Violin for Adults

Learn the violin • On your terms • With confidence & joy

Smiling middle-aged man with a gray beard happily practicing the violin in a classroom setting, illustrating the joy of learning music as an adult with Violin for Adults (VFA).

You’re Not “Too Old” to Learn the Violin.
You’re Exactly the Right Age.

Learning the violin as an adult isn’t harder — it’s just different.
Adults think differently, learn differently, and bring a lifetime of focus, curiosity, and emotional depth to their music. When the teaching style respects that, something surprising happens:
You progress faster, understand more deeply, and enjoy the journey more than you ever expected.

Whether you're starting for the first time, returning after years away, or finding a creative outlet during a busy season of life, Violin for Adults was built for you.
Here, learning is time-efficient, encouraging, and refreshingly judgment-free. No pressure. No perfectionism. No being treated like a “big child.” Just clear steps, practical guidance, and a community of adults who get it.

If you’re looking for a place to learn with confidence, joy, and support — you’ve found it.

How We Teach Adults — The Approach That Works

Time-efficient lessons

Designed for real schedules, not fantasy ones

Simple, confidence-building steps

That make progress feel attainable

Humor and reassurance

Because adults need encouragement — not scolding

Bite-sized guidance

Lessons you can absorb even after a long workday

A supportive community

Be a part of fellow grown-up beginners and returners

Get Started the Easy Way — Free PDF for Adults

Get the Free PDF Guide

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Get the Free PDF Guide 〰️

Cover page of the 'Starting the Violin as an Adult' guide, which offers step-by-step instructions on choosing a teacher, selecting equipment, setting up posture, and building confidence for adult violin beginners.

Starting the Violin as an Adult

This guide simplifies everything adults need to start the violin with confidence—from choosing a teacher and equipment to setting up posture and building effective practice habits. It focuses on making learning joyful, achievable, and frustration-free

Get the Free Guide
Cover page of the '5-Minute Violin Warm-Up Routine' PDF, a structured guide for adult beginners focused on strengthening posture, bow control, finger coordination, and tone in just five minutes.

5-Minute Violin Warm-Up Routine

A simple, structured 5-minute warm-up that strengthens posture, bow control, finger coordination, and tone for adult beginners. Each focused minute builds long-term skill and confidence, making it easy to start every practice session with clarity and purpose.

Get the Free Guide

Meet Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Brown

Professional portrait of Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Brown, founder and teacher behind Violin for Adults (VFA), who utilizes evidence-based teaching rooted in her Harvard and LSE education.
The teacher behind Violin for Adults.
With over 25 years of experience working with adult learners, Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Brown understands something many teachers overlook: Adults aren’t “big kids” — they learn better with clarity, structure, and encouragement.
A professional violinist, educator, orchestral leader, and founder of the online Aviva Violin program, she combines warm guidance with evidence-based teaching rooted in her studies at Harvard Graduate School of Education and the London School of Economics.
She has helped thousands of adults begin — or begin again — with confidence and joy. Now, she’s here to help you do the same.