Welcome to the Seacoast Violin lesson studio!

Melissa Waterhouse, Violin & Fiddle Teacher

Hi there! I offer lessons and coaching to students in person and online. I have over twenty-five years of experience teaching students ages three through ninety-one. I am excited about what I do, and I am passionate about helping my students have fun and make progress with their instruments. You can read my full bio here.

The Studio

In-person lessons are given in my home in Dover. The music studio is comfortable, spacious and yet cozy, with windows on three sides overlooking a large backyard and garden.  It includes a separate sliding door entrance, a couch for parents or siblings to sit on, and air-conditioning in the summer. The studio is in a nice quiet neighborhood, and the driveway has plenty of room for parking.

Need an afternoon break to yourself while your child is learning, or a safe space for siblings to hang for a half hour?  There is plenty of room outside for siblings to play while a lesson is going on. Feel free to enjoy the deck with table and chairs right outside the studio’s door, or read a book on the bench under the tree while your child has their lesson. Many parents take advantage of the location by walking their dog around the loop of the neighborhood or making a quick shopping run to a nearby store for groceries. Long Hill Park is also just two to three minutes away, with a dog park, basketball and tennis courts, a soccer field and a playground.

One of the advantages of teaching out of my home is that we always have access to my full library of music and violin accessories.  If you forgot to bring your music to your lesson, I can grab my copy of your book off the shelf. If your tuning pegs need a quick adjustment or you left your shoulder rest at home, I will have what we need right here to get you back to playing right away.

Lessons for Children and Adults

I love working with students of all ages and at various levels. I offer lessons throughout the day, Mondays through Fridays to homeschoolers, traditional school-aged kids, adults and preschoolers. Lessons are tailored specifically to each student and may include general skill development, repertoire in various styles and genres, practice techniques, note-reading, improvisation, ear-training, music theory, music history, warm-ups, sightreading, performance and audition techniques, recording technique, and composition. Family members may be able to share a lesson if they have similar playing levels. Group lessons are also available for pre-formed groups.

Online Lessons

Virtual lessons are available as a regular weekly option, or for whenever it is more convenient for you than having a lesson in person. This is also a perfect way to have a lesson when the weather is too severe to leave home, when students are sick, or when students are traveling but would still like to keep their lesson time for that week. Online lessons are the same rate as in-person lessons and are currently offered on Zoom, Skype and FaceTime.

Rental instruments

I have a small fleet of rental instruments available. This is a great convenience if your child has selected the violin as their new curiosity but you are not sure how long their interest will last. There is no minimum length commitment to the rental, and you will only be charged for the time that you have the violin. You can switch your instrument out to the next size at any time with no additional cost. Included in the package is a violin, bow, case, rosin, cloth, and foam shoulder rest.

Please note that I generally only rent instrument outfits out to my own students. I do not run a public rental company. This allows me to check on the violin outfit each week to make sure it is in good condition, and to be sure that any ongoing maintenance is taken care of when needed. In special circumstances, I may rent instruments out to the students of my local colleagues, if I have extras in stock.

I have two levels of instruments available for children: standard (sizes 1/32 through 3/4) and advanced (1/8 through 1/2). I have one violin available for parents to rent at a very low rate, if they want to practice with their child at home. Rentals go out on a first come, first serve basis and I might not have a rental in stock at the moment for your particular size. Although renting is convenient in the beginning, I encourage families to buy an instrument outfit as soon as they can, since it is much more cost-effective. I also highly recommend Johnson String Instruments for students who are serious and looking for a finer rental instrument.

Current Seacoast Violin rental rates:

Standard: $23 for the first month, then $13/ month afterwards

Advanced: $33 for the first month, then $23/month afterward

Violin Appraisals

Do you have a violin that’s been tucked away in the closet for years? Or perhaps you found a great deal at an antique shop or estate sale, or were recently gifted a violin. Bring it in and I can check it out for you. If it’s in good condition and just needs to be tuned up, or if it is damaged or in need of serious repair, I can let you know what work needs to be done. I can provide you with a list of recommendations of work to be done, as well as recommendations of where to get repairs, new strings, a new bow or bow rehair if necessary, and approximations of how much they will cost.  I am not affiliated with any violin craftspeople or repair people, so I can provide truly honest feedback.

I charge my regular hourly teaching fee for these appointments, but will try to work quickly so you can get the most information in the least amount of time. These appointments typically take 30-60 minutes, depending on the condition of the instrument. Please note that I do not appraise instruments.  I can tell you the general level of the instrument (beginner, intermediate, advanced, professional, etc.) but I can not tell you exactly how much your instrument outfit is worth. I would be happy to give recommendations for where you can go to get an exact appraisal, and if it would be worth your time to invest in the instrument.

Learning Your Instrument from Online Tutorials

Are you thinking of learning from YouTube or TikTok tutorials?  I get it!  This is a great way to learn an instrument if private lessons do not fit into your current budget.  However, you should know there’s a lot of bad information out there from “experts” who are eager to get views and likes, and who want to sell their books and lesson subscriptions. Thankfully, there are also great videos and sites to check out from actual experts who are well trained and can give you the best start with correct, useful information. It can make all the difference!

If you are interested in learning for free online, it might help to come in for a quick start-up lesson with me first so I can point you in the right direction for the real experts. Some things we can go over are:

  • How to tell if the online teacher is legit and knows their stuff
  • How much you need to practice to meet your goals
  • What to watch out for to avoid an overuse or position-related injury
  • How to set yourself up for good habits from the very start
  • How to take care of your instrument to avoid costly repairs and replacements later
  • A list of great violinists or fiddlers on video to watch for inspiration
  • A list of some of the best experts out there with online tutorials
  • Whatever questions you have- I’m happy to answer them!

I offer flexibility for those who want to come in for a check-up lesson every now and then, a monthly lesson, or whatever your schedule allows. You can also save up your questions and come in or meet me online for a quick Q&A session. I’m here to help you on your journey!