Karina Carley
About
Hi! I’m Karina, a professional violinist who loves helping students discover just how much joy making music can bring! 🎻
I’ve performed professionally around the world in over 30 countries, as well as with opera companies, symphony orchestras, chamber groups, and as a soloist. I've performed in beautiful venues and locations around the world, from famous concert halls to outdoor scenic venues and even a hot air balloon! I hold a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance and have experience with everything from classical music to fiddle, bluegrass, Celtic music, gospel, and popular songs.
But lessons with me aren’t about being serious all the time! I want students to enjoy playing, feel successful, and get excited about picking up their instrument. Every student is different, so I tailor lessons to their age, personality, goals, and learning style.
I especially love helping students build confidence, develop strong musical foundations, and discover what they’re capable of. Whether you are picking up a violin for the very first time, preparing for an audition, or just wanting to play your favorite music, I’d love to help you grow!
🎵 Beginner through advanced students welcome!
Teaching Style
My teaching method combines strong musical foundations with lots of encouragement, creativity, and fun! Every student learns differently, so I adapt my lessons to each student’s age, level, personality, and goals rather than using exactly the same approach for everyone.
For beginners, we’ll build good habits from the very beginning—comfortable posture, a beautiful sound, rhythm, note reading, ear training, and solid technique—while getting students playing real music as quickly as possible. For more advanced students, lessons can include technique, musical interpretation, audition or performance preparation, and challenging repertoire.
I also love letting students explore music they’re excited about! Along with classical training, we can work on fiddle, bluegrass, Celtic music, gospel, popular songs, or other styles that keep them motivated.
Most importantly, I want lessons to be a place where students feel comfortable trying, making mistakes, asking questions, and celebrating their progress. My goal is to help each student become a confident, independent musician who genuinely loves to play. 🎶
Curriculum
I tailor lessons to each student’s age, level, learning style, and musical goals. The following books provide the foundation of my teaching, with additional exercises and repertoire selected specifically for each student.
Beginner Students
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Suzuki Violin School – Used to develop a strong musical foundation through progressive repertoire, ear training, technique, tone, and musicality.
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Essential Elements for Strings – Violin – A great complement to Suzuki, with an emphasis on note reading, rhythm, music theory, and step-by-step technical development.
Intermediate Students
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Suzuki Violin School – Continued development of technique and musicality through progressively more challenging repertoire.
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Trott – Melodious Double-Stops – Introduces and develops double-stop technique, intonation, finger independence, and left-hand control.
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Kreutzer – 42 Studies or Caprices – Classic études used to strengthen bow technique, articulation, shifting, coordination, and overall violin technique.
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Mazas – Études – Musical studies that bridge the gap between technical exercises and performance repertoire while developing bow control, phrasing, and facility.
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Ševčík – School of Violin Technique – Focused technical exercises used to develop finger dexterity, accuracy, coordination, shifting, and other essential violin skills.
Advanced Students
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Customized Repertoire & Technical Studies – Advanced lessons are highly individualized. Repertoire, études, scales, exercises, and technical studies are selected according to each student's specific strengths, areas for improvement, performance goals, auditions, competitions, or other musical interests.
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Students may work on major violin concertos, sonatas, showpieces, orchestral excerpts, advanced études, and other professional-level repertoire as appropriate.
Credentials & Affiliations
Education
Master’s Degree in Violin Performance, Florida International University
Orchestral Repertoire and Private Study, Brescia, Italy
Masterclass performer - Phil Setzer, Emerson Quartet
Masterclass performer – Lawrence Dutton, Emerson Quartet
Masterclass performer – Clive Greensmith, Tokyo String Quartet
Masterclass performer - Almita Vamos, Roosevelt University
Competitions and Awards
National Finalist, Music Teachers’ National Association Young Artist String Competition
1st Place Winner and Soloist, Glenn Miller Music Scholarship Competition
1st Place Winner and Soloist, Dakota Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition
Division Finalist, Music Teachers’ National Association Competition
1st Place Winner and Soloist, Black Hills Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition
Performance Experience - Orchestra
Concertmaster, Rushmore Music Festival
Violinist, Black Hills Symphony Orchestra
Violinist, Wyoming Symphony Orchestra
Violinist, Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra
Violinist, Powder River Symphony Orchestra
Assistant Concertmaster, Dakota Chamber Orchestra
Violinist, California Solisti
Performance Experience – Chamber Music / Solo
Violinist, Listeso Fever Candlelight Concerts
Quartet in Residence and Chamber Music Coach, Rushmore Music Festival
Violinist, Rushmore Concert Artists
Violinist, ChamberFest, Csehy School of Music
Violinist, Cantare Piano Quartet
Guest Soloist, Black Hills Symphony Orchestra
Guest Soloist, Dakota Chamber Orchestra
Performance Experience – Popular Genres / Artists
Violinist, Yandel Elyte Symphony
Violinist, Jubilant Sykes Concert
Violinist, Potter Family Concert
Guest Artist, All Saint’s Church
Mumbai, India
Guest Artist, International Digital Media Workshop
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Fiddle Performer, Gold Rush Band, Black Hills Bluegrass Festival