Upper Strings Suzuki Studio
Suzuki Violin and Viola Lessons in El Paso, Texas
Where Children, Parents, and Music Grow Together
The Suzuki Method is a beautiful way for children to learn music. It promotes learning by ear, playing from memory, and having the support of a parent or caregiver. Progress happens through home practice and one on one lessons, and often enriched with group classes and recitals, workshops, music camps, and even studio tours! Suzuki violin families form a community within a studio.
Suzuki lessons are motivating; home practice can be playful and fun. Progress happens at your child’s pace, building skill and self-confidence. I support you and your child every step of the way, with a focus on making learning enjoyable and achievable.
Rather than dropping your child off at lessons, parents attend each lesson, learn how to guide practice at home, and become an active part of their child’s musical development. No musical background is required — You learn everything you need from me.
What I Look For in Families
Suzuki instruction works best when families enjoy being involved in their child’s learning, can commit to short, daily practice, value structure, consistency, and encouragement, want more than just music lessons — confidence, focus, discipline. More than just becoming proficient at the violin, Suzuki lessons teach students discipline, hard work, perseverance, and develops who they become as people.
In Suzuki lessons with me, character development is at least as important as the development of musical skills,
Enrollment in my studio is based on mutual fit, not just availability. You interview me as a potential teacher/role model for your child and I interview you to ascertain if your family is a good fit for Suzuki lessons with me! All I ask for is commitment and parental involvement. Please call me to discuss violin lessons and to find out more about the way the Suzuki method works. I teach students from age 5 to adult. I have over 40 years of playing and teaching experience.
Please call or text, or email me at: (915) 260-0116 or email me at: lanierviola@icloud.com
About Chris
Chris began studying the violin in the 4th grade in his school Suzuki program in the New Orleans area in 1985. He has been playing for over 40 years! His first teacher, Lee Coker a graduate of the Juilliard School, was a disciple of the famous pedagog, Sevcik, who shared the importance of good technique and a well trained bow arm with his students.
Chris was a member of the Louisiana All State Orchestra all four years of high school and was assistant concertmaster twice. He was also a four year member of the All South Honors Orchestra and was the concertmaster his senior year. Also in his senior year, he was in the 1st violin section of the National High School Honors Orchestra and also won the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s Young Artists’ Competition and performed the Bruch violin concerto with that ensemble.
He first attended the University of Southern Mississippi on full scholarship where he studied with Galamian disciple, Jerry Cadek Lucktenberg. After her retirement, Chris continued his studies with Patrick Rafferty on violin and Maggie Snyder on viola at the University of Alabama.
While studying at Alabama, Chris was a teaching assistant for two summers at Brevard Music Center in North Carolina. Before completing school, Chris won his first job with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra in 1998 at the age of 21. He subsequently auditioned successfully for the viola section of the same orchestra. In 2011, he accepted the post of Principal Viola in the Orquesta Filarmonica de Honduras for a year.
Chris has held many positions in professional orchestras as both a violinist and violist. Some of the ensembles include the Gulf Coast Symphony, Meridian Symphony, Mobile Symphony, Tupelo Symphony, Mississippi Symphony, Pensacola Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony, and the Las Cruces and El Paso symphonies.
Soloists and Artists Chris have worked/performed with include: Van Cliburn, Itzhak Perlman, Yo Yo Ma, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Leila Josefowicz, Emanuel Axe, Doc Severinsen, the Emerson Quartet, Roberto Diaz, Alyssa Weilerstein, Bela Fleck, Robert McDuffy, Augustin Hadelich, and Vadim Gluzman to name a few.
Chris has soloed on the violin and the viola with orchestras including the Louisiana Philharmonic and the Crescent City Civic Orchestra on violin, and the Huntsville Sinfonietta on the Viola.
He has maintained a violin and viola studio since 2007 and moved to El Paso in 2017 where he currently teaches and resides with this wife Holly, daughter Autumn, and their two dogs. Chris has completed Suzuki training currently through Suzuki Book 3 with David Strom and plans to finish all 10 books and supplemental courses. He is listed in the teacher directory at the official Suzuki Association of America website. www.suzukiassociation.org
Where I teach
I teach lessons in my studio at our home in west El Paso, a cozy space where learning is fun!
Lesson Fees
Private Suzuki Lessons: Tuition Costs
Lessons once weekly with two group classes a month are $130. See my studio policies further down for exact info.
I have lowered my tuition substantially to make lessons accessible to more families. If you honestly feel you cannot afford lessons at that rate, but you really want to be a part of this wonderful community, please contact me. If you feel you can afford more and would like to help make lessons more affordable for others, also let me know!
Official Studio Policies:
Tuition:
Lessons are once a week. For 30-minute lessons, I charge a flat rate of $130 a month that includes one 30 minute lesson a week for 47 weeks, and two 45 minute group classes each month. I do not offer sibling discounts at this time. This means you will not be paying per lesson, but a monthly fee. Think of this like renting your space in my studio. Just like paying for a monthly gym membership or renting a house, this fee is due every month, whether you miss a lesson or not. As mentioned above, this studio is not a side job or hobby. It is my sole means of income, so your cooperation concerning prompt and regular payment is greatly appreciated!
Payment is due the first lesson of each month. You can pay with cash, by check, Apple Pay, Zelle, or through PayPal (http://paypal.me/lanierviola). If paying with PayPal please send using the Friends or Family option. Otherwise, I have to pay a fee and don’t receive the full payment amount.
In-person lessons (where the student comes to my home) are the only kind of lessons I offer. I do not offer FaceTime or Zoom lessons and I can’t travel to your home to teach lessons.
Cancellation & Make-up policy
Due to the size of my studio and my busy schedule, I cannot offer make-up lessons. Because of this, it is important to make an effort to come to all your lessons! Also if you are able to switch with another student, that is sometimes helpful. If the student is sick or out of town, I am willing to offer FaceTime or Zoom lessons.
If I have to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances the lesson will be made up or a credit will be given towards the next month. Any make-ups that are given under those circumstances will take place when my schedule permits.
Practice Requirements and Expectations
I value the money I am paid by you to teach your child. This is my job and I take it very seriously. I truly feel that this is my calling in life. I want to develop my students to the best of their abilities and I strive to have the best music studio not just in El Paso, but in all of Texas.
I do not expect perfection from any of my students, but I do expect them to come to each lesson prepared. Being unprepared for a lesson every once in a while is to be expected – life happens! However, please do your best to be prepared as often as possible. Being prepared means being familiar with the material I assign and not scrambling to sightread during lessons. Again, I do not expect perfection, but I need to see that your child is putting forth effort and consistently practicing.
It is important to me that the student practice regularly and apply the instructions and techniques I teach them throughout the week and not just during lessons. Their weekly lesson should not be looked at as a practice session. Practicing is what should be done at home for 20-30 minutes a day. Lessons are where we learn new skills, techniques, and music. Practice at home is when you should be applying those new skills and techniques to your playing. The violin and viola are both very complex and difficult instruments, so practice is mandatory, not optional. It takes intelligence and practice to learn the violin, not talent. There is no replacement for consistent practice.
Parental Involvement
Your involvement in your child’s lessons and at home practice is what makes this work. It is suggested that the student practice daily for a minimum of 20 minutes and your encouragement and involvement can make that happen. My goal is that your student will grow and excel at their instrument and regular practice is the only way to achieve this.
YouTube
I have a YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO6qmwBVyRZPlB5CngdVqfQ) where I post supplemental videos. I do this when I am able, as time permits. This is a great way for me to be able to be “with” the students during the week if they are struggling with a certain piece or assignment. This special service is included in your tuition fee! I do not take special requests for videos, but do upload regularly and have a large library of videos at your disposal.
Holidays & Summer
I ask for Thanksgiving and Christmas week off as well as the second week of Fall Break and the second week of Spring Break. Full payment is still due during these months. I teach on all other holidays and payment is expected whether you miss during those holidays or not. If I take any other personal vacations during the year, you will not be charged for those missed lessons. It is up to you to decide whether you want to attend lessons on all other school holidays but please give advance notice if you will be skipping lessons on holidays other than the weeks mentioned above and, once again, payment is still due whether you show up or not.
Many times, a student has to take the summer off due to family vacations or other commitments. In that case, you will be asked to pay a holding fee of $50 for every month you take off to keep your spot in my studio until your return.
Masks
I do not require students or their parents to wear masks at this time but please feel free to do what makes you comfortable.
Dismissal/Termination Rules
If for any reason you decide to discontinue lessons, please give at least a 1-month notice.
I reserve the right to ask any student to leave the studio or discontinue lessons for any of these reasons:
- If I see that the student is not making any progress and does not accept or listen to my instructions.
- If the student does little to no practicing during the week and continually comes unprepared to lessons.
Finally, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have!
~Chris Lanier
Upper Strings Suzuki Studio 