Denise is an all around great strings teacher whose depth of knowledge and skill at teaching are matched by the depth of her kindness and her patience. I am an adult learner returning to the violin since having played as a child and have needed quite a bit of tuning to start to remaster the basics. While I can get impatient with myself sometimes at how long it can take for me to relearn some of these skills, Denise has continually, patiently worked with me for as long as it might take to learn a given skill, all with a smile and a sense of humor along the way! I highly reccommend her to anyone looking for a strings teacher who not only is a seasoned professional but one who will put a smile on your face every time you take a lesson with her.
Denise Martel Bovie - String Instrument Lessons
- 26 hires
- Based in Somerset, MA
- 32 years in business
- 1 employee
- Responds in about 35 minutes
- Background checked
About Denise Martel Bovie - String Instrument Lessons
Hello everyone! ~ I am a music teacher with a private teaching studio in my hometown of Somerset, MA. I teach violin and viola - all levels from complete beginners of any age to intermediate and advanced/ high school/ college level, as well as beginning and intermediate cello and bass. I enjoy teaching students of all ages and abilities, from little ones to adults, including those with special needs. All are welcome! I take an individualized approach to every student's needs and interests, whether learning the basics, classical, pop, rock, folk, or fiddling - and we have fun! All private lessons are taught one-on-one, and are available in-person as well as online. In-person lessons are taught in my home studio. (I do not travel to students' homes.) I find teaching to be very rewarding, and a positive way to give back to the community. I love seeing and hearing my students grow and mature as musicians, and taking part in their excitement, accomplishments and joy! I enjoy having the opportunity to teach many different students, from young children just having their first experiences playing an instrument, to teens and young adults - some hoping to make a career in music, to older adults learning to play for pleasure. I also enjoy teaching many different genres and styles of music - from a wide range of classical music and traditional Suzuki repertoire, to fiddling, folk and country music, and current and classic rock and popular music. If there's a particular type of music you'd like to learn to play, please let me know! I guide students to develop proper playing technique and body mechanics in addition to good musicianship and practice skills so they can play with ease, expression and a beautiful tone. Note reading and understanding the music are emphasized so that students will be able to learn and enjoy new music independently over time. Students are also taught how to properly care for their instrument and bow, change the strings, polish the instrument, etc., so that their instrument will look and sound its best for many years to come. Both traditional and electric/amplified instruments are welcome. Many of my students have been selected to perform and/or solo with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RIPYO), Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestra (SEMAYO)/ New Bedford Symphony Youth Orchestra (NBSYO), Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra (BYSO), the Fall River Symphony, the Southeastern Massachusetts Junior and Senior District Orchestras and Massachusetts All-State Orchestras, as well as many other community, youth, high school and collegiate orchestras. Many students have gone on to major in music or music education, double major with music, minor in music, teach and/or play professionally, or simply continue to enjoy playing as college students and adults. Students may choose to have 30, 45, or 60 minute lessons. 30 minute lessons are $25, 45 minute lessons are $37.50, and 60 minute lessons are $50. All private lessons are taught one-on-one, and are available in-person as well as online. Lessons for small groups of 2 or more may also be requested. Hours: I primarily teach Monday through Friday, afternoons and evenings. I will also consider teaching some students earlier in the day on weekdays if my schedule allows. Please contact me for available lesson times. Parents of young children are encouraged to attend lessons with their child so they may understand what is being learned and can be of assistance when the child practices at home. Special Needs: I do teach children and adults with special needs such as autism, learning challenges and physical challenges. Please let me know of any special needs or concerns in advance so I can plan accordingly. If anyone has any questions about my experience, teaching techniques, lesson policy, setting up an instrument rental or purchase in order to begin lessons, etc., I will be happy to help. Unless I happen to be away, I can usually answer inquiries within a few hours. Education and experience: 5-Year Bachelor of Music in Music Education with Instrumental Performance Emphasis from the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford, CT. Summa cum laude and valedictorian. Master of Arts in Music Education with Instrumental Performance Emphasis, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Summa cum laude. Performed with numerous symphony, ballet, chamber, and theater orchestras. Member of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA).
Reviews
Learning violin from Denise has been a wonderful experience. I'm in my 30s, and violin is my first instrument. I started with in-person lessons about 1 year ago, but after about 2 months I moved away from the area and switched to online lessons. It's obvious she has a lifetime of teaching experience, and I'm always impressed how, even over Zoom, she can identify the minute corrections needed to improve tone, pitch, etc. She is very thoughtful, again based on experience, on the material she chooses to teach from to ensure that the progression sets the learner up for success. I could go on, but suffice to say I whole-heartedly recommend Denise as a stringed instrument teacher.
Great teacher very by nice person
Denise has been a great teacher and very accommodating for my schedule. I have not played music in years and have little experience with the violin in general, but I get more motivated after each lesson to keep going. The recommended material to start out with has been working far better than I anticipated. I look forward to continuing my lessons and am so happy with my progress and getting back into music again!
Denise was a super understanding instructor! Even when I had issues with my cello, she took time and effort to help me address the problems. And when I needed to reschedule my classes, Denise was extremely accommodating.
I absolutely recommend Denise. During the pandemic, I began lessons via zoom. At first I didn't think it was possible to learn strings over a zoom call. With the help of Denise, I was able to learn many skills (e.g., form, read music, play songs, learn to tune my instrument). I have been taking lessons with Denise since Jan 23rd, 2021. Since then, beginning on August 12th, 2021, I have transitioned to in-person lessons. The experience has been great and she definitely knows her stuff. In the past, I had three different violin instructors and certainly none of them compares to Denise's knowledge, patience, assistance, flexibility (scheduling a lesson) and most certainly her communication is thorough. I am happy I found her on thumbtack and she accepted me immediately. She is very understanding and ensures you will learn how to play strings the correct way. Thank you Denise for all of your hard work and I am grateful for when you adjust my violin as needed. Again highly recommended instructor! ❤
Son has been taking lessons online with Denise for 4 months and it has been a positive experience. He is continuing with her as his violin instructor.
Denise has helped me achieve a goal for my son. He is young for a violin student and she has worked with me and his teachers at school to help him learn the instrument and grow. Working with her has been an amazing experience for my whole family.
Highly recommend Denise! She's extremely friendly and has been great to work with, especially with cello being the first stringed instrument I've ever played. I found that she's adjusted our lessons exactly to the level I need to be at and they've continued to be challenging and informative. I started lessons with her in 2019 in-person, and we switched to online lessons early 2020 as the pandemic hit. Denise made the transition to online lessons extremely smooth and easy. With cello being a fairly hard instrument to learn, I've found that each week I come out of our lessons feeling more encouraged about learning it. Whether online or in person, Denise can spot tiny adjustments I need to make that can make a dramatic improvement to how I sound. Once again, I highly recommend Denise to students of any age and any skill level, looking to learn a new instrument!
I have been working with Denise for over a year now. Picked up a violin for my first time in my mid 20s. She has been very patient with me as I try to learn while also leading a busy life. She has taught me to read music and always helps with the proper form and technique. We started lessons in person but seamlessly moved virtual as the pandemic took over. Highly recommend her to any age student.
I would absolutely recommend Denise to anyone looking to take violin lessons. During my lessons she has taken note of the things I need to fix in my technique and is able to offer specific, concrete advice for how to address them. In the few months that I've been working with her over Zoom my playing has increased far more than I could have hoped. My intonation, my bowing, and my command of dynamics has improved dramatically. As I grow as a violinist and explore more of the solo violin repertoire I am confident that she will be able to guide me in good stead. Due to the pandemic all of my lessons have been done via remote. When it is safe to go back out into the world I intend to switch to the occasional in-person lesson.
Great to work with
Denise is a pleasure to work with. She is kind, encouraging, and patient - great qualities to have in a teacher. I learned to play the violin in my youth and was trying to pick it back up again. I have taken private lessons on and off throughout the years and her background as a music educator shines through and is something I have not experienced. Not only can she teach you to play an instrument but she teaches you about music theory in a way you can understand. I would recommend her 100%.
I’ve been working with Denise for three weeks now and it’s been great! As a new student to the violin in my thirties, she’s been encouraging and flexible, making sure to keep me challenged so I don’t get bored. Very accommodating when it comes to working with me on lessons that fit within my budget.
I have been taking cello lessons now for the past 2 1/2 months and as a beginner, I wasn't sure what to expect. Well, I have to say that my experience has been wonderful. Denise Martel Bovie is a stellar instructor. I am a retired teacher so I appreciate how prepared she always is and how skillfully she organizes our lessons. She has a gift for delivering instruction in a clear and mindful manner and gracefully coaches me through the more challenging aspects of learning to play. I am thoroughly enjoying my lessons with Denise and look forward to them every week. She is a gem!
The worst experience ever. The most dishonest person we met on our way. We've been in different music programs for years /violin & piano / and have never ever experience such rude behavior. We do not recommend her to others. kind regards, kinga jamro