Learning to play the violin, the hardest string instrument to play, can seem daunting. But with top instructors with the best violin lessons in Calgary, you’ll surely play the fiddle flawlessly in time.
We’ve already gone ahead and ranked the best violin teachers in town and compiled the potential costs for this musical education. You can also find a few additional details on the topic at the end of the page.
Table of Contents
How much do violin lessons in Calgary cost?
The price of violin lessons can vary depending on the duration of the session. Here are the different durations of violin lessons and their respective average pricing.
| Duration of violin lesson per session | Average price |
| 30 minutes | $40 |
| 45 minutes | $50 |
| 60 minutes | $65 |
The level of experience can also affect the costs of violin lessons. Here are the different kinds of teachers you may encounter and how much they’ll charge per session.
| Type of teacher | Expected price range per session |
| Student or part-time fiddler | $25-$45 |
| Professional violinist | $40-$75 |
The Best Music Schools in Calgary for Violin Lessons
Let’s proceed to our list of best violin instructors. Know that these are the factors we considered when choosing Calgary musical schools with violin lessons:
If you still have trouble picking one school, keep these aforementioned factors in mind or weigh in the pros and cons we’ve listed per school.
1. Nirvana Academy of Violin
| CLASSES | Private violin lessons, RCM violin exam preparation class, violin orchestra audition preparation class, violin teacher training, recital preparation class, RCM theory class |
| FEES | https://www.nirvanaacademyofviolin.com/fees/ |
| WEBSITE | https://www.nirvanaacademyofviolin.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 101 14 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0W3 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (403) 400-5927 | [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM –12:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
If you’re looking for a school that’s as focused as you want to be with the violin, then Nirvana Academy of Violin may be your best choice.
Nirvana Academy of Violin teaches aspiring violinists aged 4–60 the RCM theory to give them a strong musical foundation. The school also teaches proper posture.
It offers private lessons, either online or in-person, with different durations lasting 45 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the level of commitment, age, and skill level of the student.
These private lessons use either the Suzuki method and the traditional method of teaching music to cater to the student’s strengths. Nirvana Academy of Violin allows its students to choose their violin instructor for maximum convenience.
Speaking of instructors, you should know that Nirvana Academy of Violin has over eight professional violin instructors. Just know that the class venue will depend on your chosen instructor.
With such a large team, it also offers lessons for RCM violin exam preparation, orchestra audition, recitals, and even teacher training.
We also like that Nirvana Academy of Violin has transparent flat pricing. That said, these fees are on a monthly basis, which means you’ll have to pay a huge amount every payment cycle.
Pros
- Numerous types of holistic teaching methods
- Online and in-person classes available
- A large team of junior and senior instructors
- Freedom to choose instructor and session duration
- All week availability with extended hours
Cons
- Do not accept adult students
Customer Reviews
Warm, patient, and knowledgeable teacher who cares about students and their progress
“My daughter began lessons with Nirvana just before her 4th birthday, and in the year since, has learned how to play 9 traditional Suzuki songs, plus several other children’s favourites. She is also learning to sight read music, which she especially loves. Nirvana is a warm, patient, and knowledgeable teacher who truly cares about her students and their progress. Would be happy to recommend this violin academy to anyone looking to learn the correct techniques in a supportive environment.”—Nicole Koloff
Makes learning the violin fun and balanced
“Our daughter Ginevra has been learning to play the violin with Nirvana for over 3 years since she was 5, and the experience is great! The violin is not an easy instrument to learn, but Nirvana makes it fun to learn, and teaches it always with a smile. Her teaching is very well balanced since it includes a “technical” part (scales, arpeggios, posture, etc.) and a “fun” part (the pieces from the Suzuki method, which is excellent for kids). Thanks to Nirvana, Ginevra loves playing the violin and passed her Level 2 exam at the RCM. We highly recommend Nirvana and her Academy to anyone wishing to learn the violin in a pleasant and effective manner.”—Angelo Bellettini
2. Premiere Violin Studio
| CLASSES | Private violin lessons |
| WEBSITE | http://www.premieremusic.ca/ |
| ADDRESS | 28 McKernan Rd SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 1S4 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (403) 999-7454 | [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM |
Premiere Violin Studio is just as its name suggests as it brings the best violin lessons in Calgary to students. This institution offers one-on-one private lessons to each of its students.
Given that this violin school only has one instructor on its team, it also has relatively limited class hours. Luckily, these class hours can extend up to late evenings to cater to those with busy daily routines.
Despite having a small team, Premiere Violin Studio still offers holistic violin education. It does so by not only teaching the basics of the violin but also providing useful demonstration, adjusting playing posture and movement, and providing mental coaching.
Premiere Violin Studio’s teacher, Maury Michie, also has an educational background not only in music but also in education. With such credentials, Maury is able to build healthy playing habits while still making violin lessons fun.
But what we like the most about this violin class provider is that its classes are relatively more affordable than its competitors. So, if you want to learn how to play the fiddle without breaking the bank, this may be a better option for you.
Pros
- Expertise and experience in both music and education
- Relatively affordable classes
- Holistic violin playing classes
- Extended operating hours
Cons
- No Friday and weekend schedules
- Relatively small team
Customer Reviews
Patient and humorous teacher, teaches new techniques
“I am a student here and it is awesome !!! Before I was really hesitant and nervous about playing the violin,but Maury is a very patient and humorous teacher,but now I enjoy playing the violin.I am filled with excitement everytime I go there and learn new techniques for playing the violin.I would definitely recommend Premiere Violin Studios.”—Ciel I.
Incredibly talented, passionate, patient, and informative teacher and violinist
“I highly recommend Premiere Violin Studio. My son has been taking violin lessons for 2 years and has made great progress. Maury is an incredibly talented violinist who is passionate about music. He is very patient with my son and has a way of explaining musical concepts that is fun and keeps my son interested. Premiere Violin Studio offers violin lessons with a highly experienced and gifted instructor for a great price.”—Jo F.
3. Chinook School of Music Inc
| CLASSES | Private violin classes, online violin lessons, group classes, composition, music production and theory |
| WEBSITE | http://www.chinookschoolofmusic.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 3522 19 St SW, Calgary, AB T2T 4X6 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (403) 246-8446 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
Now, if you have an interest in a number of musical instruments, award-winning Chinook School of Music may be the perfect fit. Not only does it provide the best lessons for violin but it also has lessons for piano, cello, flute, drums, saxophone, and many more.
We find this music school helpful as it has group classes and private lessons alike. It also offers both in-person and online lessons to cater to just about any aspiring violinist in Calgary.
As an all-around music school, Chinook School of Music also offers composition classes, musical theatre workshops, and vocal boot camps.
What’s more, all these classes are available to Calgarians of all ages!
Among its large team of musical instructors, Chinook School of Music has four violin instructors. Do know that these instructors also teach other instruments, so there may be a bit of trouble with scheduling.
Luckily, Chinook School of Music is available six days a week, from Mondays to Saturdays. And for most of these days, it can accept lesson class scheduling as late as 9 PM.
Before enrolling, you should also know that Chinook School of Music charges fees per month and has an annual non-refundable registration fee of $25. Still, this school offers 10% discounts to senior-aged learners.
Pros
- Wide selection of musical classes
- Online and in-person class options available
- Extended opening hours
- Discounts for seniors
- Award winning musical school
Cons
- No Sunday schedules
- Violin instructors also teach other instruments
- Some strict policies on absences and registration fees
Customer Reviews
Incredibly talented and dedicated staff, teachers tailor lessons to strengths and interests
“CSM has incredibly talented and dedicated staff and offers lots of opportunities for both fun and enrichment for their students. Our daughter studied piano there for 5 years. Her teacher really tailored the lessons to work with her strengths and interests, and we were really pleased at how much she learned and how quickly she advanced as a result.”—Ann Madeline Toohey
Positive and caring especially for little children, bright and clean classrooms
“The teachers here are some positive and caring for the little children that learn here. They truly love music and their passion shows to both the parents and children. The classrooms are clean and bright. There are a great variety of musical items that the kids get exposed to in order to ignite or continue to grow their interest and love of music. The only limitation would be that due to it being on the second floor with no elevator it would be difficult to access for any handicapped individuals.”—John William Wade
4. Musicworks Canada
| CLASSES | Private violin classes, online violin classes |
| WEBSITE | http://www.musicworkscanada.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 8120 Beddington Blvd NW Bay 103, Calgary, AB T3K 2A8 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (403) 516-1003 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Musicworks Canada is unique in the way that it’s both a place to get a violin and a place to learn how to play it. This music store offers more than musical instruments sales and repairs as it also provides one-on-one lessons to its students.
Another great thing about this music school and store is that it accepts Calgarians of all ages. It even has a student as senior as 83 years old, a testament to its versatility in teaching music.
All of the Musicworks’ instructors are RCM-certified to provide nothing less than the best violin lessons in Calgary. They even modify their teaching methods and approaches to match their student’s needs.
These instructors can provide either online or in-person lessons to ensure the safety and comfort of their students. It even has over 6 locations with a total of 25 classrooms to cater to more students.
Additionally, Musicworks is special in a way because it provides make-up lessons at no additional cost. Students need only inform the school’s front desk about their absence to avail of their make-up class.
Musicworks also offers tutoring services, which can be a problem given that it has relatively limited operating hours on its opening days.
To add to this minor con, Musicworks isn’t available on Sundays. Still, students can easily schedule a lesson from Monday mornings to Saturday afternoons.
Pros
- One-stop-shop for music lessons and instrumental purchase and repairs
- Online and in-person class options
- Relaxed policies on make-up classes
- Numerous locations for classes
Cons
- No Sunday schedules
- Very wide target market due to range of services
Customer Reviews
Educates on types of violin, great curriculum
“Great violin lessons! I have always been interested and since im sitting around this quarantine with nothing to do I figured why not. Staff were able to educate me on the violin i should rent as well as point out the positive and negatives of both the buy option and rent option. The teacher is lovely and the curriculum is honestly great even if it is online. different from other schools i tried a “free lesson” with. When they asked me if i could leave a review about my experience i was more than happy too. Thanks everyone!”—Samantha Lim
Super knowledgeable and amazing teacher, fits teaching method and personality to students
“Since I can remember I’ve always wanted to play the violin. On a whim I walked into Beat of Music and thought I’ll just sign up for some lessons. I was greeted by Tao and asked about starting up. From there I got a great amount of information. He is super knowledgeable not only about the violin but a vast amount of music, instruments and especially the store and it’s teachers. It’s pretty amazing. He gave me a breakdown of what each teacher was like what kind of students they are best with, their teaching methods and personalities of each of them. Tao gave me a demonstration and pretty much my first lesson just so I could choose I violin and a bow for myself, I’m pretty sure I was there for a good two hours chatting and playing the violins. After that I chose Jamie as my violin teacher. He is an amazing violinist I would pay just to hear him play the G major scale. He has vast knowledge, he is very and I mean this VERY patient with me as I have never picked up a violin before and hurt my own ears playing. I can tell everyone loves this little place, they are all very passionate about music and they will ensure everyone has the proper equipment knowledge and skills to pursue any musical endeavour they desire. “—Rene Hill
5. Leroux Studios • Music Lessons & Academic Tutoring
| CLASSES | One-on-one violin lessons |
| WEBSITE | http://www.lerouxstudios.ca/ |
| ADDRESS | 2114A 14 St NW, Calgary, AB T2M 3N5 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (403) 284-3206 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Friday: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
You can also choose Leroux Studios for your violin lessons, especially if you want more flexible sessions for their violin lessons. We say this because this musical institution offers violin lessons with varying durations, from 30 minutes to 90 minutes.
Those who are still undecided about enrolling can also benefit from Leroux Studio’s 30-minute drop-in packs. Each pack contains either 5, 10, 15, or 20 sessions each and can even be gifted to friends and family.
We also like that Leroux Studios classes are on the affordable side of things, albeit still charged monthly. So, just prepare the rather heavy one-time monthly payments should you choose this for your violin lessons.
Leroux Studios also does educational tutoring, which means that it also has more customers vying for its time. In addition to this limitation, this music institution also offers classes only on weekdays.
Luckily, its weekday operating hours extended as late as 9 PM for its student’s convenience.
You should know that currently, it only has one violin instructor on its team. Still, this one and only violin instructor is sought after for her vast experience playing in solos, chambers, orchestra concerts, and musical tours.
Pros
- Relatively affordable pricing
- Numerous lesson/session duration options
- Highly experienced violin instructor
- Extended operating hours
- Drop-in violin lessons as gift certificates
Cons
- Fees are on a per month basis
- No weekend schedules
- A relatively small team of violin instructors
Customer Reviews
Great studio, great teachers
“Great studio with great teachers. It’s been fun to watch the place grow over the years, they have twice the capacity they used to. I specifically recommend the violin teacher there Eva.”
Management takes extra step to care for students, good for all ages
“In January I will be entering into my third year of music lessons at Leroux Music Studios and can’t say enough positive things about what the experience has been for me. I have always loved music, find it to be very therapeutic. I started out with voice and nine months later decided to take piano as well. The management and staff at Leroux Music Studios go the extra step to make sure the needs of the students are being met. I would highly recommend any one, any age to come out for a trial lesson, discover the music in you!!”—Bridget Moulton
6. Rocky View Suzuki Violin School
| CLASSES | Composition Classes, Theory Classes, Adult Lessons |
| FEES | Annual Tuition Monthly Tuition 30-Minute Private Lesson $1,600.00 $160.00 (Sept-June) 45-Minute Private Lesson $1,900.00 $190.00 60-Minute Private Lesson $2,500.00 $250.00 (Sept-June) |
| WEBSITE | https://rockyviewviolin.wixsite.com/airdrieviolinlessons |
| ADDRESS | 67 Baywater Court Airdrie, Alberta T4B 0A9 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | [email protected] | (403) 945-1477 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Contact for more details |
The teacher behind Rocky View Suzuki Violin School is Kristin Flores, who has been playing the violin for over 35 years and teaching for more than 20 years.
Unlike other schools tuition here is inclusive of 40 private lessons, 30 group lessons, and 3 concerts within a span of 10 months. Also, they have two types of payments, annually and monthly, which are perfect for parents who have preferences.
Did you know that aside from teaching children, Kristin can also provide lessons for adults? However, do take note that her private lessons cost $30 for 30-minutes while a group lessons’ rate is only $10.
Lastly, what makes them stand out from their competitors is their Suzuki Early Childhood Music Education Program. Your toddlers will be moving, singing, and playing instruments in no time.
Pros
- All rates are available on their website
- Client-centered
Cons
- Need to contact first for their operating hours
Customer Reviews
“Kristin is an excellent teacher. She knows her stuff and is great with kids. My daughter studied violin with her from the tender age of 3 and it takes a lot of patience for someone to teach a 3 year old violin! She also teaches the Suzuki method which I respect a lot because it focuses on students learning by ear as well as learning to read – something I do myself as a teacher and know to be very effective for students both young and old. Highly recommend Kristin!” – Anthony Burbidge
“My son started with Kristin when he was four, he’s ten now and still enjoying violin. She’s great with young kids, and the group lessons have been more valuable than I ever would have imagined.” – Christie Ann Webster
7. Tongur Music
| CLASSES | Piano, music theory and composition (Ilkim Tongur) Violin and piano (Babur Tongur) Viola (Babur Tongur) Music Theory and Rudiments Composition Orchestration Basic Skills (Musicianship or Solfeggio) Musical Analysis and Forms Choral Composition and Arrangement Orchestral Composition and Arrangement Counterpoint and Fugue Modal Music Figured Bass |
| FEES | 15-minute lessons/week (recommended ages 3-5 for music theory) $75/month 30-minute lessons/week (recommended for ages between 3-6 for the instrument, ages 6-7 music theory) $150/month 45-minute lessons/week (recommended for ages between 7 and 11 ) $225/month 60-minutes lesson/week (recommended for ages over 12) $300/month |
| WEBSITE | https://tongurmusic.com/ |
| ADDRESS | Banff Trail, NW |
| CONTACT DETAILS | E-mail: [email protected] Mobile: (403) 862 7212 |
| OPERATING HOURS |
Tongur Music is a provider of essential musical programs for individuals who have various interests in musical concepts and instruments such as composition, musical theory, and piano among many others. Founded by professionals themselves, their lessons all take place at their home studio at Banff Trail.
Their teachers are deeply experienced when it comes to classical music. They use a combination of European-centred teaching techniques and RCM programs for their lessons. While this standard is highly ideal, should individuals want other musical approaches – there might be rather few choices for this.
Their website has a unique structure which could be quite confusing for new users, but all relevant information is stated along with videos and forms. Price rates are readily available at monthly flat rates ranging from 15-60 minutes per week as well.
With the idea of fun musical experiences at the center of their interest, their lessons are ideal for complete beginners and children of all ages since they offer comprehensive programs for a firm start on the field, as well as highly advanced lessons in each field they are teaching.
Pros
- A wide range of music classes offered
- Highly experienced instructors
- Adequate facilities
Cons
- No online class options mentioned
- Unclear operating hours
8. MJM Music Studio
| CLASSES | https://www.mjmmusicstudio.com/programs |
| FEES | 20 Mins – $25 30 Mins – $30 45 Mins – $45 60 Mins – $60 **All prices are per session and students are charged monthly from Sept – June. However, for the summer months, they offer a pay-as-you-go, casual schedule for flex time. |
| WEBSITE | https://www.mjmmusicstudio.com/ |
| ADDRESS | Calgary, AB, Canada T2G |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +1 403-629-4997 | [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Tuesday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM Monday: 10:00 AM – 9:15 PM Saturday – Sunday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
MJM Music Studio is a provider of online music school classes and necessities in Alberta. They have since then expanded their services to British Columbia and Saskatchewan to help bring musical classes by professionals to aspiring musicians.
They offer highly flexible online class schedules to their clients wherein they can avail custom affordable lessons ranging from 20-60 minutes in terms of duration. Each of the teachers they employ is adequately profiled and introduced on their website for the benefit of the interested clients as well.
Since they offer online classes, students and families availing of this need to have adequate facilities and instruments to apply the concepts they are taught. This is not ideal for individuals who struggle to learn through online means of communication only and wish to have a more personal and hands-on approach.
It is very convenient to schedule and transacts their services however since it is both contactless and even supports a wide variety of payment and communication methods clients can use.
Pros
- Open all week
- Wide options for payments
- Flexible schedules for lessons
Cons
- Online classes are only available
- Price ranges unavailable
9. V A Hill Fine String Ltd
| CLASSES | Call for Inquiries |
| WEBSITE | https://www.hillsfinestrings.com/ |
| ADDRESS | Bay 4, 6325 – 11 Street SE Calgary, AB T2H 2L6 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Phone: 403-640-3773 Toll free: 1-800-640-3773 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Tuesday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
V A Hill Fine Strings Ltd is a shop that specializes in all things string instruments such as repairs, purchases, and lessons. Starting only in a background setting, they have since then expanded to a reputable shop that is able to accommodate all musician needs that exceed customer expectations when it comes to quality and expertise.
We find the fact that all their staff is fully knowledgeable of what they offer to be a great asset for them and an excellent feature of clients who need guidance when choosing the best product for their string instrument needs.
Another thing we think to be notable is their flexible caliber of services that makes it ideal for both students and professionals since they can restore old instruments and an extensive stock of student-level instruments on their shop.
Their past clients find them highly accommodating and helpful with every inquiry that makes an experience with them to be pleasant and educational at the same time.
There is limited information when it comes to violin classes on their website and online booking seems to be unavailable so clients may have to consider contacting them first for more details.
Pros
- Wide variety of selections in shop
- Accommodating staff
- Geared to accommodate beginners and professionals
Cons
- Limited information regarding classes
Customer Reviews
Here are some reviews from their clients:
” The customer service I have experienced at VAHill has always been great! Thankful for places that make that a priority! Thank you! ” – C.W.
” It was a real pleasure to meet you and your customer service was one of the better experiences I’ve had in this city yet. That is not an easy thing for me to say since my business with my husband is all about customer service. So thank you and well done to you and your staff. ” – Lydia
Different Methods of Learning Violin
Violin lessons will teach you not only to play the violin properly and beautifully but also to understand musical compositions. Here are the different methods you may encounter when learning the violin.
- Traditional method
This method is where the students learn to play the violin by first learning the basics of music. As such, they’ll get to read sheet music and understand the meaning and importance of notes, timing, and many more before playing the violin.
- Suzuki method
The Suzuki method is where violin enthusiasts can start as early as 3-years old. This method involves lots of conditioning and immersion.
During their lessons, the instructor will play and surround the students with music they need to learn. That said, students may not learn to read music right away.
- String pedagogy
This method from Mimi Zweig emphasizes confidence and physical freedom when playing the violin. With this method, students are encouraged to go through their natural motions while learning the basics of violin playing.
FAQs about Violins and Violin Lessons
And that concludes our list of where you can get the best violin lessons in Calgary! Once you learn the basics and are ready to practice by yourself, you can then go to the best musical instrument stores in Calgary to purchase a fiddle.
Do you know any other violin teachers and musical institutions you think deserve to be here? Feel free to send us your recommendations so we can check them out, too.
If you don’t have any more questions, then what are you waiting for? Go ahead and choose your violin instructor and you’ll finally be able to play your favourite stringed pieces in time!
