Violin Lessons for All Ages, Beginner to Advanced

Violin Lessons

Learn Violin with Merriam School of Music

If you’re looking to study the violin with a highly-educated top-rated violin teacher, look no further! The Merriam School of Music offers violin lessons in the following formats: in-studio, in-home, and online.

Our instructors have experience teaching students of all ages and skill levels. Furthermore, our extensive faculty ensures that you are paired with an instructor that has a teaching style that truly resonates with you.

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Violin Lessons

Preschoolers • Kids • Teens • Adults • Seniors

Top-Rated Violin Lessons

Learn How To Play Violin at Any Age

As the popular saying goes: age is just a number. Truer words could not be spoken when it comes to music education. You can never be too young or too old to begin your journey as a violin player. Merriam Music is happy to open its doors to students of all levels. We are very fortunate to have an extensive list of faculty members that specialize in teaching specific age ranges and skill levels as well as music styles. From a traditional classical violin path to violin playing in contemporary pop styles, your violin classes will help you reach your desired musical destination.

Take your violin performance to all new heights with in-person or online violin lessons through Merriam Music. Your violin technique will improve at a rate you never would have thought imaginable.

Violin Lessons

Good Fit Guarantee

Love Your First Violin Lesson, or It’s Free

Your first lesson with a new tutor is protected by Merriam’s Good Fit Guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your lesson, you don’t pay. No questions asked.

Expert Instructors

You will be matched with your ideal violin instructor that perfectly aligns with your goals as well as style of learning. Our teachers undergo one of the most extensive interview and training processes.

Convenient Scheduling

Merriam Music opens its doors to students 7 days a week and offers lessons online, in-studio at two different GTA locations (Oakville & Vaughan Campuses), or in your home.

RCM Exams

At Merriam Music, we have over three decades of experience preparing students for Royal Conservatory of Music examinations. Our instructors know exactly what it takes to succeed and get exam results of the highest distinction.

HD Performance Videos

You will receive a personalized HD Video Log that documents all of your concert performances throughout each year. Your friends and family will never have to miss a special performance ever again.

Ensembles & Bands

At the Merriam School of Music, your private lessons can be supplemented with numerous ensemble and band classes. Some ensemble courses are paid and only accessible by audition while others are free and open to all students without audition.

15+ Recitals

Students are given the unique opportunity to perform in over 15 concerts and recitals each year. A combination of solo and group concerts in both formal and informal settings ensures that you become a complete performer prepared for any performance situation.

No Long-term Contract

We are very confident that you will be a member of the Merriam community for many years. However, if you do need to suspend or end your lessons with us, we simply require 30 days notice to end your lessons without any penalty.

5-Star Google Rating

Merriam Music is proud to be the most reviewed and highest-rated music school in the area. Our 3000+ weekly students and customer satisfaction rating of over 97% is a testament to our dedication to our students.

Violin Lessons Toronto

Violin Lessons in Person or Online

In-Studio, In-Home & Online Violin Lessons

Life is often busy and stressful. Violin lessons should be an escape from life’s stresses. For this reason, Merriam Music offers lessons in multiple formats to ensure that your lessons fit conveniently into your lifestyle. You can study with our internationally-recognized private violin teachers via in-studio, in-home, or online lessons.

Our innovative online music lesson platform is unlike anything violin students outside of Merriam Music have ever experienced. To ensure that our video lessons were just as impactful and immersive as our in-person lessons, we collaborated with hundreds of students and dozens of our teachers and utilized the most cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technology. 

Violin Teachers With Degrees

The Perfect Violin Teacher For You

While every violin student is unique, there is one thing that all successful violin students have in common: a great teacher. The Merriam School of Music employs the very best violin instructors in the world and, accordingly, we guarantee that we will match you with the perfect teacher that fits your needs and situation.

From violin lessons for beginners to helping advanced students refine the subtlest nuances of their bowing technique, our music teachers possess the knowledge and experience to guide you in a profound and meaningful way.

Violin Teacher
Music Lessons

Dedicated Customer Support Teams

Exceptional Customer Service

Over the years, Merriam Music has evolved to become the biggest music school of its type on the continent. Assisting over 3000 aspiring music students each week, the Merriam Music community is truly unique. Despite our large student body, our customer service representatives ensure that every student and family’s needs are personally dealt with.

Our customer care team members work tirelessly both on-site and remotely to ensure that you have immediate access to get all of your questions answered regardless of the day or time. By joining the Merriam community, you will come to know exactly why our school holds a 97% customer satisfaction rating. We are blessed to have the best customer service team around.

Earn School Credits with Music Lessons

Earn Highschool Credits

Merriam Music is in the rare position to be both a private music academy as well as a certified private high school. Because of this, we offer students the unique opportunity to earn Ontario High School credits through their music education. If you are interested in taking advantage of this amazing program, please contact us today.

Ultimately, our certification is just one of many reasons why we have become an internationally-recognized music school. With endorsements coming from universities as well as industry professionals, we are proud to offer the highest standard of music education.

Music School

Violin Classes & Programs

Private • Group • Enriched • Online

Private Violin Lessons

One-On-One Violin Lessons

While group classes come with a plethora of benefits, nothing can quite compare to the personalized experience of one-on-one private violin lessons. One of our highly-educated violin instructors will personalize every lesson to your goals, needs, and learning style. Whether you are a beginner or playing violin at an advanced level, Merriam Music’s private lessons will help you grow and evolve as a violinist.

Private Violin Lessons

Online Music Lessons

Online Violin Lessons

Whether you live in Vaughan, Vancouver, or Venezuela, online lessons ensure that you can study with one of our industry-leading violin instructors. Whether you are playing your first notes and don’t know how to use a tuner or have years of performing experience and are preparing for orchestra auditions, our teachers will help you accomplish your goals all from the comfort of your own home.

Online Violin Lessons

Online lessons are here to stay, and our experience offering them has been amazing. We began building our online offering pre-pandemic, in November 2019, with the goal of bringing our classrooms to the world. We worked with dozens of our top teachers, and thousands of students, analyzing every aspect of the lesson to understand how we could make an online lesson even more fun and more effective than an in-person one. 

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with most teachers and families reporting that they appreciated many aspects of our new online lesson offering more than in-person lessons. 

Online Violin Lessons

Learn Violin Online

Best Violin Lessons in Toronto

Playing Violin is Fun. Violin Lessons Shouldn't Be Any Different

Most violin students remember the thrill of putting their hands on their first instrument or the excitement they felt walking into their first lesson. Sadly, that energy and enthusiasm wanes over time for many students, and practicing and lessons begin to feel like a chore. Thankfully, students of Merriam Music never have to experience that. In fact, we have found the opposite! Our students become more engaged, passionate, and excited with each passing lesson.

Our unique education approach has been refined over several decades. While we are very proud of our achievements in regard to students’ technical development and academics, the thing that gives us the most pride is the fact that our lesson experience is fun. It sounds simple, but many schools struggle to achieve the “fun factor” of music education. There is a science to making it happen which we have dedicated 30 years to investigate. With that said, how do you make violin lessons fun?

While core fundamentals like scales, bowing techniques, and repertoire are critically important, they are not necessarily enough to keep things exciting and engaging, especially for younger students. Depending on a student’s age, we employ a variety of tools to keep students excited about their musical journey.

From games and activities to extracurricular ensemble classes and creative practices like composition or improvisation, we ensure that the feeling of novelty and excitement never dissipates.

Whether your dream is to master the greatest violin pieces from the classical music tradition, heighten the expressivity of your vibrato, or join forces with cello and viola players to form the next great string quartet, by joining the Merriam School of Music, your dreams will be realized all while enjoying the process just as much as the results.

A Violin School Beyond the Notes

Understanding the language and social importance of music goes beyond the notes and rhythms represented on the page. Needless to say, becoming a proficient notation reader is an important skill for any violinist to possess, but there is a more to holistic music education.

Since the beginning, the Merriam Music philosophy has been rooted in exposing students to all facets of music. While your main path might be classical violin performance, the skills and knowledge you acquire from learning musical theory, composition, improvisation, ensemble playing, and performing will help you to become a more complete musician. The additional skills will also give you a better understanding and stronger set of skills that will be directly applicable to your primary musical goal.

The practical skills you acquire are not the only benefit though. Partaking in the more social aspects of music, namely participation in ensembles and performing in concerts, are a lot of fun. Having fun through your journey is an important ingredient in the recipe for success as it is hard to convince a music student to practice more if they are not enjoying what they are doing or seeing a greater purpose to the time they invest into practicing.

If you have been looking for a holistic violin education unlike any other, join Merriam Music’s ever-growing music community today.

The Science of Musical Excellence

Merriam Music’s teaching method has been meticulously examined by university and college pedagogues from all around the world and they have been unanimous in their praise for our unique music curriculum and education system.

Infusing numerous elements of musical literacy into a student’s lesson means that our students are given the most complete, relevant, and exciting lesson experience possible.

Our students’ progress is measured by our groundbreaking exams that cover every facet of music ranging from harmony, rhythm, and ear training to composition, improvisation, and interpretation.

Furthermore, Merriam Music students have access to the largest variety of extracurricular music classes in the industry. These classes range from band/ensemble playing to songwriting/composition. Students also have access to well over 15 concert performance opportunities which give them an opportunity to further evolve as musicians.

You will be guided through every step of your education process by a faculty consisting of some of the most experienced and highly-regarded musicians on the planet. The amalgamation of these ingredients make up the recipe that Merriam Music has coined “The Science of Musical Excellence”.

The Merriam Curriculum 

A Complete Music Education

The students of Merriam Music don’t just learn; they learn differently. Through a broader scope of topics and engagingly dynamic lesson plans, students learn to think more critically and more creatively. This simultaneous development of left and right brain associated skills means that our students have more confidence, heightened cognitive ability, and a greater ability to express themselves. Naturally, these benefits will have positive long-term impacts on all facets of their lives.

Private Violin Lessons

One-On-One Violin Lessons

While group classes come with a plethora of benefits, nothing can quite compare to the personalized experience of one-on-one private violin lessons. One of our highly-educated violin instructors will personalize every lesson to your goals, needs, and learning style. Whether you are a beginner or playing violin at an advanced level, Merriam Music’s private lessons will help you grow and evolve as a violinist.

Online Violin Program

Online Violin Lessons

Whether you live in Vaughan, Vancouver, or Venezuela, online lessons ensure that you can study with one of our industry-leading violin instructors. Whether you are playing your first notes and don’t know how to use a tuner or have years of performing experience and are preparing for orchestra auditions, our teachers will help you accomplish your goals all from the comfort of your own home.

"Our mission and purpose is to help foster and inspire creative, connected, and well-rounded lives with the power of music."

- Alan Merriam, President of Merriam Music
Common Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

String instruments like violin, viola, and cello are certainly amongst some of the harder instruments to learn. However, they are simultaneously some of the most rewarding and versatile instruments to play! Nearly everyone has been moved or even brought to tears by the beautiful tone and expressivity of a violin played by a truly great violinist. The incentive of this beauty helps keep students motivated to endure and overcome the hurdles that come with the instrument.


There is a saying amongst string players that goes: “tone is in the fingers”. This is a very true statement. In the case of the piano, even if you have extremely poor technique or have never played the piano before, you could walk up to a high-end handcrafted 9′ concert grand piano, press a key, and make a pleasing, musical sound (pending the instrument is in tune of course!). However, the same cannot be said for the violin. Even a Stradivarius violin will not sound particularly musical when in the hands of either an inexperienced violinist or someone that has never played the violin before.


With all of that said, an experienced violin instructor can help make the learning process far easier. Establishing the proper foundation for tone production and bowing in the earliest phases of your violin journey can pave the way for faster progress and greater long-term success. Our professional music instructors have spent years studying their craft and instrument in the most intimate and nuanced ways which allow them to pinpoint and troubleshoot any difficulties you are experiencing any step of the way.

While there are a plethora of video tutorials on websites like YouTube as well as a variety of educational apps, the violin can be a challenging instrument to learn without a proper coach correcting technique issues from the start. The expertise of an experienced violin instructor will save you time and frustration when it comes to producing a pleasing sound from the instrument and refining your technique to make you feel in control of the instrument at all times.

We’ve all heard the stories of the self-taught prodigy that taught themselves to play their instrument without any resources aside from their own determination and intuition. While some people may find great success with self-teaching, when it comes to the violin, this tends to be an anomaly as opposed to the norm. 


The hurdles and frustrations associated with the violin can be plentiful. An experienced and well-educated violin teacher will help eliminate these hurdles and frustrations and make the process fun and rewarding at all times. In addition to supplying you with a wealth of expert knowledge and technical coaching, your teacher is also your most supportive cheerleader. Your teacher is dedicated just as much as you are to your success. Having that extra supportive voice in your corner can often be the difference between staying motivated and feeling discouraged.

One-on-one private violin lessons cost an average of $25-35 USD in North America for a 30-minute session. Although the Merriam School of Music charges a premium rate in the range of $30-50 USD per lesson, the added benefits are plentiful. In addition to having access to the most state-of-the-art musical facilities, students also have the opportunity to attend special events such as master classes and enrol in a vast array of extracurricular music classes. Furthermore, when you study with Merriam Music, you are guaranteed to work with one of the finest and most well-trained and educated music instructors in the world. 


The price of violin lessons at Merriam is determined by the lesson length, program type (Enriched, Bandchops, etc.) as well as the level of coaching required.

To choose the lesson plan that best aligns with your needs and goals or receive more information, you can call 647-417-1125 to connect with one of our admissions officers.

The benefits of studying the violin are numerous. In addition to the joy and pleasure one will experience from playing some of the most beautiful music ever composed, violin students develop tremendous coordination and enhanced cognition which will have a positive impact on various other aspects of their lives. 

The left and right-hand coordination one develops often makes violin students better athletes. On the other hand, increased cognitive abilities generally lead to increased academic performance. However, the benefits don’t stop there! The social development a student experiences from a violin education is simply invaluable. Students learn how to express themselves better while becoming more confident in the process. For students pursuing exam-based curriculums such as Suzuki Method or RCM, they will also become better at time management and dealing with stress. Of course, these are all important life skills that will have massive benefits that stem well beyond their musical education.

Yes. The violin is a part of the string family of instruments. While other instruments like the guitar, ukulele, or banjo also fall into that category, orchestral string instruments like violin, viola, cello, and contrabass differ in how sound is produced. These instruments are still often plucked with the fingers through a technique called pizzicato, the primary means of sound production is by rubbing the string with a bow.

The violin bow is a tensioned stick with hair, usually from a horse’s tail, that is coated in rosin in order to create friction between it and the string. It is rubbed against the string of the violin to create vibration which ultimately emits the sound from the instrument. While bows are usually used for orchestral string instruments, they are sometimes deployed for use with other string instruments, such as the guitar (a la Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin!), as well as percussion instruments such as the musical saw.

The list of amazing repertoire for the violin is by far one of the most extensive when compared to most other instruments. From J.S. Bach’s “Chaconne” for solo violin to Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” to Paganini’s “24 Caprices”, as a violinist, you will have no shortage of beautiful, rewarding music to play!

There are a variety of cheap violins out there that don’t necessarily make proper instruments for students. Plastic parts and improperly dried wood lead to a substandard instrument that will often not be suitable to learn on. Having a proper violin that has been set up and has the ability to hold its tuning is a very important first step in a violinist’s journey.

Most good beginner violins come in a package that includes everything you will need to get going: violin, bow, rosin, and a case. While there are inexpensive violins on the market that retail for $100-150, they’re often not suitable instruments for a student to study on. By spending another $100 or so, the benefits from the improved musical experience the student will have will pay the extra investment back with massive dividends. Furthermore, when you work out the numbers, does it really make sense to only spend $100 on an instrument when you’re paying $50 a lesson? High quality instruction is certainly important, but make sure to leave room in your budget for a proper instrument as well.

Though instruments in the $200-350 range will be satisfactory, needless to say, the more money you invest, the better a violin you will be playing. Instruments in the $350-550 range will offer far more reward in terms of their playability and tone. 

In terms of specific manufacturers, the follow violin makers have excellent instrument offerings under $550: Gliga, Knilling, Franz Hoffman, Carlo Lamberti, and Scott Cao.

The biggest concern beyond the quality of the instrument when shopping for a violin for a child is the size. Getting the appropriate sized violin for the age and height of the child is critical to them being comfortable playing. The following list is a basic guide you can use to determine the most appropriate scale size of violin for your child based on their age:

  • 1/16 – 3 Years Old
  • 1/8 – 3-5 Years Old
  • 1/4 – 5-7 Years Old
  • 1/2 – 7-10 Years Old
  • 3/4 – 10-11 Years Old
  • 4/4 (Full Size) – 11+ Years Old

Needless to say, this guide is based on average heights for specific ages. The best bet is to attend a music store and work with a knowledgable sales representative that will help fit your child with the most appropriate instrument for them.

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