It’s a fair question. When parents or adults first consider online violin lessons, the most common concern isn’t the technology — it’s whether real progress is actually possible without a teacher in the room.
After teaching violin online since 2014, I can answer that from experience rather than theory.
What Students Have Actually Accomplished Online
The best evidence I can offer is what my students have actually accomplished.
One student studied with me for two years in person, then transitioned to online lessons. Over the following four years of online instruction, he placed in the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies Symphony Orchestra — the top ensemble — and was selected for the Minnesota All-State Orchestra, which is comprised of the top players from school orchestras across the state. That level of achievement requires strong technique, reliable intonation, and the ability to perform under pressure, which was developed through online instruction.
Another student has been with me for six years total — two years in person, then four years online. These are skills that students, their parents, and teachers sometimes assume require in-person instruction. They don’t. In that time we’ve worked through three-octave scales and arpeggios, vibrato development, and playing off the string. As a student going into 9th grade in the fall of 2026, she placed into the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies Symphony Orchestra, their top ensemble.
What I Can Teach Online
Almost everything — with one exception. Duets require some adjustment for the audio delay between two people playing over video, but with careful listening, that adjustment is manageable and doesn’t prevent real progress.
Technique, tone, posture, bow hold, vibrato, shifting, scales, repertoire — all of it transfers to online lessons. I can see both hands clearly, correct bow arm position, and address intonation in real time. Students receive the same step-by-step instruction and personalized practice assignments as they would in a studio lesson.
Some students and parents feel skeptical about learning three-octave scales and arpeggios through a screen. To address that, I’ll often record the scale or arpeggio during the lesson, or point students to full explanations and play-throughs on my Marnie Thies Violin Lessons YouTube channel — particularly for three-octave scales and arpeggios. I encourage students to watch these videos and write the fingerings directly into their music, which most students are able to do on their own. That saves lesson time for other work. Playing with the video also lets them test their pitch against mine so they can self-correct intonation.
Every lesson ends with a specific practice plan built around what we worked on that day. I tell students exactly what to practice, how to practice it, and why — not general guidance, but a technique personalized to where they are right now. That structure is what drives progress — and it works just as well through a screen as it does in person.
Younger students benefit from a parent nearby during lessons — not to teach, but to absorb the practice guidance so they can reinforce it at home between sessions. I work with parents and students together to make this possible, and that support makes a real difference for beginners.
What Makes Online Lessons Work
Two things: structure and consistency.
Students who progress online receive clear, specific practice guidance every single lesson. Not “practice your scales” — but exactly which scale, at what tempo, with what bow technique, and why. That specificity travels through a screen just as well as it does across a music stand.
Consistency matters because progress compounds. A student who shows up every week and follows a structured practice plan will develop strong technique online. That’s equally true in person — but online students who commit to the process have shown me repeatedly that remote instruction produces real, lasting results.
Who Online Lessons Work Well For
Online lessons are a good fit for students who are self-motivated, have a supportive home practice environment, and are looking for structured, consistent instruction. They work well for adult beginners and returning players who want flexibility without sacrificing quality. They also work for advancing students. As the examples above show, online instruction is fully capable of supporting students through competitive audition preparation and high-level repertoire.
Seeing Is Believing
If you’re still on the fence, the best thing I can offer is evidence. My online lessons page includes student progress videos from beginner through symphony audition level, teaching and technique demonstrations, and a performance excerpt so you can see and hear what the instruction actually looks like.
That’s more useful than anything I can say here.
To see my online students and myself play and teach, visit the Online Violin Lessons page.