“Whether you strive to learn to read music, play by ear or are seeking an outlet for inner expression, i’ll be here to help with your progress and growth.” ~Laura

Laura's approach to TEACHING IS INNOVATIVE, FRESH and eXPERIENTAL. she has years of experience teaching & coaching violinists and pianists.Trained initially in the classical tradition, Laura felt drawn towards other genres, particularly the energetic and vibrant music of Eastern Europe. She specializes in the ornamented styles of lautari music (Moldova, Romania) and Bulgarian folk music. Laura also holds Suzuki Certification from the American Suzuki Institute.

Education:

MFA - California Institute of the Arts
M.M. - Ohio University
B.A. - Rice University

Lesson offerings:

       Beginning to advanced violin/fiddle; Beginning to intermediate piano

Genres/styles:

Balkan - Classical - Gypsy Jazz - Lautari music - DIFFERENT STYLES OF FIDDLING (Irish, bluegrass, Scandinavian folk)

Teaching hours:

Contact Laura for daytime and evening availability.

TESTIMONIALS:

"Laura Geier is an outstanding performer, researcher, and teacher. In the ten months when she was in Bulgaria on a Fulbright grant she demonstrated strong intellectual ability, initiative, and excellent performing skills. She performed both as solo player and as part of an ensemble, and conducted research on Romani music. It was a real honor to witness Laura’s development here at the Plovdiv Music Academy and it has been a joy to watch her perform on various occasions. She is very charismatic and I have no doubts that she is able to engage and inspire students, and to hand down to them her own love for music."

Rada Kaneva, Program Officer for the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission

"Laura was able to strike the perfect balance of high standards and compassion with my daughter, a middle-school aged intermediate violin student.  Laura is a supremely talented violinist and she expertly imparts her vast musical knowledge to her students through her natural and infectious enthusiasm.  I highly recommend Laura as a violin teacher - she is a true treasure!"

Abby Honikman, Santa Barbara, CA          

"Laura has opened up a whole new world of music to me. She illuminated the diverse genre of Balkan music and enriched my musical taste and repertoire. I can confidently say that without Laura's instruction I wouldn't be the musician I am today."

Margaret Lazarovits, University of Chicago   

"To say Ms. Laura Geier is an inspiration would be a gross understatement. Ms. Geier helped me look at music as a means of expression that can bridge cultural divides and serve as a universal language. She not only reminded me of the impact music can have on both the composer and the listener, but also provided me with the artistic tools to turn my commitment into my passion. While Ms. Geier has certainly helped me expand my repertoire, she has also provided me with the most important life lesson I could have asked for: perspective. I owe my appreciation for the arts—for its creativity, its raw intimacy, and its power to say what words cannot—to this woman. Without her, I would not have discovered the freedom that I now realize should always be experienced through music; for that, I am forever grateful."

Daria Etezadi, Georgetown University