The Studio · Private Instruction

Violin Lessons in San Francisco

Private violin lessons taught by Jeremy Preston — Principal Second Violin of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and tenured member of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. In person in the Castro, or online.

Finding the right violin teacher in San Francisco means finding someone who still lives the craft they teach. Jeremy spends his evenings in the pit of the War Memorial Opera House leading the second violin section — and brings that working musician's ear, discipline, and practicality into every lesson.

His students range from young beginners taking their first bow strokes to adult learners returning to the instrument and advanced players preparing for conservatory and professional orchestra auditions. Lessons are shaped around the individual: their sound, their questions, and the musician they are becoming.

StudentsYoung violinists, adults, advanced players
FormatsIn person (Castro, San Francisco) or Zoom
ApproachSuzuki-informed, healthy technique
SpecialtyOrchestral excerpts & audition preparation

What lessons focus on

01

Technique & ease

Efficient movement, a resonant sound, and dependable fundamentals without unnecessary tension.

02

Musical voice

Curiosity, expressive freedom, and the confidence to make informed musical choices.

03

Audition craft

Focused preparation for orchestral excerpts, conservatory auditions, and performance under pressure.

A teacher who plays for a living

Jeremy holds the Principal Second Violin chair of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and is a tenured member of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. He has served as Concertmaster of the Mendocino Music Festival, and his teachers include Marylou Speaker Churchill, Lynn Chang, Kathleen Winkler, Sally Thomas, and William Preucil.

For students aiming at conservatories or professional orchestras, this matters: excerpt coaching and audition preparation come from someone who has sat on both sides of the audition screen.

A limited number of new students are accepted as space permits. Share a little about the player and what they hope to work on — Jeremy responds personally.

Inquire about lessons

Private and direct — your inquiry goes only to Jeremy.