Young woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a black top, holding a violin, and smiling at the camera against a dark blue background.

Private violin and viola lessons in Santa Barbara and surrounding areas

Hello!

My name is Lydia Plaut, and I am a violinist, violist, and educator based in Santa Barbara, CA. I offer violin and viola lessons to students of all ages and levels. If you’re interested in lessons, performances, or anything else, get in touch with me through the contact form.

What I Offer

  • Suzuki lessons offer a joyful introduction to violin or viola! Suzuki lessons are great for students ages 4-10 who are interested in learning the violin or viola for the first time. The Suzuki Method is a philosophy of music teaching based on Shinichi Suzuki’s belief that “Every child can!” where the parent/guardian is involved in every step of the music education process. I am a registered teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and hold a Master’s Degree in Suzuki Pedagogy from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

  • Traditional lessons (non-Suzuki) are ideal for older beginners (ages 11-18), adult students, and those who have learned violin/viola before. Whether you played as a child and want to pick it up again or are starting for the first time as a retirement project, I’m excited to help you develop your skills and musical voice!

  • In addition to instrumental performance, I offer Musicianship classes for young students (0-5) and their caregiver. Students are introduced to musical concepts through games, movement, and singing. For class meeting times, please contact me.

  • Add a special touch to your event with live string performance! I offer performances for weddings, corporate events, and other special occasions. Myself and the musicians I work with are all conservatory-trained and have performed with professional orchestras at venues around the country.