One On One Violin

Teaching Method

A few words about my approach:

No two students are alike. We have different anatomies, different nervous systems, different temperaments, different learning styles, different needs and different goals. I start all beginners with the same set of movements to establish posture and positions, but once we get into learning music and instrument technique, my approach is as varied as the personalities I encounter in my teaching practice.

For beginners, I work with songs and classical pieces from the first two Suzuki books, but I do not strictly adhere to the Suzuki Method. In addition to direct study on the instrument, I use movement and vocal exercises to teach concepts of rhythm and pitch. Music theory and notation are typically part of my program, but the order in which I introduce these elements varies from student to student.

My first job as a teacher is to observe and listen to a student, gain some sense of his or her needs and learning style, and then offer instructions that evoke the clearest and most positive responses. My approach to instrument technique reflects an amalgamation of my 45 years of study, performance and teaching experience. I have never found one template or pace that serves the needs of every student.

What matters to me:

Music is a language, an art form, and a form of personal expression. It’s a channel for feelings and a medium through which people connect to each other. I am a serious player, and a serious teacher. As with any language, it’s necessary to develop some vocabulary and grammar in order to make meaningful expressions. But there must be some aspect of joy and humor in the learning experience, or it goes nowhere and ultimately serves no purpose. If a student doesn’t smile and laugh at least once during one of my lessons, I haven’t done my whole job that day. I strive to end self-consciousness and find the balance between challenge, fun and authentic expression.

Developing musical proficiency is important. Developing a joyful, flexible, compassionate and problem-solving approach to life is essential, and music is one of the great forms of lifelong practice.

About Craig

45 Years of Experience
All Ages Welcome, Beginner to Advanced

Craig moved to Prescott in the summer of 2024. He currently serves as principal second violin with the Prescott Pops Symphony and was featured as a soloist in the “Meet the Pops” concert in September 2025. He performs regularly with the Flagstaff Symphony and Prescott Chorale and is currently serving as Concertmaster in Yavapai College musicals and choral productions. He’s also a performing member of the Prescott Chamber Players Society.

Before that, Craig performed and taught in the Bay Area for more than 30 years. His diverse musical career has taken him from the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco to Lincoln Center in New York, Europe, Japan and Indonesia.

In addition to 15 years with the Bay Area’s “Freeway Philharmonic,” Craig was a featured performer with the Paul Dresher Ensemble, the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, and Klezmania of San Francisco, and was featured as soloist with the Berkeley Symphony in the world premiere of David Sheinfeld’s “Earth is a Sounding Board.”

Craig still travels to San Francisco a few times a year to perform with Starlite Strings, a strolling string ensemble with over 60 memorized songs in their repertoire. In addition to his performing and teaching career, Craig has worked for 25 years as a Senior Sound Designer and Composer for Creativity, Inc. in San Carlos, California.

Testimonials

"My son has been studying how to play the violin with Craig Fry since this summer. He was highly recommended to us by our former violin teacher who had to move out of town. We really appreciate Craig's style, well rounded knowledge, his experience, structure, and quality of teaching. He offers a very holistic and comprehensive approach to violin playing techniques, where self care and ergonomic awareness are equally as important as learning how to read the notes. This is something that I truly appreciate as I recognize how important health and physical wellness are to a musician. We are grateful to have him around to teach our kid, and for how much he positively contributes to his development as a musical being, as a young man, and as a person. Thank you Craig!"
-Emelina M Holland

"My daughter takes viola lessons with Craig, and we have had a wonderful experience. He emphasizes technique, is patient with mistakes, and explains things in different ways to help her understand. His thoughtfulness and attention to detail really stand out.

Craig is reliable, communicates clearly, and has been a great support as my daughter transitions into youth orchestra. We appreciate his dedication to her growth both as a musician and as an orchestra member. We highly recommend Craig to any family looking for a caring and dedicated viola teacher!"
-Hannah Koning

"My son took lessons from Craig for five and a half years, including a year and a half of remote lessons. First and foremost, Craig is an incredibly talented musician as well as an extremely caring, attentive, and flexible instructor. My son went from never having held a violin and creating a series of squeaks every time he tried to play to playing wonderful music that I looked forward to hearing during his lessons and practice time.

Craig typically opened each lesson by playing a bit of music on his violin while my son took out his. It really set the tone for the whole lesson - music is an amazing adventure. As an instructor, Craig is tremendously attentive and flexible. He watched how my son was progressing and made adjustments to optimize his learning and connection to the music. Sometimes that meant playing along with my son or having him sing the notes and rhythm before even picking up the violin. Sometimes it meant including music from my son’s favorite video games alongside the classical songs aimed at improving his technique. Craig made sure my son was constantly teetering on the edge of his abilities; he was constantly challenged but never chasing goals that felt unattainable. Craig’s emphasis on mastering the fundamentals (posture, rhythm, intonation) gave my son a solid foundation that he carried from 5th grade all the way to high school.

Craig is clearly dedicated to his students’ musicianship, but he goes beyond that and truly cares about his students’ well-being. About six months into the pandemic, Craig noticed that we were canceling our lessons at a higher rate than usual and he took the time to check in with me about whether his lessons were a cause for extra stress and if they were, he wanted to figure out ways to address it. He truly cares about his students, not only as musicians but as whole people.

We were incredibly lucky to work with Craig for so long and highly recommend him as an instructor."
-Genna Smith

"When my daughter was five, we started looking for a violin teacher for her. With Craig it was a very natural fit. We still remember the very first lesson, with him patiently tracing her feet on a piece of paper for proper posture. Within weeks we knew that we had found someone special to be her violin teacher. Every year, Craig would have a private recital for all his students. In that first year, even though my daughter had only been learning the violin for a few months, she performed at the recital to our amazement. These recitals are invaluable and as parents we get to see the range of experience and development the students go through, from the very young to adults. Lessons with Craig are always a good balance between musical enjoyment and good foundation building. Over the years, my daughter progressed remarkably and rapidly under Craig's tutelage. Even throughout Covid we were able to make good progress via Zoom. At one point, we even discussed trying out for the San Francisco Youth Symphony. If it were not for a need to move for family reasons, we would certainly have given that a try. It is an understatement to say that Craig gave my daughter a critical foundation to be the aspiring violinist she is today. It is wonderful to see her blossom as a budding musician. Thank you, Craig!"
-Preston Li

"When we were in search of a violin instructor for Emma we looked for two things: excellence in instruction and a clear love of music. Craig has both in spades. As an accomplished musician, Craig was able to bring our daughter -- new to the violin -- from being able to read music to being able to play songs within just a few weeks. Craig teaches in a way to match our daughter's personality perfectly, making sure to emphasize the importance of proper form and laying a foundation for future success. Certainly just as important, if not more so, is Craig's love for music which is clearly evident throughout his lessons. It's one thing to teach an instrument, but it's another to bring a child the gift of music. Craig is teaching our daughter, through violin, to persevere, to work hard, and, no matter what, keep on playing. Learning these life skills from another role model is important to us. We highly recommend him without reservation."
-Stephanie and Hank Roark

"Craig can not only play the violin, he can teach others to play it. He has my 7-year-old daughter playing several songs and beginning to read music in just a few months! My daughter had some exposure to music prior to her request for violin lessons but we are not a musical family and no one in our home (other than my daughter) plays a musical instrument.

Craig works well with my young daughter. Although he is regularly stretching her attention span and keeps her on a learning edge, he also knows when to take a step back. Sometimes that looks like following my daughter’s lead when she picks up her violin to play him a tune of her own composing; sometimes it looks like delighting her with one of her favorite pieces (including pop music!). When my daughter is struggling he may change tactics. For example, he may play with her or have her walk the beat with her feet. When introducing new material or getting her through a new technical challenge, he builds bridges to her other experiences by drawing analogies to dancing or by reminding her of past accomplishments.

He is concerned with fostering a lifelong interest in and appreciation for music, in addition to achieving results on a particular piece. I don't know if my daughter will stick with the violin, will want to experiment with other instruments, or what her path will be, so I like his focus on teaching her things that will serve her well for her lifetime. Craig is teaching my daughter to:
• listen carefully, appreciate and respond to music
• maintain good posture
• understand musical fundamentals (i.e., beat, rhythm and intonation)
• appreciate and experience the power of regular practice
• understand that music is not only a solo activity, but also a group activity that brings people together in a spirit of community and teamwork."
-Kristin Bosetti

Get Started

In-home and in-studio lessons. Contact to secure a weekly lesson time.
Phone: (415) 272-1176
Email: craig@oneononeviolin.com

Contact Craig