Elizabeth Faidley transforms violin education with humor, innovative teaching methods, and global impact on students.

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Elizabeth Faidley, the renowned violin teacher and pedagogue, at Birch Coffee on the Upper West Side of New York City. After following her lively Instagram for a few years, I was eager to meet the woman behind the videos. From the start, her personality shone through with a playful quip: “Thank you for coming to my radius. I’m 60th-96th Street.” She smiled, telling me, “I’m trying to become a tea drinker, but it’s not going so well.”

Ms. Faidley says, "I want to keep it fun, and funny. Music at this level is such a serious undertaking. To have a minute or two where the students and I just laugh together- that's the magic. If a teenager is stressed out, and I can tell them the story about how my 14- year old daughter conned her grandmother, stole my credit card, and bought a hairless cat, I will definitely take that opportunity. Often, their playing improves after a moment of laughing." She adds that her daughter absolutely did plan a long-con and ordered a hairless cat. This is the same woman who wrote the thrice viral essay about Pearl, the Merbaby, so I was not surprised.

What intrigues me most about Ms. Faidley's teaching is the remarkable range of skill levels within her studio. In one post, you might see a 16-year-old mastering the Sibelius or Dvořák concerto; in the next, she's on the floor, playing a simple piece with a 3-year-old. She admits she's surprised by the influx of younger students lately. "For almost a decade, my studio was 90% teenagers!" she laughs. "The young ones bring a fresh energy and a new level of fun. They burst through the door of my apartment, run in, tell me a story about a lizard, comment on how old I look that day (usually VERY old), and then play the most beautiful 'Flower Song.'"

"I prefer teaching teenagers who are passionate about the violin and want to pursue it seriously, but I also love working with younger students to give them a solid foundation," says Ms. Faidley, who currently has a diverse roster of violinists from around the globe. Her students hail from various Asian countries, including Taiwan and Singapore, as well as the UK, Austria, and 12 states across the US. Some students from nearby states like Massachusetts and Baltimore make the drive to see her weekly, while others connect primarily online. With a determined expression, she acknowledges that the pandemic's silver lining was the opportunity to reach students who are beyond driving distance.

During this challenging time, Ms. Faidley also led a series of pedagogy classes for teachers from 36 countries worldwide. This initiative blossomed into her Patreon page, an annual Pedagogy Day each July, and now, an app! "Everything Elizabeth" is designed with three essential components. "The main part of the app is a video library that showcases my students at various technical levels and is updated nearly daily. It also includes two forums: a parent chat room and a teacher forum, where participants can meet and anonymously share their frustrations—whether it's about their violinist's lack of practice or issues with bow technique." Ms. Faidley hopes to unite teachers and parents from across the globe through this platform.

With her innovative approaches, from engaging online platforms to a diverse student body, Ms. Faidley is not only shaping the future of her students but also redefining the role of a music educator in today's world. As she sips her tea—perhaps with a hint of optimism for her new habit—one thing is certain: her infectious enthusiasm will continue to inspire aspiring violinists and teachers alike, making a lasting impact in the global music community.

Interview conducted by Amanda Breen