A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Chelsea Whittaker has been teaching violin for over ten years. Her love of violin began at age three when she started Suzuki violin lessons. In 2004, Ms. Whittaker was accepted into North Carolina School of the Arts as a junior in high school. She continued her education in Violin Performance at Appalachian State University, where she received numerous scholarships and awards as an undergraduate and a violin assistantship for her graduate studies. Prior to opening her own violin studio, Chelsea taught at the Community Music School of Appalachian State University for two years. She founded her private studio in 2015, where she currently teaches.

I feel humbled to be a part of a student's journey to learn violin. It is an honor to nurture the student's love for music and cultivate a learning environment that, through encouragement and enthusiasm, allows their passion and talent to thrive. I believe strongly that ear training combined with a proper foundation for violin technique is at the heart of cultivating a love for the “sound” of the violin. This enables the student to start recognizing and enjoying their tone as a beginner and have a greater awareness of their tone regardless of experience or skill level. Since each student is unique, all assignments and lesson plans are designed for the individual student and what motivates them as a musician.

I teach Suzuki, Traditional Classical, Improvisation, and any alternative genres or styles the student feels inspired by. Additionally, authentic performance practice, historical performance, music theory, music history, aural skills, basic conducting, keyboard, and other string instruments can be incorporated into lessons if a student is interested. Practicing is such a large component in learning the violin, so I make sure students know what to practice, why to practice, and how to practice from the first lesson. This enables them to progress much faster and enjoy practicing from day one!