Worcester Area Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass Teachers

Sylvia DiCrescentis, Grafton, MA
Instrument(s): Violin, Viola, Cello
Style: Classical, Fiddle, Other
Teaches Suzuki Method
Student type: beginners, intermediate, children, adults
Contact email: [email protected]
Contact phone: 508-414-6711
Website: www.vivostrings.org

Professional Credentials
B.S. in Music Education from Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, NY
Initial Teacher License in MA
Kathryn Haddad, Millbury, MA
Instrument(s): Violin
Style: Classical
Teaches Suzuki Method
Student type: Beginner and Intermediate Children and Adults
Contact email: [email protected]
Contact phone: 774-262-2219
Website: www.vivostrings.org

​Professional Credentials
Bachelor of Music Education, University of New Hampshire
Suzuki Violin Book 1 Certified
Suzuki Violin Book 2 Certified

Teacher Comments:
In addition to teaching the Suzuki method, I teach my students music theory, ear training, and musicianship.
Susan Kirchhausen, Sturbridge, MA
Instrument(s): Violin, Viola, Piano
Style: Classically trained. Wide variety of styles. Has experience with many genres and gears lessons toward individual wants/needs. 
Student type: Ages 8 + - beginners, intermediate, adults 
Contact email: [email protected]
Contact phone: 978-855-2559
Website: www.violapro.com

Professional Credentials
B.S. in Viola Performance from Florida State University
M.M. Education from UMass, Amherst
Conducting experience includes Western District Jr. Orchestra
Active freelance violist/violinist (see bio on website)
Brittany Stockwell, North Grafton, MA
Instrument(s): Violin and Viola
Style: Classical, etc.
Teaches Suzuki method
Student type: Beginner to Intermediate children and adults
Contact email: [email protected]
Website: www.vivostrings.org
Contact phone: (508) 505 1117

Professional Credentials
Brittany Stockwell has always had an inclination for performing and teaching. She began playing violin and taking private lessons at the young age of four as a member of the Whitinsville Christian School Strings program. Brittany studied the Suzuki Method and work diligently to become an advanced violinist by the age of fourteen. At fifteen years old she decided to also pick up the viola, which she quickly mastered before graduating high school less than three years later. During middle and high school, Brittany auditioned for and participated in the Central Massachusetts Junior and Senior District Orchestras, which performed at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts. During high school, she auditioned for and participated in the Massachusetts All-State Orchestras, which performed at Symphony Hall in Boston. Impressively, she was a member of the Mass. All-State Orchestra for three consecutive years, one with violin and two with viola. Brittany was a member of the Whitinsville Christian School Chamber Orchestra, which participated in tours to Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as the Dominican Republic. Brittany devoted the majority of her childhood to violin, viola, and music. She enthusiastically attended many music camps during her summers, tutored fellow musicians throughout her middle and high school years, and studied several music theory classes at her high school as well as being a proud member of the band, playing her electric violin.
Brittany currently has a Bachelor of Arts from Framingham State University, with a minor in Music; she is currently working towards a Master of Arts in Teaching from Simmons College in Boston. She has been teaching violin and viola for almost ten years.
Brittany currently performs and records with the Blackstone Valley String Quartet and teaches both violin and viola students in the Boston and Worcester areas of Massachusetts.

Teacher Comments:
Music is for everyone. Anyone, whether a young child or adult, is able to appreciate music and benefit from it. I believe everyone has the capacity to learn how to become a musician. That being said I also believe that hard work and effort is half the battle and essential to any musician’s development and journey. At the heart of my philosophy is that music changes lives and enables individuals to develop into well-rounded, disciplined, empathetic individuals. Everyone deserves the opportunity to explore music at some point in their life. It is never too late to discover its power.

I teach students of all ages and specialize in violin/viola lessons. The foundation of my teaching is based on technique, which I believe with dedicated practice develops into individuals’ musical styles and musicianship. I also believe that music has no boundaries and every musician deserves to explore a diverse repertoire of music genres. My students are given the opportunity to dabble in several genres of music including classical, jazz, pop.
Susan Sawyer, Gardner, MA
Instrument(s): Violin
Style: Classical
Teaches Suzuki method
Student type: Beginner to Intermediate
Contact email: [email protected]
Contact phone: (978) 630-4573

Professional Credentials
Suzuki Violin Teacher Training, Ithaca, NY 1997
Music Together Teacher Training, 2007

Teacher Comments:
Using the Suzuki Violin Method as the foundation for my instruction, I also incorporate a reading method to prepare students to eventually read and understand the music they are learning.

​I instruct a weekly Violin Group Class and co-direct the North County Music Youth String Orchestra.

As a parent of 3 adult musicians, I thoroughly enjoy helping children and adults of all ages discover the joy of music making through learning the violin. 
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