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Violin and viola: these are the classic strings of the violin family. They are probably most often pictured as members of the orchestra, but they are oh so much more. The violin performing as its rhetorical counterpart, the fiddle, appears in lots of folk and roots genres. And all of the string instruments are being found more and more in the jazz and rock worlds, whether as part of a band or on their own (for example check out the esteemed Kronos Quartet delving into some Jimi Hendrix).
At Madison Music Foundry we have a great instructor who give lessons on violin and viola -and in virtually any style that interests you. Instruction is available for all ages and levels at a time that's convenient for you.
Jon Vriesacker
Jon is a member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra where he has worked with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gunther Schuller. He studied at the Berklee College of Music with Matt Glaser and received his Bachelor of Music degree from UW-Madison. Jon has soloed with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and has been featured with violin legends Johnny Frigo and Johnny Gimble. He has performed on promotional recordings for Lands? End and Miller Brewing and can be heard on albums by Willy Porter, Freedy Johnston and Garbage. In his movie soundtrack debut, Jon played on “Al Otro Lado del Rio” from The Motorcycle Diaries, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2005. In addition to private teaching Jon has been a Solo and Ensemble judge and a clinician at numerous schools and string festivals. He also spent a semester teaching string improvisation at Wichita State University. He teaches classical violin, jazz playing and fiddling.