Testimonials

From the mother of a 5-year-old student:
Ms. Sharon is a gem of a violin teacher—all we hoped to find when we first entrusted our nervous, excited and wiggly four-year-old to her instruction and care. She is both firm and kind, communicates clearly with parents and children alike, and has high, but achievable, expectations for our daughter. In her lessons, she quickly adapts to the needs and state of the child and finds creative ways to spark joy in the work required. Our daughter is not just learning to play the violin, she’s experiencing the satisfaction of meeting a challenge, developing self-discipline, and finding joy in creating a beautiful sound. We wholeheartedly recommend Sharon Neufeld!

From the mother of 3 students, ages 5, 9, and 14:
Ms. Sharon has a heart for developing the whole musician.  As a parent of three of her students, I appreciate her ability to understand that the goals in music education are not only met with certain outcomes, but also in how that progress is made.  She lovingly uses the context of music education to encourage mutual respect and accountability.  When that is established, skill development naturally follows at a pace that is appropriate for each student.

From the mother of a 6-year-old student:
This is our first year in the program and can’t sing enough praises for Ms. Sharon! She is patient, kind, and brilliant at working with our daughter. We have seen a love for music and the violin take off for her. Such a great experience so far and we are eager to see where these lessons take her in the future!

​From the mother of a 10-year-old student:
My daughter decided to try the violin. We found Ms. Sharon and couldn't be happier! My daughter has learned so much, and she really enjoys her lessons. We would recommend Ms. Sharon to anyone.

From the mother of an 11-year-old student:
We are truly grateful to Ms. Sharon for her exceptional dedication and expertise as a violin teacher. Not only has she tremendously improved our child's violin skills, but she has also played a pivotal role in their personal growth. Under her guidance, our child has not only mastered complex violin techniques but has also learned invaluable life skills. Ms. Sharon's teaching goes beyond just music; she encourages our child to face challenges with confidence and resilience. Her motivational approach has instilled a strong sense of self-assurance in our child, who now embraces new challenges with enthusiasm. Her profound knowledge and commitment to best practices in violin playing ensure that our child is not just playing notes but truly understanding and enjoying the music. Watching our child thrive and develop both musically and personally under Ms. Sharon’s tutelage has been a joy. She is more than a teacher; she is a mentor who takes great pride in her students' growth and achievements. We look forward to seeing our child continue to flourish with Ms. Sharon's guidance.
 
From the mother of two siblings who studied violin with Ms. Sharon from ages 4-10 and 6-12:
(Writing from a Suzuki summer institute) Out of 15 children in the class, there was only one other child that seemed to really know the repertoire and the bowings. You should be so proud of how well you have taught [her]! High standards do pay off! I can already tell you that after only one master class, I am soooo thankful that we have learned from you! The instructor seems great. What is actually so very surprising is that none of the other kids that are supposed to be at [her] level are anywhere near. They are all in book one (one at Etude, one at Minuet 3, one not sure), but wow, they all seem years behind her even though they are working on similar repertoire. I just want to send you a huge "THANK YOU!!!!" for teaching us correctly. Also, I thought you would enjoy knowing that [her] master class has a total of 4 students, and [she] was really and truly completely prepared with all of her review pieces and polished pieces and very very much stood out from the rest. She played beautifully and I could see her confidence starting to burst through. Thank you Thank you Thank you for being the great teacher you are and our appreciation is being freshly renewed daily!!! Thanks for everything and for ALL you do for ALL of your students - you are amazing!!!!
  
From the mother of a student who studied violin with Ms. Sharon from ages 6-11:
Thank you for the gift of music, discipline and inspiration for my son. I hope he will exhibit nothing but the best in terms of hard work and willingness to learn.
 
From the mother of a student who studied viola with Ms. Sharon from ages 8-13:
As a researcher and writer on the neurology of intelligence and emotion I chose carefully a viola instructor for my then 8-year-old son. I knew Ms. Sharon was distinguished in her field based on her credentials, and came to affirm her proposition of a caring and affirming approach to instruction. My viewpoint of Ms. Sharon was further elevated during a week-long out-of-state Suzuki viola camp; my then 9-year-old son's posture, bow hand, bow position and tone were far-and-above every same-age and same-level (and even some more "advanced") peers. His Julliard-trained Master Instructor commented regularly on my son's capabilities. These traits are a direct reflection of Ms. Sharon's standard of excellence coupled with a commitment to a gentle and gracious approach.
 
From the father of a student who studied with Ms. Sharon from ages 11-17 (comments over a few years):
~ We feel strongly and feel lucky to have you as a teacher and mentor - there is certainly more than just music being learned here.
~ I think you hit such a nice balance with [her] this evening in being the cheerleader so close to the recital and still giving her some tangible and doable things to do to get her where she wants to be on Sunday
~ I asked [her] last night what she thought of her lesson and she said ‘that was work.’ When I explored what that meant she expressed how she felt stretched and had learned a lot. And I thought so too.
~ Thanks so much Sharon...you are such a strong part of why she is sounding as good as she does.
~ We had a great lesson yesterday. [She] got in the car to drive out [to her lesson] and asked not to go. She was tired from the long school day and plenty of work to do. But by the time we were driving home [from the lesson] I asked her about the lesson and she said "I feel happy." Nice to have the turn around!
 
From the mother of 2 students, ages 12 & 17:
I really appreciate you setting expectations clearly and letting them know them. I appreciate you and all you do for them!

From the mother of a student who studied with Ms. Sharon from ages 13-18:
I think she gets such a solid foundation from you—great fundamentals, organizational skills, challenging work and encouragement / constructive advice… Anyway, Sharon, thanks for all you do with our girl. We see a lovely young woman emerging and music has been the reason, for sure.

From the mother of a 14-year-old student:
Ms. Sharon has been a great teacher for my daughter. It is not always easy to teach a teenager, but Ms. Sharon has been very understanding and accommodating. My daughter has improved so much that it prompted my husband to ask if we had purchased a new violin when in fact it was just the teaching from Ms. Sharon!