Private Lessons
Private music lessons give students the opportunity to learn one-on-one with an experienced musician who can support their individual interests, goals, and growth. Lessons can help students strengthen technique, build confidence, develop practice habits, and deepen their connection to music.
Whether a student is just beginning, looking to grow beyond the classroom, or preparing for auditions and advanced opportunities, private instruction can provide encouragement, structure, and meaningful mentorship.
This resource is designed to help families connect with musicians of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra who teach privately in St. Louis.
Disclaimer
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) provides this directory as a resource to help individuals connect with SLSO musicians who independently offer private music instruction.
The SLSO does not arrange, schedule, contract for, supervise, or otherwise participate in private lessons listed in this directory. All lessons, including arrangements regarding instruction, fees, scheduling, policies, and payment, are solely between the individual teacher and the student or client.
Inclusion in this directory does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the SLSO. Individuals are responsible for evaluating and selecting a teacher and for making all arrangements directly with the teacher.
The SLSO is not responsible or liable for any private lessons, services, representations, acts, omissions, disputes, injuries, damages, losses, or other claims arising from or related to private instruction arranged through contact with a teacher listed in this directory.
Violin
Hannah Ji
đź“ŤSouth St. Louis City
Levels: Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: Middle/High School Students • College Students • Adults
Specialties: Suzuki method, viola, audition preparation, experience teaching neurodivergent students
Languages: English, Korean
Virtual Lessons: Occasionally
Contact: hji.violin@gmail.com
Andrea Jarrett
đź“ŤSouth St. Louis City
Levels: Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: All Ages
Specialties: Suzuki method, excerpts and audition preparation, organized and efficient practicing with note-taking, experience teaching neurodivergent students
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: Yes
Contact: andreacjarrett@gmail.com
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Angie Smart
đź“ŤRichmond Heights
Levels: Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: Middle/High School Students • College Students
Specialties: College and graduate school audition preparation; supplemental arts application preparation and taping; preparation for local, national, and international competitions; preparation for MMTA and MTNA events; audition preparation for youth orchestra and school seating auditions
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: Occasionally
Contact: angiesmartstudio@gmail.com
Seul Lee
đź“ŤCreve Coeur
Levels: Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: All Ages
Specialties: Audition preparation
Languages: English, Korean
Virtual Lessons: Yes
Contact: seul231@gmail.com
Charlie Lin
đź“ŤBrentwood
Levels: Beginner • Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: All Ages
Specialties: Experience teaching neurodivergent students
Languages: English, Chinese
Virtual Lessons: Yes
Contact: charlielin98@gmail.com
Shawn Weil
đź“ŤCentral West End
Levels: Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: Middle/High School Students • College Students • Adults
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: Yes
Contact: shawnoweil@gmail.com
Viola
Michael Casimir
đź“ŤKirkwood
Levels: Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: All Ages
Specialties: Violin, audition preparation, use of technology, audio and video applications, experience teaching neurodivergent students
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: Yes
Contact: michael.casimir.viola@gmail.com
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Chris Tantillo
đź“ŤClayton
Levels: Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: Middle/High School Students • College Students • Adults
Specialties: Youth orchestra audition preparation, college audition preparation, professional orchestra excerpt preparation
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: Occasionally
Contact: tantiznow@yahoo.com
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Cello
Yin Xiong
đź“ŤRichmond Heights
Levels: Beginner • Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: All Ages
Specialties: Orchestra audition preparation, college and graduate school audition preparation, experience teaching neurodivergent students
Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese
Virtual Lessons: Yes
Contact: xycello@gmail.com
Double Bass
Brendan Fitzgerald
đź“ŤSouth St. Louis City
Levels: Beginner • Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: Middle/High School Students • College Students • Adults
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: No
Contact: brendan.fitzgerald@me.com
Flute
Ann Choomack
đź“ŤUniversity City
Levels: Beginner • Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: All Ages
Specialties: Piccolo, experience teaching neurodivergent students
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: Yes
Contact: achoomack@gmail.com
Jennifer Nitchman
đź“ŤSouth St. Louis City
Levels: Beginner • Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: All Ages
Specialties: Piccolo, experience teaching neurodivergent students
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: Occasionally
Contact: jennynitch@gmail.com
Oboe
Jelena Dirks
đź“ŤCentral West End
Levels: Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: Middle/High School Students • College Students
Specialties: College and orchestral audition preparation, reed making
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: Occasionally
Contact: je_lena@hotmail.com
Clarinet
Robert Walker
đź“ŤCentral West End
Levels: Advanced
Ages: Middle/High School Students • College Students • Adults
Specialties: Fundamentals and audition preparation
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: Occasionally
Contact: RobertWalker86@gmail.com
Tzuying Huang
đź“ŤCentral West End
Levels: Beginner • Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: All Ages
Specialties: Bass clarinet
Languages: English, Chinese
Virtual Lessons: Yes
Contact: tzuyingclarinet@gmail.com
Bassoon
Andrew Gott
đź“ŤLadue
Levels: Beginner • Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: Middle/High School Students • College Students • Adults
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: No
Contact: bassoonfun@gmail.com
Hank Skolnick
Associate Librarian
đź“ŤNorth St. Louis County
Levels: Beginner • Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: All Ages
Specialties: Reed making, contrabassoon, historical performance practice, baroque bassoon, experience teaching neurodivergent students
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: Occasionally
Contact: hskolnick@me.com
Horn
Blaine Dodson
đź“ŤSouth St. Louis City
Levels: Beginner • Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: All Ages
Specialties: Experience teaching neurodivergent students
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: No
Contact: blainedodson08@gmail.com
Everett Burns
đź“ŤSouth St. Louis City
Levels: Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: Middle/High School Students • College Students • Adults
Specialties: Audition preparation
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: Occasionally
Contact: everett.burns@gmail.com
Trumpet
George Goad
đź“ŤRichmond Heights
Levels: Advanced
Ages: Middle/High School Students • College Students • Adults
Specialties: Audition strategies, advanced trumpet students, experience teaching neurodivergent students
Languages: English, Spanish
Virtual Lessons: Yes
Contact: georgevgoad@gmail.com
Trombone
Jonathan Randazzo
đź“ŤWebster Groves
Levels: Intermediate • Advanced
Ages: Middle/High School Students • College Students • Adults
Specialties: Euphonium, experience teaching neurodivergent students
Languages: English
Virtual Lessons: Yes
Contact: jmrandazzo@icloud.com