Play Fiddle!
Silver Strings Music Academy serves the DC Metro area and virtually beyond, offering a range of programs to begin, improve, advance, and expand upon violin studies.
If you are eager to progress, or just curious about fiddling, let’s get started!
Fiddling Group Class Workshops Master Classes
Concerts Square Dances Music Theory Community
The studio is open to curious fiddlers, ages four to adult! In weekly lessons, semi-private or individual, students build technical skills and musical knowledge working through the Fiddle School Method in a positive and active community. Fiddle School provides a sequential collection of exercises and repertoire (Texas style fiddle and songs suitable for either a square dance, swing dance, or a country dance) and an online library of resources and recordings to offer support during home practice.
Monthly fiddle clubs, seasonal jams, dances, and other events, provide additional opportunities to build community, culture, and confidence in performance. Active fiddlers will develop the skills necessary to participate in various music making situations including sight-reading, orchestras, and local and national fiddle contests for rankings and even cash prizes!
Lessons in the Suzuki Method, coaching for youth orchestra music, audition prep, and special projects for students and other studios also available by request.
Fiddle Studio
Ready to get started?
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Let's Get Started!
I’m excited to connect with you!
Click here to set up a call soon!
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LESSONS
Lesson packages provide the best overall learning experience for the curious and motivated fiddler or violinist who is ready to dive in and progress in a supportive and active community. It requires commitment and accountability and produces confident and capable musicians.
The SSMA studio offers semi-private or “pod” lessons of two-three students of a similar age and ability. Pod lessons are typically 45-60 minutes. Combinations of small and whole group education, particularly peer learning, can have many benefits and advantages for student success by nurturing:
Accountability
Time management
Community and Relationships
Motivation
Self-Confidence
Individual lessons are also offered at (30, 45 and 60 minutes) at a higher rate and if a pod is not available for a particular level of study. a
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FIDDLE CLUB
Fiddle Club is a time for students to gather as a larger musical community and is essential to the overall student experience. This is the time to play tunes, games, review, jam, socialize, perform, rehearse, celebrate, and have fun! All students enrolled in studio lessons with Elizabeth Cunha are automatically enrolled and attendance is expected.
Students who study with teachers outside of SSMA, or work through the Fiddle School repertoire independently, can still participate with a Fiddle Club Pass! All Fiddlers welcome!
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FIDDLE CLOUD Suzuki Enrichment!
Curious about fiddle?
Study with another studio (classical, Suzuki or other)?
Have an unpredictable schedule with many potential conflicts?
Fiddle Cloud is a great fit for students with limited availability or who already study with another teacher but eager to explore the fiddle and non-classical styles in a positive community. Cloud classes meet virtually about three times per month to review, rehearse, and jam music from the Fiddle School method. Each class has unique warm ups to support the tunes at hand.
Class recordings are available following each class to ensure that regardless of scheduling conflicts students may view or review material when convenient for their family or as needed in practice.
HI! I am Elizabeth (Liz) Cunha. My why as an educator is to inspire and develop creativity, confidence, character, and community, by creating experiences that spark curiosity about the magic of music making.
I am a violinist/fiddler, vocalist, orchestra director, performer, inventor, composer, actor, and creative problem solver with training in Suzuki, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, Bornoff, Fiddle School, Ultimate Music Theory, Creative Strings Academy, Music Mind Games, Orff Schulwerk, and World Music Drumming methods.
In addition to running a violin/fiddle studio, I am the cross-divisional orchestra director at Stone Ridge School. As a consultant, I serve as the Orchestra Education Liason with Young Artists of America (YAA), and Bornoff Certification Program Coordinator for the Foundation of Advancement for String Education (FASE). I enjoy leading workshops at camps and institutes in the summers and collaborating with other studios and creatives for workshops and passion projects such as the Washington Preludio and co-directing performance tours in Germany, Austria, Italy, and England!
I love spending time with my children, exploring the outdoors, traveling to new places, fitness, live music, and theater.
