For information about lessons or classes, email Michelle or call her at (510) 470-1738

Michelle Levy

Mark O'Connor Method fiddle instruction for children and adults

WHAT IS THE MARK O'CONNOR METHOD?

The O'Connor Method for string teachers and students is a 10-Book series designed to guide students gradually through the development of pedagogical and musical techniques necessary to become a proficient, well-rounded musician through a carefully planned succession of pieces. To watch a video and learn all about it, go to The O'Connor Method Official Website

TEACHING

Michelle Levy is certified in both the Mark O'Connor String Method and the Orff-Shulwerk approach to teaching music. Specializing in Early Music, folk fiddle styles, and improvisation, she nurtures creative string players with solid technique! Michelle teaches ages 3.5 through adult and offers fun and alternative performance opportunities to the usual student recital, including playing for English Country and Contra dances with her bands!

Michelle is proud that many of her students--both children and adults-- now enjoy playing for dances/social gatherings for fun, or enjoy playing as part of religious services in their congregations. Those who have entered competitions have had much success. Most recently, one of her 13 yr. old student was accepted as first violinist in the Livermore-Amador Symphony Youth Orchestra (LASYO) for ages 13-21, and a ten yr old student performed as a soloist in her recent school orchestra concert! Another student, age 6, just won first place in the talent show at her school playing "Soldier's Joy" from Mark O'Connor Book 1!

EXPERIENCE AND BANDS

Michelle Levy has been performing on and exploring the possibilities of bowed string instruments for over 20 years. She studied classical viola & Old Time fiddle/banjo at Brown University, then continued her musical studies in Medieval performance practice on vielle with Shira Kammen and with members of Sequentia at the Vancouver Medieval Programme at the University of British Columbia.

She comes from a family of artists; her grandfather, Eliezer, is a multi-instrumentalist who regularly played for folk dances in Tel-Aviv in the 1940's. Currently based in the San Francisco Bay area, California, she is Artistic Director of Redwood Guild of Early Music and is an Artist-In-Residence with Youth In Arts. She has performed internationally with an eclectic variety of ensembles and vocalists, including The Boston Camerata and vocalists Owain Phyfe, Abby Green, Maia Archote, and Moh Alileche. She's been a featured performer at the Vancouver Early Music Festival (2013) with Sequentia & The Elaine Adair Ensemble as well as at the Connecticut Early Music Festival (2010) with Istanpitta Early Music Ensemble, and her new Contra-dance band, TriTonic, recently featured at the New England Folk Festival 2013 (NEFFA). She enjoys playing fiddle for contra and English country dance camps in the woods as well as performing with Shira Kammen's Class V Music, an ensemble dedicated to creating music on whitewater rafting trips. www.MichelleVielle.com

EDUCATION

Brown University, University of British Columbia, UC Berkeley, and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).