I am pleased to announce that my Violin student Lauren G, a high school senior in 2022, and concertmaster of her high school orchestra, was also placed, by formal competitive audition, first chair, first violin, also known as ConcertMistress, of the West Virginia 2022 All State Orchestra. It is a pleasure to work with such high achieving students, and at this time I have a few openings for serious students. Contact me via email. I have taught other "first chair" players and concertmaster (concertmistress) players in New York state, Maine and West Virginia.
Teacher and Lesson Information, Violin and Viola
Dr. Virginia Cox
Email for fee and time/day/studio location virginiaycox (at) gmail.com
Lesson rates from $35 per 1/2 hour lesson, $50 for 45 minute lesson
Dr. Virginia Cox, (PhD Music), the upper strings teacher, is a professional Violist and Violinist, active as a professional event performing Violinist or Violist residing in Morgantown. She is retired from higher education classroom teaching where she consistently received the highest teaching ratings at the various colleges where she taught. She remains active in the music profession and is in demand as an events performer on Violin, Viola, or Electric 5 String Violin, as well as a private upper strings teacher. She teaches all levels of Violin and Viola, and is fully capable of training very advanced students, having taught conservatory bound students and college music majors in Violin and Viola.
Dr. Cox has taught Violin and Viola privately for over 40 years in New England and Mid Atlantic areas, and while spending more than 30 years in higher education. She is a former "Master Teacher of Viola and Distinguished Artist Performer of Viola" with the American String Teacher's Association, and held many other accolades. She has been recognized by former WV Governors for her "Outstanding Contributions to the Arts" on several occasions. She is former Violist with several chamber groups, as well as Principal Violist (first chair, Viola section) of community and professional orchestras and in opera and ballet orchestras. Dr. Cox is also former "Strings Specialist/Educator" with New York public schools. She was also active as an adjudicator for Solo and Ensemble and All State Music Festivals in NY, PA, ME, MD, MA and WV. She has also been a championship fiddling contest judge in PA, MD and New England.
Dr, Cox continues her passion, and her life-long devotion to music, specifically Viola and Violin teaching, performance, and chamber music and projecting her love of the profession by doing so. Her teaching follows the traditional "Galamian" method, in which she was trained by world renowned Juilliard educators. She teaches "holistically", meaning every student is treated individually and to their individual talents. She has the expertise to quickly evaluate students' abilities and interests, and teaches to their specific and unique qualities, all the while considering their ambitions and goals. Dr. Cox is admired by all for her sensitivity, her abundant creativity, her outspoken nature, yet very kind approach to everyone, and dedication to music study. She has been widely applauded for her altruistic and humanitarian nature throughout her career. She is also treasured for her musicianship, her extremely passionate-virtuosic playing style and her sense of humor and charm. Dr. Cox's students have reached many successes in life, from winning first chair positions in competitive high school groups, to first chair positions in all state orchestras, to attending the national honor's orchestra as a violinist, to earning major scholarships to music schools and conservatories, attending prestigious summer programs such as the Chautauqua Institution in NY, attending the WV Governor's Arts Academy, to winning national competitions, and performing as first chair players in elite college orchestras, such as Harvard Chamber Orchestra. She has had students branch out to crossover playing, with former student, Abby becoming a Klezmer violinist, and Stephanie, becoming an active classical, crossover, and now successful country band fiddler. She also has had students who have found tremendous success as arts administrators, directors of music festivals and arts programs, and as professionals in other disciplines. She teaches in a way to motivate students to succeed. She teaches and plays "from her heart" and is kind, yet demanding of her students. She helps them with goal setting, and when they reach their "bar", she asks that it be raised. She has a knack for motivating students and for helping them set and reach their goals. It is her mantra: "It's your attitude, and it's between your ears (it's what you are thinking 'in your head'). If you want to succeed and achieve, you will do what you need to do to be successful. Be the best you can be, and no one can ask more from you." Dr. Cox nurtures all styles of performing, including "crossover" playing ,and will teach as an inclusion with lessons, improvisatory performance and looping Violin, electric Violin or Viola, as well as traditional and classical playing. She tells students, "Learn the great mystery of the Violin/Viola fingerboard and bow" and you can do most any music you can imagine with the instrument."