Photo by Shravya Kag

Abby enjoys teaching violin, viola, and song-writing students of all ages and levels.  She is available to teach private lessons in the NYC area.   A multi-instrumentalist and skilled performer of many styles of music, Abby is a knowledgeable and versatile teacher with experience teaching students ages 4-years to 90 years of age.   Her goal is to develop musical appreciation and understanding with a strong foundation in technique, while tailoring lessons to focus on students’ personal goals in an encouraging environment.  Abby values both learning by ear and note reading and incorporates music theory, ear training, and improvisation into her lessons.

Abby has taught through New England Conservatory Preparatory Department (Boston, MA), NY Philharmonic Very Young Composers Program (NYC), Harmony Program (NYC), musiConnects (Roslindale, MA), New England Conservatory Jazz Lab (Boston, MA),  The Panama Jazz festival string program (Panama City, Panama), the Missoula School District (Missoula MT), Belvoir Terrace Arts School (Lenox, MA), and The Eastman Pathways Program (Rochester, NY).  In 2017-18, Abby coached the Harmony Program All Stars Chamber Ensemble who performed at Lincoln Center with members of the NY Philharmonic and for Gustavo Dudamel’s Gish Prize Award Ceremony at Bruno Walter Auditorium.  In Abby has adjudicated the Missoula String Teachers Association’s Spring Competition and was the 2020 String Judge and Adjudicator for the Montana MTNA Competition.

abby.swidler@gmail.com