Violin lessons in Pittsburgh

Joe Molinaro directed public school orchestras from 2005-2011 then launched a career as a professional violinist. He returned to teach multi-instrument lessons in a private school as well as music and art in the classroom.

With the renewed success of his violin career and complimentary DJ work, he has been able to focus more intently on his instrumental lessons in Pittsburgh.

Joe’s father is Ronald Molinaro, professional violinist, multi-instrumentalist, and public school music director. Ron Molinaro continues to work in the Pittsburgh wedding industry.

Joe started his lessons with Carrie Carlson, an IU alum and orchestra teacher in Indiana. His next violin teacher was Pablo Ardiles. Joe was his first student, but he went on to found the Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestra in the North Hills.

As he became focused on a career as a musician and music educator, Joe pivoted to retired Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra violinist Albert Hirtz. Ironically, Mr. Hirtz studied under violin teacher Anton Endl, who was also the violin teacher of Ron Molinaro.

Throughout High School, Joe played in honors orchestras as well as Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra.

For two years, Joe studied music education in Pittsburgh at Duquense University, and studied violin with Hong-Guang Jia. He auditioned and was accepted at the IU Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, IN where he studied with Josef Gingold’s violin teaching assistant Henryk Kowalski, and earned high marks from virtuoso cellist and teacher Janos Starker.

He went on to teach classroom orchestra in public schools for years, directed a violin and fiddle academy in rural Indiana, and made creative music in the legendary scene of Bloomington in the 2000s. Joe went on to direct orchestras in public schools of suburban Indianapolis for three years, then moved to New York City to study composition and launch a career as a creative musician.

Joe’s creative career took him around the world, before landing back in Pittsburgh. Now, his private music lesson studio is blossoming into a multi-instrumental academy that offers both a pathway to excellence and the tools to make music for a lifetime. Through this process, the child develops a joy for music making.

The String Academy directed by Mimi Zweig served as the foundation for Joe’s violin teaching technique. This method is a variation of the Suzuki technique, established by Paul Roland and further adapted by Joe through his experience. He takes beginning students as young as three years old and as old as eleven. Students progress rapidly using both rote learning and notation, with constant focus on the creation of a big, beautiful sound in violin lessons, in practice, and beyond.

His students regularly perform solo, with accompaniment, and in ensembles around Pittsburgh. His violin students also use improvisation and play in various styles.

Lessons are available in Pittsburgh in the Regent Square area of Swissvale, specifically near the Swisshelm Park neighborhood. In addition to his Regent Square studio, he teaches in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, where he lives in West View with his fiancee and their kids.