Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Lesson
What happens in a lesson, who these lessons are for, how much they cost, and what past students say. One page with every answer.
The most common question before a first lesson: does this actually work online?
You develop your own ear faster. Without a teacher physically present to adjust everything, you build independent listening habits from the start. That awareness – built from the inside – travels with you into every practice session.
The focus gets sharper. No commute, no logistics. The lesson starts the moment it starts, from wherever you are. I can hear every articulation and bow contact detail through a well-set-up connection – often more precisely than in an echoing room.
The lessons that happen reliably are the ones that produce progress. For adults balancing demanding lives, a lesson that fits your actual schedule is not a minor convenience. It is the difference between consistent progress and a gradually disappearing calendar slot.
What Happens in a Lesson
The lesson begins where you actually are – not with a fixed syllabus. You bring what you're working on, what feels stuck, or what you're curious about. That becomes the material.
Rather than covering many topics lightly, one thing is chosen and worked on seriously. This might be a bow arm question, a phrase that won't breathe, a historical practice you want to understand from the inside.
You leave with a concrete result – a physical awareness, a different way of hearing, or a specific thing to practise. Not a list of corrections, but one thing that actually changes how the instrument feels.
Historically Informed Practice for Modern Players
You don't need a Baroque violin, or any intention of switching, to benefit from this work.
Historical performance practice is a technical resource, not a conversion. Geminiani's left-hand flexibility exercises develop precisely the kind of hand independence that modern playing demands but rarely addresses directly. Leopold Mozart's messa di voce examples train dynamic control and bow distribution in ways that transfer immediately to any repertoire, on any instrument.
A session focused on historically informed technique for modern players looks like any other lesson: your instrument, your repertoire, your questions. The difference is in what we reach for when something needs a new light.
"Léna sent written preparation materials before our lessons and met me exactly where I was. The expressiveness of her own playing inspired me extraordinarily."
Katrin B., 73 – Retired violin teacher, Musikakademie Basel
Lessons and Pricing
From Students
Léna sent written preparation materials before our sessions and met me exactly where I was. The expressiveness of her own playing inspired me extraordinarily. I am convinced that through her knowledge of historically informed performance and her warm, empathetic nature, she can bring the art of violin playing – and the joy of music – to people of all ages and levels.
I learn an incredible amount in our practice sessions together. When I hear you play, it spurs me on and motivates me to keep going. The conversations with you are encouragement, stimulation, healing, and inspiration.
Before You Book
Do I need a Baroque violin or period setup?
No. Most students play on a modern setup and the lessons offer the same depth either way. Historically informed performance is first a way of understanding music and sound – it is not a requirement to own particular equipment.
What level do I need to be?
There is no minimum. Complete beginners, returning players, advanced students, and professional colleagues all work here. The depth of the work simply adjusts to where you actually are.
How does the first lesson work?
The first lesson begins with your sound and your questions. There is no intake procedure. We listen together to what is already there, identify what feels most alive and what is getting in the way, and work on something specific. You leave with at least one thing you can use immediately.
What is the cancellation policy?
Lessons can be rescheduled or cancelled without charge up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice are charged in full. If something unexpected happens, write as soon as possible.
What languages do you teach in?
English and German. Either is fine, and switching between them within a lesson is equally fine. Students from anywhere in the world are welcome.
Are the lessons really effective online?
Yes – this is one of the most common worries, and one of the first things students stop worrying about. The close listening that defines this kind of work is not diminished by a screen. Many students find the format works better than they expected.
More questions? Read the full FAQ →
Ready to begin?
Start with one lesson. No commitment beyond that is required.
Book Your First Online Violin Lesson