Elyane de Fontenay

Elyane de Fontenay grew up in our nations capital, and studied violin at the ANU School of Music, completing a Bachelor of Music in 2012 and a Graduate Diploma in Music in 2013 with Barbara Jane Gilby and Tor Fromyhr. During her years here, she developed a love of orchestral and chamber playing. She was concertmaster of the university orchestra and the chamber orchestra, and she participated in the Canberra International Music Festival in 2010 and 2011, performing world premiers of important works of contemporary composers, and long lost treasures. In 2009 she led a prize winning performance of Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro in the ANU School of Music Chamber Music Competition, and in 2011 she was lucky enough to be asked to perform with her string quartet at Parliament House for Queen Elizabeth II.

In 2012, Elyane went on a year long adventure with her partner, hiking through the tiny islands of Japan, catching trains through Europe, and finally buying a Chevrolet ’78 van and driving around America. When she returned, she decided to continue the adventure, and moved to the cultural melting pot of Melbourne. She now performs with many Melbourne based orchestras and chamber groups, alongside a wonderful collection of budding young musicians.

As a soloist, Elyane has participated in masterclasses with Australian Pianist Michael Keiran Harvey, Olivier Charlier and Boris Garlitsky from the Conservatoire de Paris, and performed the Debussy String Quartet in a chamber music masterclass for David Geber, a founding member of the American String Quartet.

Elyane has very eclectic music tastes. She has a passion for contemporary classical music, especially that of the late 20th Century. She has performed, toured and recorded with many folk, country, rock and hiphop bands, playing at the Woodford Folk Festival, and the National Folk festival. She is also passionate about early music performance, having performed in the opera ╥Dido and Aeneas╙ directed by early music specialist Geoffrey Lancaster in 2011, and has a beautiful 18th Century English baroque violin.

She teaches violin, viola, and cello in her private studio and at students homes, as well as at various schools. She is passionate and dedicated to the art of string teaching, and believes that each student has the potential to have an amazingly enriching experience when they are given the opportunity to play music. Styles: Classical

Ages 4 to 18 years

Pricing: In my home: $35 1/2 hour, $65 1 hour. In your home: $40 1/2 hour, $75 hour

I’m a passionate violin teacher with 12 years teaching experience and 25 years playing experience. I am currently enrolled in a Master’s degree in performance teaching at the Melbourne Conservatorium.

When teaching, I aim to create a solid technical foundation in my students, with an emphasis on good posture and a good ear for correct tuning and rhythm. I encourage creativity, and my lessons are always a fun and comfortable environment.

I can help students prepare for AMEB exams when they are ready, for orchestra, music scholarship and university auditions, concerts and Eisteddfods.

When teaching young children, I use a method called Colourstrings, an excellent book for making violin learning as easy as possible.

I believe that music can be an incredible aid to developing a child’s learning skills, it can help with concentration, problem solving, learning languages, coordination, and best of all, self esteem.

I have almost no more time slots available in the afternoons, however I am available to teach at my house on Saturdays from 11 until 3:30.

Call me on 0401033587 to have a chat about violin lessons for your child!