Allen
Lesser
Violin, Viola, Fiddle, Theory, and Improv
Phone: (360) 496-4300
Email: alpractices@yahoo.com
Teaches in Chehalis and Morton
Allen’s Bio:
I have over 40 years of teaching experience, including violin, viola, country, bluegrass and Celtic fiddle, improvisation and theory.
My training started at age 10 in the LA public school system, after which I was studied for 8 years with Heimann Weinstine who had been the associate concertmaster of the LA Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and the NY Philharmonic. As a teen, I played in the American Youth Orchestra Under Mehli Mehta, father of Zubin Mehta. I moved to Humboldt County California as a young adult and joined the Eureka Symphony and formed the Chamber Players of the Redwoods with Val Phillips, dean of art and music at Humboldt State University. I also played in the pit of Humboldt Light Opera, and along with a local pianist, clarinetist and trombonist formed the Past Time Orchestra accompanying silent movies at Jazz festivals.
I moved to Morton Washington in 2016, becoming the concertmaster and soloist for the Pacific Northwest Chamber Orchestra in Centralia. In 2022, I began playing with the larger Southwest Washington Symphony in Longview. Substituting in the Lewis County Schools began when the Centralia Strings Department lost their teacher and I was asked to fill in. Currently, I substitute in the Morton Schools and enjoy playing violin for all the grades from 4 years old to seniors.
My teaching techniques have evolved throughout the years. At the first lesson, I always ask why the student chose their particular instrument, and I keep their answer as the focus of the lessons. My goals for each student are to develop a strong foundation in form and posture, keeping the body relaxed and free of tension, a thorough understanding of practice techniques and always, a sense of fun and enjoyment of the instrument and music. Another goal is to get students playing in the community, like their church, summer camp orchestra in Longview, the Lewis County schools solo ensemble, and other fiddle jams in the area.