A student can start learning music at any age (there is no such thing as too early or too late)! Marissa accepts students of any and all ages (children, teens, adults, seniors, etc.).

Please see this page.

Marissa Buelow has been a violinist for over 35 years. She was personally tutored to the equivalent of a graduate level in music by Dr. Fiorella Sommer-Link (an internationally-known solo violinist and music professor holding degrees from the Manhattan School of Music in NY, the Juilliard School of Music in NY, and the Adelaide College of the Arts in Australia, who currently teaches in Germany). Marissa has also worked with the former Camerata Fiorentina classical orchestra in Green Bay as well as the modern Rock Infused Orchestra in Neenah, has taught individual lessons and group clinics for the Menasha Joint School District’s music education program, and has also performed some of the most technically demanding violin pieces – including Pancho Vladigerov’s Bulgarian Rhapsody (Vardar), Eugène Ysaÿe’s 6 Solo Sonatas, Giuseppe Tartini’s Devil’s Trill, Niccolò Paganini’s Concerto No. 1, Jean Sibelius’ Concerto in D minor, Peter Tchaikovsky’s Concerto in D major, and Henryk Wieniawski’s Scherzo-Tarantelle, among others.

In her own teaching, Marissa uses a well-balanced notation-reading curriculum blending the fast-track foundation of Essential Elements For Strings, the structure of Suzuki‘s graded levels, left- and right-hand technique-building exercises, and a repertoire of essential classical violin pieces, with modern pieces (from musicals, movies, television, pop culture, well-known bands, and video games) sprinkled at points throughout for fun, interest, and learning of alternate/modern techniques. She will also coach students through pieces assigned by their school, orchestra, or any other music program they may be enrolled in, as well as pieces they wish to play on their own.

Please see the above question “Why Should I Choose Marissa As A Teacher?”

Lesson length is 30 minutes. Please plan to arrive at the lesson location (for in-person students) or begin setting up at home (for virtual students) at least 5 minutes early so that you have time to unpack and set up your instrument and study materials before instruction begins.

Lesson cost is $20 per 30-minute lesson per person.

Double lessons (for example, when there are two siblings who wish to take one lesson together at the same time) can be discounted to $30 total per lesson instead.

One lesson will be scheduled per week (or, optionally, every other week). Payment for more than one lesson may be made in advance if desired. If not already prepaid, payment for each lesson will be required either before or at the beginning of each lesson (before instruction begins).

In-Person:

• Cash (exact change only please)
• Checks
• Debit or credit cards
• Contactless (Apple Pay / Google Pay / NFC / etc.)
• WISE Academy School Funds

Virtual:

• Debit or credit cards
• Apple Pay / Google Pay
• Cash App
• WISE Academy School Funds

(NOTE: All non-cash/check transactions are processed safely and securely via the payment handler Square.)

Study materials and sheet music already in the planned curriculum will be provided at no extra cost (as the cost of planned lesson materials are built-in to the lesson price). Students are also allowed to request specific pieces that they wish to play; many of these will also be able to be provided at no extra cost, however if something that they wish to play does need to be purchased, cost information for that specific material will be given at that time.

All students (both in-person and virtual) are required to obtain and bring their own violin, bow, shoulder rest, rosin, and either a soft untreated microfiber cloth or plain tissues (for cleaning the instrument) to every lesson, including the first one. The student’s school or a local instrument store (i.e., Heid Music in the Fox Cities) can loan or rent out these items for a very reasonable price (and also properly size the instrument to the student’s arm length if necessary). Virtual students will also need an internet connection and device capable of streaming video, and a camera/mic (for example, a webcam attached to a desktop PC/Mac, or a laptop with a built-in camera/mic, or a Chromebook/Macbook should all work just fine). Please also note: Music stands will be provided for students’ use at the lesson location; however, as a music stand is necessary for practicing, all students (both in-person and virtual) will also need to acquire one for themselves for home use as soon as is feasible.

Lessons will be conducted in English.

Absolutely! Seating is provided in the in-person lesson location so that family can be a part of/observe the student’s lesson if so desired. Online students may also have family sit in on their lesson if they wish. In all cases, however, observers are asked to please remain quiet while the lesson is being conducted so that the student can concentrate to their fullest potential.

Yes, students are allowed to request to switch between in-person and virtual lessons or vice-versa at any time (with at least one day’s notice).

Technically, the lesson year (much like the U.S. school year) starts at the beginning of September and ends at the end of May; however, students may sign up for lessons before the start of any month, and their personal learning ‘year’ will simply be staggered accordingly. Summer lessons are available, though entirely optional; however, students who elect to take a summer break (June-August) will still be expected to complete summer project assignments.

Yes. Performing is an essential part of learning and playing any instrument, and a recital not only helps to build the skills necessary to handle performing in front of others, but also serves as a showcase and celebration of what each student has learned so far. Thus, once per year, all students (regardless of level) will be required to perform in front of others, via either a recital (which involves playing one whole piece or just one movement of a piece {depending on level}; however, if the student’s school has also assigned them a recital for the same instrument, that will fulfill this requirement {so they won’t have to do it twice}), or another public performing opportunity (such as the Rock Infused Orchestra, a school concert using the same instrument, etc.), as appropriate.

(NOTE: The performance requirement has been cancelled until further notice.)

Students are required to give notice as far in advance as possible if any unavoidable family/school/etc. events will conflict with a lesson; in the case of already-purchased lessons, a make-up lesson can then be scheduled. Except in extreme circumstances (medical/family emergency, etc.), if a student misses an already-purchased lesson without advance notice, the lesson will be forfeited altogether, with no make-up or refund. In cases where the weather/conditions become too severe to safely attend the lesson, a make-up lesson will automatically be scheduled.

In cases where the weather/conditions are too severe to safely attend in-person lessons, all students will have the option to either take their lesson virtually during their allotted time instead or to schedule a make-up in-person lesson. For students who are already receiving virtual instruction, unless there is a medical/family emergency, the power is out, or a tornado/hurricane/earthquake/flood/other natural disaster is imminent in the vicinity of either the online student or the teacher, the lesson will still be expected to proceed.

Virtual lessons are available for those who would prefer to receive their instruction online (please contact Marissa for details). If you wish to receive instruction in-person, the studio building owner has requested that students and teachers abide by the following health and safety measures. Please read them carefully:

• All students and/or parents/guardians of students are to complete a health screening at home before bringing the student(s).
• If students (or anyone in your household) have or have had in the past 14 days a cough, a fever, headache, shortness of breath, difficulties breathing, flu-like symptoms, gastrointestinal upset, or experienced a loss of taste or smell, then they should not have an in-person lesson for that week.
• Likewise, if the teacher (or anyone in the teacher’s household) is experiencing any of the above symptoms, there will not be any in-person lessons that week.
• In addition, if the student develops any of the above symptoms during a lesson, the lesson will end.
• Students must have a temperature below 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit before arriving to their lesson.
• Students must be fever-free *without* fever medicine for 72 hours before returning to lessons.
• Students must either wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer after eating, using the bathroom, or touching frequently-used items or surfaces.
• Students must avoid touching their face.
• Students must sneeze or cough into a tissue or the inside of their elbow.
• Students are discouraged from bringing in extra items from home, and should avoid sharing electronic devices, toys, books and other games.
• Students should wash hands or use hand sanitizer after putting away instruments. It is recommended that students bring their own small bottle of hand sanitizer to class each week for this purpose.

Thank you for abiding by these measures for the safety of all students, teachers, and families!

Available time slots will be discussed during the sign-up process.

Yes. There are no lessons on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas week; there are also no lessons during the days/times that any teacher’s conferences, student concerts/recitals, or other special events that the teacher must attend are taking place (advance notice will be given to the students of these blocked-out days/times, and any conflict with prepaid scheduled lessons will be handled with a make-up lesson). Also, there is an optional summer break from June-August; however, students who elect to take a summer break will still be expected to complete summer project assignments.