Ellen and the violin:

Ellen Jacobs teaches in the Baltimore/ Washington area, and has done so for over twenty years. She has certification in teaching the Suzuki method, as well as training in traditional violin pedagogy. She has a Master of Arts in teaching and has a lifelong interest in teaching through the arts. She taught for many years at “The House of Musical Traditions” in Takoma Park, Maryland, and has also been on the staff of the Levine School of Music Summer Camp.

Ellen’s love of the violin began early and continued throughout the years. After playing in orchestras in her youth she discovered folk music and dance and immersed herself in traditional music at the Ark in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While in Ann Arbor she participated in the revival of contra dancing. From there she moved to the Washington, D.C. area and played in an all-women’s Irish group, “The Hags.” She developed an interest in Swedish music as well, playing regularly for Scandinavian dance groups, and went to Sweden to study the music. She also played in the groups “The Capital Quicksteps” and “Triple Delight,” and recorded and performed with “Childsplay,” a group of fiddlers from all over the United States and Europe. (Information about the CD and tunebook "The Great Waltz of China," is at www.childsplay.org.) Ellen organizes performing groups for her students, and led a group of over 100 children fiddling onstage at the Kennedy Center as part of the Washington area Suzuki festival.

Comments from parents:

"I can't say enough about Ellen's work with our daughter, Hannah. She has studied with Ellen for 8 years, and has gained a breadth of musical talent and appreciation that I believe would not have been possible with most other teachers. Ellen's unique ability to weave training for classical and folk violin styles along with the opportunities she creates for both individual and group musical experiences creates an environment within her studio that provides opportunities for growth for virtually any student. Under Ellen's tutelage, Hannah has grown in many ways as a musician, performer and voracious student of various violin styles. I recommend Ellen to students of any age and experience level - especially to those that want to experience the broad horizons of the violin." - K.C.

"My two children ages 9 and 12 have been taking violin lessons with Ellen Jacobs for 7 and 6 years respectively. What I love most about these lessons is that Ellen has found a way to make them feel like 'real musicians.' They have both played in Ellen's fiddle groups, where they learn to play and improvise with others and even to play gigs at dances and festivals. They have both been inspired by older kids and teenagers in these fiddle groups.

With Ellen they can pursue classical and/or folk music according to their own tastes and interests. It really is music for life." - A.S.