Kiarra Saito-Beckman

Want to start playing violin or viola? Preparing for an audition? Have years of experience but want to take your playing to the next level? No matter your interests, I'm here to help you achieve your musical goals. All ages and levels welcome, free 15-minute trial lesson.

I have over two decades of experience performing and teaching, and I love working with students of all ages and levels. I have extensive experience with remote lessons, having also taken them during my formative years in pre-pandemic times. I teach a variety of genres of music, from classical to Celtic to popular music, and will tailor our lessons towards your interests. I received my Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and my Master of Music, Graduate Diploma in Performance and Graduate Artist Diploma from McGill University. I am currently pursuing a Master of Music in Viola Performance at Yale University, where I also serve as a secondary viola instructor to undergraduate students. 

I have competed in numerous international violin and viola competitions, including the 2025 Tokyo International Viola Competition, 2023 Schoenfield International String Competition, 2019 Sendai International Music Competition, the 2017 Thomas & Evon Cooper International Violin Competition (6th prize), and the 2016 Stulberg International String Competition. I have given solo performances with the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Arlington, Garland Symphony Orchestra, Coeur d'Alene Symphony, and Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

Everyone learns differently, and I believe that no single teaching approach works for all students. We will work together to ensure that your lessons are personalized and suit your musical goals. I believe technique always serves musical intent, and the two need to be learned in tandem. 

For younger students, I strive to make class as enjoyable as possible. I use games and other interactive activities to ensure they have fun while learning. For those just starting out, I use the Suzuki Method in addition to teaching songs by ear to stimulate multiple parts of the brain and diversify learning methods. Advanced students will go through a series of exercise and etude books to target technique which will be assigned based on their current repertoire.