Private Violin Study for Serious Adult Violinists
A lineage-based approach to technique, tone, and artistic freedom.
Private study at the Broadbent School of Violin Artistry is designed for adult violinists who sense that something essential is missing in their training.
Many dedicated players reach a point where progress slows, tension increases, and familiar issues with tone, intonation, or coordination refuse to resolve — often not because of a lack of effort, but because foundational work was never fully taught or fully integrated.
This work assumes curiosity, openness, and a willingness to examine long-held habits.
While the violinist is never treated as deficient or “broken,” meaningful progress does require the ability to listen, experiment, and learn. Technical organization cannot take root where defensiveness or rigidity override inquiry.
What is missing, for those suited to this work, is not talent or discipline — but a coherent, integrated approach to violin technique that connects sound, body, and intention.
We may work well together if
- You are an adult violinist or teacher who knows there are gaps in your education
- You’ve studied repertoire but lack clarity in fundamental technique
- You practice consistently, yet progress feels unreliable or fragile
- You experience tension, fatigue, or discomfort while playing
- You want technique that supports expression, not force
- You value refinement, structure, and thoughtful pedagogy that leads to lasting change
- You know without a doubt something is missing in your training
A School Rooted in Lineage
The Broadbent School of Violin Artistry stands in a clear pedagogical lineage:
- Leopold Auer — technical clarity in service of musical truth
- Eugène Ysaÿe — individuality, freedom, and tone as voice
This lineage lives on here not as ideology, but as practice.
Technique is never isolated from sound.
Discipline never overrides artistry.
And the violinist is always treated as a whole, intelligent human being.
How We Work Together
Private sessions are precise, focused, and highly individualized.
I work quickly and calmly to identify what is limiting your playing — often beneath the surface of the issue you initially present. Persistent problems frequently trace back to imbalances in how the body, left hand, and right hand function together.
Our work begins by establishing balance in three essential areas:
- The balance of the body
- The balance of the left hand
- The balance of the right hand
I teach the Franco-Belgian bow hold, with careful attention to flexibility, weight transfer, and natural movement. All technical work is approached through the lens of ergonomics — working with your anatomy rather than against it — so that sound production becomes reliable, sustainable, and free of unnecessary strain.
We may address:
- Tone production and bow clarity
- Posture and whole-body balance
- The Franco-Belgian bow hold and right-hand balance
- Efficient left-hand organization
- Intonation as awareness, not correction
- Shifting and position security
- Vibrato freedom
- Practice structure and nervous-system integration
The goal is not to “fix” you.
The goal is to organize your playing so it works — reliably, sustainably, and musically — in a way that supports both your artistry and your body.
Integrated Technique & Ease of Playing
Years of unnecessary tension and strain are common among adult violinists.
My approach emphasizes integrated technique — movement that is intelligently organized, respects the body, supports the nervous system, and allows sound to flow without force. Many students experience not only greater clarity and control in their playing, but also relief from long-standing discomfort and fatigue.
This work is not about tricks or shortcuts.
It is about learning to play the violin in a way that is intelligent, embodied, and sustainable.
A Clear Starting Point
If this work resonates, I recommend beginning with private study.
To prepare for your first session, please bring:
- One scale appropriate to your level (two or three octaves)
- Three to five minutes of a piece you enjoy
From there, we clarify priorities and determine how ongoing study together can best support your goals.
Online, Focused, and Fully Supported
All private sessions are held online via Zoom.
Private students receive:
- A secure lesson link to our virtual studio
- Written session notes in a shared Google document
- Relevant links or references shared as needed between sessions
Online study allows for remarkable efficiency, continuity, and reflection. Many students find that it offers greater depth and clarity than traditional in-person lessons once they experience the format.
Materials and Resources
Private study focuses on individualized guidance, demonstration, and refinement of your playing.
When specific exercises, études, or books are recommended — including my own published materials — students obtain their own copies unless otherwise noted. Public-domain repertoire is used where appropriate.
All shared materials and resources are organized and delivered via Dropbox, allowing you to access your files securely and revisit them between sessions.
Written session notes are maintained in a shared Google document, providing a clear, ongoing record of what was addressed in each lesson and what to focus on between sessions.
Relevant links or additional materials may be added as needed to support your work.
In Their Words
My live private lessons with Heather have transformed my playing, in the best ways possible. With 6 months of study, my bowstrokes have become more organized and my sound is more focused. She methodically separates left hand and right hand skills so that you can comb through all types of challenges. She always circles back to working on good tone production.
I also teach violin and studying with Heather has turned me into a much stronger teacher. My students are greatly benefitting. I am a section player in a professional orchestra. My orchestra playing has improved greatly. I am able to get the passage work much faster. In private lessons, I can easily send Heather an orchestral excerpt to work on at my next lesson. Technology makes it so easy. Plus, if I am having a technological challenge, Heather always offers tech support. If you are considering taking private lessons, I would definitely not look anywhere else as Heather can meet all your violinistic needs! It is a pleasure to study with Heather and I look forward to continuing my own private studies with Heather.
Alyssa Kuhn, Violinist
www.westendmusicstudio.com
I started coaching sessions with Heather in January 2014, having been finding my own way along without a teacher for around 3 years. I knew that I had major issues with intonation, tone, timing and vibrato to name but a few, and I had no structure to my practice although I played for an hour and a half every day. I had never tried or even considered violin coaching online but having studied Heather’s website and watched a few videos it looked like she ticked all the boxes. Having a free half hour Skype session with Heather then absolutely convinced me. I found her approach light and inspirational, whilst she was able to shine a laser beam on the weaknesses in my technique in an instant and give me clear instructions on how to correct it, accompanied by exercises to wire it into my nervous system.
In the following months since then I have loved every session and have seen week on week improvements in my playing beyond what I dreamed possible. Heather’s way of bringing awareness to every pitch is inspirational and has revolutionized my intonation. Having worked with Heather online for these few months I don’t know if I would want to go back to conventional face to face teaching. It has so many advantages. Heather can just pull up some relevant teaching materials or sheet music and I have it instantly. I get links to videos so that I can continue learning between the sessions and can prep new things that we are going to work on. Plus I get a recording of our session so I can go back and check on anything I wasn’t clear about – and go back to earlier recording to see just how far I have progressed over the weeks. Then one of my favourite things – I get written notes after the session, with what to work on for the next session which has been great for giving me clear guidelines on what to practice each day, providing me with the structure that I had been lacking.
In short, I can’t praise Heather’s coaching sessions highly enough.
Nicholas Bourne-Hulme
Violinist, UK
Heather is an answer to a great wish of mine: a passion to play violin effectively. Since a teacher was not available, I developed a practice routine for myself, yet moved forward slowly. After a cry for help on LinkedIn, Heather was recommended to me by one of her online students; he said that he highly recommended her and that she had it all figured out. Indeed, he was correct.
Right from the start she took charge in a supportive, friendly but businesslike, no-nonsense approach to giving me feedback on the violin. She is an insightful teacher that works on multiple levels; for example, for the nut and bolts of violin technique, she assigns very effective exercises; for the reflective level she suggests ways of recording, writing and videoing yourself in order to be present; and, for the philological level, she gives of exercises to over come stage fright.
For me, Heather is like the Jillian Michaels (work-out guru) for violin, in that, you follow her program and it is a short cut to being an effective player. I have been studying with Heather now since January and my improvement is noticeable not only to myself but to the outside also. During the last gig I played, a lady commented, saying my violin filled the room soulful beauty. I received the compliment with a smile remembering all the feedback from Heather and practicing she inspired me to do. If you are serious about improving, I highly recommend Heather.
Darcie Khanukayev
Violinist, USA
Before I started studying with Heather, I had some position hesitations, intonation issues, and really being able to draw the sound from my instrument. Since working with her, I’ve noticed more confidence in my playing and shifting. More accuracy and ease with my playing. My intonation and all around playing has really been enhanced into something I wouldn’t have been able to do on my own. I’ve learned so much already in just four lessons!
I knew she was the perfect teacher for me through her amazing YouTube videos and what I was able to gain from them! She really knows how to get one to enhance their skills and make them a better player! I couldn’t be happier!! I’m so inspired and driven to be a better player now!
Emilio Arredondo,
Violinist – EA VIOLIN
I can’t say enough good things about Heather’s unique teaching style or how much it resonates with me. She’s more of a “Spiritual Warrior Violinist,” than a mere conventional instructor!! She uses a fun, spunky, energetic coaching style to motivate her students, while employing an intuitively inspired and distinctively holistic, “mind, body, spirit” approach to teaching. So, instead of merely teaching you how to play the violin, she actually empowers you with the tools to transform yourself into an “instrument for the instrument.”
It’s truly an awesome way for professional intuitives to manage their energy effectively, while also developing/ deepening energetic sensitivity & awareness and learning to transmute vibration. It’s turning out to be an amazing tool in my tool-set!!
So, if you’ve always wanted to learn the violin, but thought it was too challenging to do so, check out Heather’s Online Violin Studio!
Cristie Kephart Downs
Intuitive, USA
Heather Broadbent taught me how to play violin for ten wonderful years. She shaped me into a great violinist technically, guided me to appreciate music in general, and most importantly, taught me disciplinary skills that made me into the young adult that I am today. I am indeed forever grateful.
Arielle Exner
Violinist, USA