violin lessons
Learn to play with confidence, joy, and ease.
Traditional violin lessons with a holistic twist–helping you take ownership of your playing, push your artistic boundaries, and achieve your musical goals.
Now accepting students ages 4 to adult for summer lessons online and in-person in Lynnwood, WA.
Teaching Philosophy:
My goal is to empower you to joyfully make music, while fostering expressive excellence, technical fluency, and healthy playing habits.
I focus on strong technical fundamentals from the very first lesson. We make violin technique feel easy and effortless by breaking down complex skills into basic body movements and fundamental principles. And as a certified Franklin Method™ Educator, I incorporate anatomy, biomechanics, and somatic techniques into violin-playing to help you develop greater body awareness and move with ease.
Violin lessons are more than just learning to play an instrument—you learn how to practice, solve technical problems and develop your musical voice. I believe students thrive in a nurturing and nonjudgmental environment where you feel encouraged to succeed and also safe to experiment and learn from your mistakes. I want you to reach your potential and enjoy playing the violin every step of the way.
Let's get started.
“Erika is an amazing teacher. My sound quality and confidence have grown so much since I started lessons with her. I feel like I have more musical knowledge and I understand the pieces I am playing.”
- chloe o., former student
What do we work on in lessons?
what you'll learn:
Fundamental violin techniques with a focus on healthy movement and beautiful sound.
Student-specific solutions to technical and musical challenges.
Deliberate practice strategies to help organize your practicing and achieve positive results.
How to craft thoughtful, creative, and expressive musical interpretations.
Franklin Method® exercises and anatomy to help you play with freedom and ease.
Studio Features
Group classes and workshops
Lesson packages include 6 workshops and group classes through the Evergreen Music Co-Op. Workshop topics include guest masterclasses, fiddling, performance preparation, musicians' wellness, chamber music, and much, much more. Group classes are set by age, including for adults!
bi-annual studio recitals
Perform for family and friends at the Evergreen Music Co-Op's November and June studio recitals at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynnwood, WA.
musicians' wellness resources
Learn injury prevention strategies, warmups & cooldowns, and Franklin Method exercises to improve your violin technique, relieve stiffness and pain, and make playing easier.
Testimonials
Ralph S., Former Student
“Working with Erika, I have a much deeper understanding of the fundamentals.”
"She was always quick to try a new approach when she saw that I wasn’t understanding a principle or idea. She has guided me on how to correct my improper form, and has allowed me to play more naturally, without feeling like I am fighting the music."
Bobby B., Former Student
“Many of her teachings and exercises were not like any other instructor I had in the past. My playing has definitely improved.”
"Erika's suggestions for my focus centered around proper posture and holding the violin properly. She emphasized that by doing the exercises my playing would become more fluid, which it did. I would definitely recommend to others to study with Erika."
Brian C., Former Student
“I want to personally say how much I enjoyed violin lessons with Erika.”
Being an adult student presents challenges to a teacher that are different than a student who is a child. Erika recognizes this and adapts her teaching accordingly. I was also interested in things beyond just playing, such as musical history, reading music, and the physiology around playing, and Erika was more than happy to stop and explain anything I asked about. Erika clearly loves the violin, and that passes through in her teaching style. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone.”
How It Works
schedule your initial meeting
Fill out the lesson inquiry form to sign up for a free trial lesson or introductory meeting for beginners. We’ll see if we’re a good fit and identify your goals for violin lessons.
establish a healthy foundation
We’ll create an individualized plan to build your technical skills, learn strategies for successful practicing, and play with freedom and ease.
Start your musical journey
Learn to play a wide variety of repertoire with expressiveness, creativity, and deep musical understanding.
Summer Violin Lessons
Looking to keep your skills up during the summer months? Sign up for violin lessons on a week-to-week basis or for as many weeks as you'd like!
Summer violin lessons are scheduled on an individual basis for the weeks of July 9-26 and August 6-30.
Lesson fees
30 min lesson: $50
45 min lesson: $75
60 min lesson: $100
2024-2025 Lesson Packages
new for fall 2024-Spring 2025!
Weekly violin lessons for the 2024-2025 school year (September-June) are now offered in three lesson packages.
Erika is now a member of the Evergreen Music Co-Op and will be collaborating with fellow violin teachers Dr. Sarah Pizzichemi and Ava Gehlen-Williams to offer group classes, workshops, and studio recitals for students of all ages.
all packages include:
+ 35 weekly lessons (September-June)
+ 6 group classes and workshops
+ 2 bi-annual studio recitals
+ technique handouts and materials
+ studio and community events
10 monthly payments of $400
60-minute violin lessons
Package #1
10 monthly payments of $312.50
45-minute violin lessons
Package #2
10 monthly payments of $225
30-minute violin lessons
Package #3
questions about lesson packages want to start later in the year?
See the FAQs below
In-Person Violin Lessons
Experience the transformative power of violin lessons in-person!
Located at the Pizzichemi/Kurys Studio in Lynnwood, WA.
19730 64th Ave W Lynnwood, WA 98036.
Choose Your Lesson Format
Online Violin Lessons
Prefer to learn from the comfort of your home? No problem!
Virtual lessons are held on Zoom.
Students get exclusive access to video recordings of their lessons and lesson notes in the form of sheet music annotations or handouts.
You'll receive an unlisted YouTube playlist where you can review past lessons whenever you want.
are you ready?
Book Your Trial Lesson
Sign up for a free 30 minute lesson or an introductory meeting/phone call for beginners. The trial lesson is an opportunity for us to see if we’re a good fit and identify your goals for violin lessons. If you have prior playing experience, we’ll look closely at your playing and practicing habits to help you best move forward.
I’m Dr. Erika Burns – Violin Teacher Based in the Greater Seattle Area
I love helping students become creative and confident musicians.
I picked up the violin when I was 4 years old and never looked back–receiving my bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University and my master’s and doctoral degrees in violin performance from the University of Oklahoma. My struggles with injuries led me to get certified as a Franklin Method Educator, and I regularly incorporate anatomy and biomechanics into lessons to help you play with more ease.
I can’t wait to explore the violin with you!
Click on a topic to check out the frequently asked questions below, or contact me with any further inquiries!
Frequently Asked Questions
Think of your lesson package payment as a monthly subscription fee. Erika uses the online scheduling service Fons for payments (debit/credit cards and bank ACH transfers accepted). Your method of payment will be charged on the 1st of the month beginning September 1st for ten months. Your last payment will be charged on June 1st.
You are welcome to start at any point during the school year! You will pay a prorated amount for your first month of lessons and then start your monthly lesson payment subscription fee through June.
For example, if you want to start after November 1st, you will pay a prorated amount based on the total number of lessons in November after your initial trial lesson and then start regular lesson package payments on December 1st through June 1st.
If you decide to stop taking lessons, your lesson payment subscription will be canceled beginning the first day of the next month. There are no refunds for any unused lessons in the current month.
Private lessons can feel like a large investment in both time and money, but you will have a more rewarding experience playing the violin when you feel physically comfortable and confident in your technique. Weekly lessons are the best way to develop musically and make progress without overwhelm. You’ll also have a lot of fun in lessons and enjoy being part of a community of fellow musicians!
If your schedule doesn’t allow for weekly lessons, Erika has a limited number of openings for biweekly lesson packages for the 2024-2025 school year. Please inquire about biweekly lessons here.
Lessons are scheduled using the online scheduling service Fons, and you will receive appointment reminders via email. Lessons are scheduled Monday through Friday between 1-8 PM Pacific Time.
For summer 2024 lessons: lessons are scheduled individually to accommodate your summer availability. You will be provided a lesson availability form for July and August.
For 2024-2025 lesson packages: you will be assigned a weekly lesson time. Lessons follow Erika’s 2024-2025 studio calendar, which runs from September 1st to June 13th. You will be provided a calendar at the beginning of the school year with all studio lesson weeks, workshops, recitals, and designated holidays/breaks.
For summer 2024 lessons: Erika has a 48-hour cancellation policy for summer violin lessons. There are no refunds for cancellations within 48 hours of your scheduled lesson. If you would need to reschedule your lesson to a different day, please email Erika in advance. If you have to cancel last minute due to illness or an emergency, Erika will offer a no-charge makeup lesson as her schedule allows.
For 2024-2025 lesson packages: there are no refunds for missed lessons during the 2024-2025 studio calendar. If you need to miss a lesson due to illness, emergency, or travel, you can sign up for a makeup lesson on designated makeup days laid out in the studio calendar. Erika may also offer makeup lessons during the week as her schedule allows. The last days to make up lessons for the 2024-2025 studio calendar are June 17-19th, 2025.
To help create a safe environment for your child to learn, Erika requires a parent/guardian of preschool and elementary-aged students to attend lessons in my home studio and online. Parents of teenagers are welcome to attend lessons or wait in the lobby. While Erika will provide practice objectives during the lesson, it is helpful to take additional notes for reference during the week.
Young beginners also feel more confident in their skills and make progress more easily when their parents/guardians help with at-home practice!
Masking is encouraged but not required at this time. Erika asks that anyone who is ill or exposed to someone with a viral infection wear a mask to lessons and reserves the right to reinstate mask requirements when public safety advisories are in place.
To reduce the chance of viral infections, Erika runs multiple Corsi-Rosenthal box air purifiers in the studio to improve air quality and has disposable masks available as needed. Please note that Erika is vaccinated and wears a mask due to personal health concerns.
“Of anyone with whom I have studied, Erika stands out in her pursuit to understand a student’s challenges, to get to the root of the problem.”
- David james husted, former student & orchestra teacher
Getting nerdy about all things musicians’ wellness, violin pedagogy, and Franklin Method!