my understanding of musical ideas.”
Henry W. - Adult Amateur Violinist & Violist, New York City
"Garrett Fischbach is the best violin teacher I’ve ever met. He’s extremely insightful and thoughtful as a musician. As a teacher, he is generous with his knowledge and time, and patient as a saint. If you want a kind, detailed-oriented, focused and effective violin teacher, look no further. If you love Bach, look no further. Mr. Fischbach is a true gem."
Yixi Z. - Adult Amateur Violinist, Victoria, B.C., Canada
"I’ve been working with Garrett Fischbach for about six months, and highly recommend him. I’m an adult intermediate-level student, and have studied with other teachers—I’m so happy to have finally found Garrett. What sets him apart is his ability and willingness to troubleshoot my technical issues, and create a personalized plan to help me overcome them. I’m making tangible progress, and my lessons are enjoyable; Garrett is very encouraging and professional, and he also plays beautifully. I enjoy hearing him demonstrate, and the videos he records during my lessons are invaluable for reviewing while practicing."
Adult Violin Student, New York
"I always gain so much from Garrett’s lessons — both in learning and in inspiration. His teaching is clear, thoughtful, and very detailed. From posture, to how to shape chords, to the interpretation of each piece, he explains everything step by step with great precision. Thanks to his guidance, I’ve been able to shine a light on and improve aspects of my playing that I hadn’t realized before. I truly feel that my musical expression is becoming richer, and I’ve rediscovered the joy of engaging deeply with music. I am eager to continue lessons with Garrett and look forward to growing even further as a musician."
とても分かりやすく丁寧なご指導をいただき、毎回大きな学びと感動を得ております。姿勢や和音の取り方、そして曲の弾き方に至るまで、一つひとつを的確にご説明くださり、これまで気付けなかった部分に光を当てていただいたように感じます。演奏の表現がより豊かになる手応えを得ることができ、改めて音楽に向き合う喜びを実感いたしました。今後もぜひ継続してレッスンを受け、更なる成長につなげていきたいと強く思っております。
Natsumi Nakano - Violinist and Educator, Japan
"The teacher's precise instruction is excellent. We're also making the most of the benefits of online lessons. My 10-year-old son is taking lessons. Mr. Garrett's instruction is spot-on, and thanks to the specific practice points he's been able to teach, my son has developed a keen awareness of where to place each note. Previously, he would play a piece once and then call it a day, but he's naturally become more particular about it, and now he practices, constantly refining and checking his own ideas. He also seems to love the teacher's personality. Mr. Garrett also sends us recordings of each lesson, which is very effective because we can review them while checking the practice points and things to keep in mind. I believe the teacher is planning the lessons carefully, even when recording them, to make them easier to review. I feel this efficiency is something only online lessons can offer."
先生の的確な指導がすばらしい。オンラインのメリットも存分に。
10歳の息子がレッスンを受けています。 ギャレット先生の指導力は的確で、具体的な練習ポイントを教わることが出来たおかげで、息子が音をここに入れよう、入れたいという意識をもつようになってきました。 今までは、一回弾いておしまいで、それ以上の練習はしようとしませんでしたが、自然にこだわりが強くなり、自ら何度も工夫・確認を繰り返しながら練習するようになりました。先生のお人柄も大好きのようです。 また、ギャレット先生から、毎回レッスン中の録画動画を送ってくださいますが、練習のポイントや留意点を確認しながら復習できるので、非常に効果的です。おそらく先生が、復習しやすいように録画する段階で、計画的にレッスンを進めてくださっているのだと思います。この効率性による効果は、オンラインレッスンならではのものだと感じています。
Elementary School Violin Student, Japan
Garrett is extremely knowledgable and has creative solutions for just about any musical / technical issue one might encounter as a string player. As a cellist, I have found his lessons extremely helpful because he understands over-arching principles of string playing so well. I would encourage any string player to have a lesson with him, especially if they have specific questions or things that they want to improve.
Peter P. - Cellist and Educator, Scotland
Jane Kittredge - Professor of Violin, University of Vermont; Section Violin, Vermont Symphony Orchestra (US)
“In my experience, Garrett is one of the top teachers in the country, especially for orchestral repertoire. He is a member of the Metropolitan Opera, after all, as well as a former faculty member of Mannes. I would highly recommend him regardless of your playing ability, but if you're an advanced player, he has knowledge and experience you simply can't get elsewhere, that will take your game to the next level.”
Oliver Kot - Principal Second Violin, Charlotte Symphony (US)
“Garrett is a wonderful and engaging teacher. I have studied with him for the past couple years and after every lesson feel inspired not just to practice violin, but to listen, study and enjoy music. This is without even mentioning his in-depth knowledge of violin technique, orchestra repertoire and musical understanding. Garrett has so much love and energy for teaching...you will leave your lesson excited and inspired!”
Victoria Wolf Lewis - Assistant Concertmaster, Israel Symphony Rishon LeZion; Section Violin, Sarasota Opera Company (Florida, US); Concertmaster, Bare Opera (NYC)
“Very kind and encouraging teacher. He is explaining everything with a lot of details and inspires you to play your best. I highly recommend you to have lessons [with Garrett].”
Dimitra Triantafyllou - Section Violin, Athens State Orchestra (Greece)
“Garrett Fischbach was my principal violin teacher from 2016-2018. He helped me prepare for MM auditions, and with his help I was able to get a full scholarship and Graduate Assistant position at my top-choice school. Garrett also helped me prepare for two orchestra auditions, (The Binghamton Philharmonic and Bard College's The Orchestra Now Fellowship), both of which I won. Garrett focuses a lot on intelligent phrasing, careful bow distribution and control of bow speed, and intonation. He adapts his teaching to the needs of the individual, and is very detail-oriented. Working with him opened my eyes to so many areas of my playing that I had neglected or never even considered. I came out of my studies with him equipped with the ability to practice much more efficiently and critically. He is both demanding and encouraging of his students, which I truly appreciate. He offers valuable real-world advice about auditions and the business of playing in a professional orchestra. He is a fantastic, inspiring teacher, and I feel very grateful that I was able to study with him.”
Holly Nelson, DMA - Violinist and Educator (US)
“I studied with Garrett when I was earning my MM degree at Yale school of Music several years ago. I highly recommend him as a mentor/teacher if you are preparing for job auditions or just want to take your playing to another level. He is an amazing teacher- He helped me with several orchestra auditions and I was able to win a tenure position in the New Haven symphony orchestra. His teaching style is detail oriented with great patience. His profound musical knowledge as a teacher and his precise demonstration truly creates an inspiring learning environment. He pays great attention to even the smallest details and his actionable feedback helped me to practice each piece better and master the techniques more efficiently. I felt enlightened, well-prepared and more confident after working with Garrett. Most importantly, he taught me many practical ways on how to control my techniques and present the best even when I’m nervous in an audition or a performance. Furthermore, after taking lessons with him for a while, my sound production had a noticeable improvement not only on playing orchestra excerpts but also on solo pieces. Now I’m a violin teacher in Connecticut and the lessons I took from Garrett had a big impact on the way I teach.”
Yuan Ma - Violinist and Educator (US)
“Garrett was my primary violin teacher for about a year and a half. I worked with him on a weekly basis in preparation for several Master's auditions at top conservatories. He is passionate and deeply knowledgeable about the violin standard repertoire and effectively inspires students with his enthusiasm and energy. He makes tasteful and well-informed musical suggestions while allowing the student the space to express their own musical ideas. As a technician, he has a meticulous eye for detail and demands that same level of attention from his students. He is a keen problem solver in the practice room and combines tried and true technical concepts and exercises with individually tailored solutions. Perhaps the most important skill I learned from Garrett was how to remain analytical and creative in the practice room to solve technical problems efficiently. During this time, I also prepared a fellowship audition for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra with him. His decades-long professional experience as a top orchestral player was invaluable. I had no prior experience with major audition preparation so I credit his expert guidance with my success in winning that audition.”
Yan Izquierdo - Violinist and Educator (US)
“I found Garrett in New York City after 25 years of playing violin. I was very fortunate and excited to be put in touch with him in order to continue my development as a professional player. As a teacher, I found him to be 100% prepared for each lesson, and I walked away from each lesson feeling inspired and empowered with my instrument. Garrett’s teaching style varies depending on the specific needs of each student, and in my case he was able to mentor me during my preparation for orchestra auditions as well as a recital at Carnegie Hall last year [2019]."
Krisztina Kiss - Violist and Educator, New York City
“Mr. Fischbach is an amazing, kind, and knowledgeable teacher who cares deeply about music as well as his students and their progress. I've already improved my technique and learned so much. I highly recommend Mr. Fischbach!”
High School Violin Student - Colorado (US)
“Garrett is a very meticulous and extremely considerate teacher. His explanation is very clear and objective, and the class flows in a light and inspiring way. He is, without a doubt, one of the best teachers I have ever had.”
Sérgio Lisbôa - Violinist and Educator, São Paulo, Brazil
“I am a serious amateur violinist/violist who has been playing for over 40 years. I have taken many lessons with Garrett on the viola, and each lesson has had a dramatic effect on my playing and my approach to musicianship, sound-production, and technique. Garrett got me to rethink how I approach practicing and I have found that my practice time is much more effective and enjoyable. In each lesson Garrett introduced musical and technical ideas that opened up new ways for me to think about the music I was working on. Lessons offered an excellent balance between focused practical advice to make my playing better and fascinating musical thoughts and interpretation to broaden my understanding of musical ideas.”
Henry W. - Adult Amateur Violinist & Violist, New York City
"Garrett Fischbach is the best violin teacher I’ve ever met. He’s extremely insightful and thoughtful as a musician. As a teacher, he is generous with his knowledge and time, and patient as a saint. If you want a kind, detailed-oriented, focused and effective violin teacher, look no further. If you love Bach, look no further. Mr. Fischbach is a true gem."
Yixi Z. - Adult Amateur Violinist, Victoria, B.C., Canada
"I’ve been working with Garrett Fischbach for about six months, and highly recommend him. I’m an adult intermediate-level student, and have studied with other teachers—I’m so happy to have finally found Garrett. What sets him apart is his ability and willingness to troubleshoot my technical issues, and create a personalized plan to help me overcome them. I’m making tangible progress, and my lessons are enjoyable; Garrett is very encouraging and professional, and he also plays beautifully. I enjoy hearing him demonstrate, and the videos he records during my lessons are invaluable for reviewing while practicing."
Adult Violin Student, New York
"I always gain so much from Garrett’s lessons — both in learning and in inspiration. His teaching is clear, thoughtful, and very detailed. From posture, to how to shape chords, to the interpretation of each piece, he explains everything step by step with great precision. Thanks to his guidance, I’ve been able to shine a light on and improve aspects of my playing that I hadn’t realized before. I truly feel that my musical expression is becoming richer, and I’ve rediscovered the joy of engaging deeply with music. I am eager to continue lessons with Garrett and look forward to growing even further as a musician."
とても分かりやすく丁寧なご指導をいただき、毎回大きな学びと感動を得ております。姿勢や和音の取り方、そして曲の弾き方に至るまで、一つひとつを的確にご説明くださり、これまで気付けなかった部分に光を当てていただいたように感じます。演奏の表現がより豊かになる手応えを得ることができ、改めて音楽に向き合う喜びを実感いたしました。今後もぜひ継続してレッスンを受け、更なる成長につなげていきたいと強く思っております。
Natsumi Nakano - Violinist and Educator, Japan
"The teacher's precise instruction is excellent. We're also making the most of the benefits of online lessons. My 10-year-old son is taking lessons. Mr. Garrett's instruction is spot-on, and thanks to the specific practice points he's been able to teach, my son has developed a keen awareness of where to place each note. Previously, he would play a piece once and then call it a day, but he's naturally become more particular about it, and now he practices, constantly refining and checking his own ideas. He also seems to love the teacher's personality. Mr. Garrett also sends us recordings of each lesson, which is very effective because we can review them while checking the practice points and things to keep in mind. I believe the teacher is planning the lessons carefully, even when recording them, to make them easier to review. I feel this efficiency is something only online lessons can offer."
先生の的確な指導がすばらしい。オンラインのメリットも存分に。
10歳の息子がレッスンを受けています。 ギャレット先生の指導力は的確で、具体的な練習ポイントを教わることが出来たおかげで、息子が音をここに入れよう、入れたいという意識をもつようになってきました。 今までは、一回弾いておしまいで、それ以上の練習はしようとしませんでしたが、自然にこだわりが強くなり、自ら何度も工夫・確認を繰り返しながら練習するようになりました。先生のお人柄も大好きのようです。 また、ギャレット先生から、毎回レッスン中の録画動画を送ってくださいますが、練習のポイントや留意点を確認しながら復習できるので、非常に効果的です。おそらく先生が、復習しやすいように録画する段階で、計画的にレッスンを進めてくださっているのだと思います。この効率性による効果は、オンラインレッスンならではのものだと感じています。
Elementary School Violin Student, Japan
Garrett is extremely knowledgable and has creative solutions for just about any musical / technical issue one might encounter as a string player. As a cellist, I have found his lessons extremely helpful because he understands over-arching principles of string playing so well. I would encourage any string player to have a lesson with him, especially if they have specific questions or things that they want to improve.
Peter P. - Cellist and Educator, Scotland
BACH MASTERCLASSES
"Garrett is incredibly knowledgeable and is so thorough with his analysis, discussion, and teaching methods! I got so much out of this class. Thanks so much, Garrett!"
Lynn Kuo - Assistant Concertmaster, National Ballet of Canada Orchestra
"I had a great time and Garrett was incredibly generous with his deep dive into Bach interpretations. It was truly a free and eye-opening experience."
Albert Romero - Freelance Violinist and Educator, Los Angeles, CA
“Garrett's Bach masterclass was insightful and inspiring. He encourages me to think outside the norm and motivates me to work harder at the finer details. He gives helpful solutions and is always encouraging. Thank you very much, Garrett! I can't wait to work with you again!”
Harmonnia Junus - Violinist and Educator, Sydney, Australia - Co-founder and Artistic Director: Artists By Any Other Name, Artistic Director: Young Artist Exchange
"This Bach masterclass was wonderful. Mr. Fischbach's warmth and meticulous attention to detail provide compelling insight and inspiration. I recommend him to everyone!
Caleb Forschen - Violinist and Educator, San Francisco (US)
"I played the Bach G minor Adagio and Fuga. I feel so happy that I learn the way to solve the problems about the connection between chords...I feel so happy because I find the right way to practice and play. It's very useful lesson. I advised students can connect with Prof. Fischbach. He is a good guy and may give you some nice and funny thoughts."
Lei X. - Post-graduate student, Mannes School of Music, New York City
"I never miss Garrett’s masterclass and always look forward to more. This is why: As always, during this masterclass Garrett showed his deep understanding in Bach’s works and with exquisite taste in his interpretations. He has surgical precision in spotting students’ issues, providing insightful and effective solutions with great clarity. The gentle and kind manner combined with the highest standard to inspire and challenge his students, it makes studying with Garrett the most rewarding experience for serious students at any age. His energy and passion for teaching are also contagious."
Yixi Z. - Adult Amateur Violinist, Victoria, B.C., Canada
"I feel very lucky and grateful to have been able to listen live to the two very advanced students' amazing performances of movements from Bach's solo violin sonatas, and doubly so to have then the opportunity of learning Garrett Fischbach's concepts, clearly and kindly explained, in terms of Bach's harmonic structures, rhythms and characteristic devices of expression relevant to each student's particular problem. By being a silent and invisible audience member on Zoom, I was able to take notes, get up and stretch while listening, have a cup of tea, hum or copy movements demonstrated without disturbing others. I only regret I was not able to stay for the extra time given to Ms. Yuan's Chaconne instructions but I can still review the recording over the next 30 days."
Kelly J. - Adult Amateur Violinist, Australia
“The Masterclass with Garrett was supremely high quality. I received many valuable insights! Will subscribe again! Thank you!”
Anna - Graduate, Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan
"I've learnt a lot in the masterclass! Garrett taught me a unique way of approaching Bach while making it as seamless as possible. It was extremely valuable knowledge."
Russel H. - College Student, California, US
