Zachary Hazen

I have been teaching violin and viola for 15 years. I teach private lessons, group lessons, school orchestras, and in the non-profit sector, with a focus on accessibility of music education for all. I'm looking forward to meeting you.

I hold a B.A. in Violin Performance from San Diego State University, and have taught at Community Music Works in Providence, Rhode Island, Inspire Music, in San Francisco, and Reeder Music in Danville, CA, as well as privately throughout the Bay Area since 2012. In 2024 I taught music education at Widya Sentana Foundation, a non-profit school in Bali, Indonesia, specializing in continuing education, early childhood development, and children with special needs. I have had the joy of playing with several orchestras such as the New Bedford Symphony in Massachusetts, and Opera Neo in San Diego. 

I am always curious about new music, and I continue to study music from different genres and regions of the world. I have spent many years studying Balinese Gamelan both in the United States and in Indonesia, and I study Jazz and incorporate improvised music, electronic music and new music technologies into my musical practice. I always make an effort to stay up to date with music as it is developing today, so I can provide my students with good foundations for finding their own path in music in the 21st century.

As a teacher, I want every student to have the opportunity to thrive and realize their musial goals and ambitions. My lessons emphasize the importance of good foundational technique, including good rhythm, tone production, and intonation. 

In our lessons, I will give you the tools to practice and learn independently to maximize the value you receive from our lessons. To achieve this, I help each student create a clear and straightforward practice plan that includes problem-solving strategies. This way, students know exactly what to practice, how long to practice, and how to effectively use their time. 

Beyond this, I prioritize teaching music that students are excited and motivated to learn. Alongside the method-based music I assign to students, we always learn a song chosen by the student. These songs often become the basis for learning to play collaboratively with others. Ensemble playing is one of the most rewarding aspects of music. Playing music in group settings is an important opportunity for musical growth and expression as we respond dynamically to the changing music around us. I encourage and prioritize these types of performance opportunities.

In our lessons, I encourage a sense of creativity and musical curiosity in my students, drawing out each student's natural sense of exploration and personal taste that makes up their unique musical voice. We are all drawn to music for different reasons, and it is important to me that our lessons help you nurture and develop your own musical sensibilities. I'm here to support you at each step of the learning process so that you can share your musical voice with others. I teach the foundations of improvisation and ear training, helping you play well and succeed in a variety of different musical genres and situations.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I would be happy to set up a free introductory lesson to see if my instruction is the right fit for you!