Private violin/viola lessons and audition prep in Garden City, New York
Exposing young children to music is one of the greatest joys of my life
Hello and welcome! I am Kiersten Cunningham, a violin and viola teacher based in Garden City, New York. I opened KCC String Studio in 2013 and have been an Adjunct Professor of Violin Studies at New York University and maintained private studios in Brooklyn, NY and Ithaca, NY. I have been teaching violin lessons since I was in high school and have been educating students of every age and ability level for the past 25 years. Leaving Brooklyn in 2020 was difficult, honestly my heart still hurts, but I am happy to make our new home here in Garden City with my family.
My teaching style
I combine several teaching methodologies in my lesson plans and place emphasis on learning to read music from the very beginning, but I do teach both by rote and by note. I incorporate music theory, history, sight reading/singing, composition, and rhythmic exercises in lessons and utilize the Suzuki method books among a variety of other methods and repertoire. Lessons are tailored to fit the individual needs of each student with the goals of learning, having fun, and making progress always our priorities. I prepare students for auditions of every level/type, provide piano accompaniment in lessons, find placements for students in extracurricular orchestral programs, and enjoy helping adult students refresh their skills after not playing since high school or early childhood. I hold two studio recitals per school year (mid-year and end-of-year) to provide performance opportunities and advancement.
For visitors who found my information via my old stomping grounds in Park Slope, Brooklyn, please check out The Music Room for lessons at Spoke the Hub in Brooklyn, NY.
Preparing children to share their art through performance is my privilege
I hold two studio recitals each school year to keep us motivated and focused.
