Violin & Viola Orchestral Excerpt Coaching

Your child's private teacher builds the violinist or violist.

I help them prepare for the orchestra audition.

Your child may already have a private violin teacher who knows their playing well and is helping them grow as a musician.

This service is not a replacement for that teacher.

It is specialized coaching for the moments when a student needs to prepare an orchestral excerpt, ensemble audition, or recorded audition and wants to know:

“How does my playing actually come across to someone listening from the other side?”

20-Minute Online Orchestral Excerpt Coaching — $50

Preparing for an upcoming youth orchestra audition?

[Upcoming Youth Orchestra Audition Dates]
A current list of selected youth orchestra audition dates and links to official audition information.

[Youth Orchestra Audition Preparation]
A practical guide to preparing violin and viola excerpts, recordings, and other audition requirements.

Audition seasons can arrive quickly. If your child is preparing orchestral excerpts for a youth orchestra, All-State, school orchestra, summer festival, or ensemble placement, focused feedback can help identify what still needs attention before the audition.

A focused, one-on-one Google Meet session for violin or viola, designed specifically around the excerpts your child needs to prepare.

Designed for students preparing for:

• Youth orchestra auditions

• All-State / honor orchestra auditions

• High school orchestra auditions and seating

• Summer music festivals

• College and pre-college ensemble placement

• Other student orchestra auditions

No long-term commitment. No weekly lesson package. Pay only when you need focused audition help.

Bring the excerpts your child needs help with. During the 20-minute session, we will prioritize the areas that are most likely to make a difference in the audition.

Preparing several excerpts? That's fine. Bring them all. We will prioritize them based on the audition requirements and the time available.

Why does a student need an excerpt coach if they already have a private teacher?

Because these are two different kinds of support.

A private teacher may be working with your child on:

Technique · Intonation · Tone · Scales · Solo repertoire · Musical development · Long-term growth

Those are the foundation of a strong violinist or violist.

My coaching focuses on a different question:

How is this particular orchestral excerpt coming across, and what will an audition listener actually hear?

I work from the perspective of someone who has spent more than 20 years performing in professional orchestras and has also served on professional orchestra audition committees.

I'm not here to replace your child's teacher.

I'm here when you need another specialized set of ears.

There is no shortage of audition advice.

In 2026, students and parents can find excellent free information everywhere:

YouTube performances.
Practice tips.
Audition guides.
Masterclasses.
Articles.
AI tools.
Recordings of great players.

All of that can be useful.

But there is one thing those resources cannot do:

They cannot listen to your child.

They cannot tell you:

“This is what I hear in your child's actual playing.” 

They cannot identify which three things matter most before the audition.

And they cannot tell you how the performance may come across when your child is playing in front of an audition committee, or submitting a recording that will be heard behind a screen.

That's where individualized feedback matters.

Focused Coaching for Your Upcoming Audition. No Long-Term Commitment. 

You don't need another weekly violin or viola lesson.

Sometimes you just need someone with orchestral experience to listen, identify the problem, and help the student move forward.

That's what this service is for.

$50 · 20 minutes · One focused coaching session · Online

Not ready for a live session? 

If your child has already prepared an excerpt and you simply want an experienced professional to listen before the audition, start with the $20 Audition Quick Check. 

$20 Audition Quick Check 

Submit:

• One performance video

• One excerpt, maximum 2 minutes

• The corresponding sheet music

You'll receive:

Written feedback + 3 priority observations + a marked-up score

This is an asynchronous evaluation—no live lesson required.

[LEARN ABOUT THE $20 AUDITION QUICK CHECK →]

Who is this for? 

This service is a good fit if your child:

• already has a private violin or viola teacher;

• is preparing a specific orchestral excerpt;

• has an upcoming audition, seating, placement, or festival deadline;

• wants feedback from an experienced orchestral musician;

• needs help understanding what to improve rather than simply finding more practice advice;

• does not need or want a long-term coaching arrangement.

Who is this not for? 

This is not intended to replace regular private violin or viola instruction.

If your child needs ongoing help with foundational technique, repertoire, or general violin development, their regular private teacher remains the right person for that work.

This service is for the specific orchestral and audition needs that arise along the way.

Professional orchestral perspective. 

Focused on your child's playing.

Meet Your Evaluator: Mr. LAI

I have performed as a member of professional orchestras for more than 20 years and have served on professional orchestra audition committees.

That experience shapes how I listen.

I know the difference between a passage that is technically correct on paper and one that actually communicates clearly when heard by an audition panel.

My goal is simple:

Listen carefully. Identify what matters. Help the student know what to do next.

Local Violin & Viola Instruction

Alongside my professional orchestral work, I have also worked with violin and viola students for many years.

I continue to maintain a limited local teaching practice for students seeking individual instruction in technique, repertoire, musicianship, and audition preparation.

Over the years, students I have worked with have prepared successfully for:

ABRSM · Certificate of Merit · ASTA-CAP · Youth Orchestra Auditions · Music College Auditions

For information about local in-person instruction, please complete the [Local Instruction Inquiry Form].