hi there! I’m Kristen tourville. Here’s what i do!
As a seasoned performer-educator, I specialize in teaching the violin, viola & fiddle while addressing the whole musician--building a strong foundation in the following elements: playing by ear, note reading, music theory through interactive games, sight reading, technique, reading chord charts, improvising, and more!
We can mix and match any or all of these areas according to your needs. And since every student is unique in their learning styles, I draw upon a deep & diverse training background to create a teaching approach & material completely tailored to the individual student.
All are welcome--children and adults, total beginners to aspiring professionals!
Currently I work with Harmony Project Kansas City, a nonprofit that provides instruments & lessons to underserved youth in over 50 schools in the KC Metro, at no cost to them. In addition to running Monarch Strings Studio, I work as a statewide clinician & adjudicator for school districts & youth orchestras, offering various enrichment clinics including full-orchestra strings improvisation sessions.
My ultimate goal is to broaden students’ musical world and deepen their appreciation for the traditions of bygone eras, bridging the gap between classical and folk/traditional styles of playing.
Dream it
Do you have a dream piece you've always wanted to play, perhaps a concerto or sonata? I'll show you exactly the techniques you need to get there in a positive and nurturing setting, without extra fluff.
Maybe you're a classical violinist/violist that wants to cross over to more commercial music without your classical technique being an immediate giveaway.
create it
Interested in creating your own content? I can show you at least 3 different ways to learn how to play your favorite songs, create multi-screen harmonies with yourself, read violin tab, and more!
There's many possibilities for creating your unique sound, and I'm here for it...let's get started!
My Background:
Thanks for visiting! I am a classically trained crossover violinist/violist, performing with groups ranging from symphonies to rock bands, chamber music to fiddle contests to internationally acclaimed touring acts. Living in Nashville for 6 years I played the Grand Ole Opry several times, as well as many other notable music venues in the city. My degrees are from Vanderbilt University (BM) and Northern Arizona University (MM-violin performance/string pedagogy). I completed my long-term Suzuki training in all 10 books with several remarkable teacher trainers, and also trained in Bornoff and O'Connor methods. Each week, you can expect fresh perspective and positive reinforcement in a comfortable environment that encourages exploration and excellence!
I have guided 3-year-olds all the way up to college-level music scholarships, and fiddle students to winning so many contests that one of them even bought himself a Prius with the winnings after his high school graduation! I can provide supplemental materials and videos to help with maintaining motivation between lessons, and teach you to read both jazz chord charts & the Nashville Number System. As a clinician and creative workshop leader, I strive to engage adults & children of all ages in cross-genre musical exploration.
Additionally, I am one of only 3 active Music Mind Games Teacher Trainers in the US. If you're looking to learn music theory in a fun & permanent way (without the worksheets!) this can also be a stand-alone lesson offering for any instrument/age, starting at 3 years old.