Orchestra students are highly encouraged to pursue private lessons with a qualified private instructor. Private lessons are one of the best investments you can make in your student’s musical education and provide an opportunity to further develop skills beyond what can be addressed in the classroom.
Private lessons are designed to support:
Continued growth and development of musical technique
Opportunities to study advanced solo repertoire and prepare audition music
Instruction and guidance from an expert on your student’s specific instrument
Individualized feedback tailored to your student’s unique needs and goals
Private lessons are not intended as a tutorial or a means of remediation. Rather, they are an opportunity to enhance and supplement your student’s musical growth and support their continued success in the orchestra program.
The list below includes contact information for string teachers in the area who offer private lessons. Each instructor establishes their own rates, scheduling, and studio policies. Most private instructors are not affiliated with the Tahoma School District. Those who are affiliated with TSD provide private lessons independently and outside of their regular district working hours.
Please contact private instructors directly for more information about their availability, lesson offerings, rates, and policies.
Voice in the Valley in Maple Valley and Hammond Ashley in Issaquah are also excellent resources for finding qualified private instructors. Visit their websites for more information about available teachers and lessons
Private Lessons
Violin
Anita Knight (Kent/Lake Morton Area)
knightpod@comcast.net
206-326-0658
www.joyfulsoundstudio.com
Cherlyn Johnson (Maple Valley)
cherlynmj@aol.com
206-595-3489
Devin Shea (Maple Valley)
858-220-0514
Emily Reed (Maple Valley)
emily.g.reed@gmail.com
Anne Rendle (Renton Highlands)
aerviolin94@gmail.com
425-633-9150
anneviolinacademy.weebly.com
Ruth Marie Ballance (Renton Highlands)
rmbridge@hotmail.com
216-496-1150
www.ballanceduo.com
Caroline Faflak (Issaquah)
cfaflak@gmail.com
605-380-1423
Koon Yu Wong (Lakewood)
stringsandkeysstudio@gmail.com
253-250-4800
stringsandkeysmusicstudio.com
Viola
Ruth Marie Ballance (Renton Highlands)
rmbridge@hotmail.com
216-496-1150
www.ballanceduo.com
Maria Ritzenthaler (Maple Valley)
mritzent@hotmail.com
425-433-8262
https://voiceinthevalley.com/about/
Viola (continued)
Devin Shea (Maple Valley)
858-220-0514
Rick Neff (Issaquah)
770-899-8333
Sophie Robinson (Maple Valley)
srobinsonmusicstudio@gmail.com
253-448-7605
Shawna Barber (Maple Valley)
shawna.barber@gmail.com
907-244-8038
Mary Kendall (Auburn)
marykend@gmail.com
Cello
Isaac Berglind (Bellevue - also offers virtual lessons)
berglindcello@gmail.com
425-999-1434
www.isaacberglind.com
Dr. Jared Ballance (Renton Highlands)
jballance@gmail.com
216-496-1150
www.ballanceduo.com
Brian Wharton (Auburn)
253-833-4941
Jeanne Maucotel (Auburn)
jmaucotel@auburn.wednet.edu
Bass
Jon Heintz (Auburn)
jonheintzbass@gmail.com
253-929-9279
Matt Hopper
hoppinbass@hotmail.com
