“Dimitry is an extraordinary violin teacher. Alexis was very lucky to have discovered both his teaching practice and his immaculate violin playing. Dimitry is incredibly knowledgeable about technique, repertoire, and violin pedagogy and knows how to impart this knowledge in a very clear, logical format - all leading towards the student being able to play more freely, musically, and with their own artistic intention. Perhaps what I find most inspiring about Dimitry’s method of teaching is how meticulously he has thought about and is able to both demonstrate and explain all aspects of violin technique. Technical elements that once seemed vague or unattainable feel clearer; achieving them and playing with a higher level of proficiency and musicality feels possible. Along with a laser focus on fundamentals, Dimitry encourages students to play with maximum ease, beginning with violin hold and extending through to performance practice. In particular, in the course of practicing the challenging piece, Alexis can record the actual practice and receive feedback on it to play a more complete song. The result was an award at the Calibri International Competition and a chance to play at the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic. Alexis says that Dimitri is the best teacher she has ever experienced. These experiences will greatly help Alexis to become more serious and enjoy the violin in the future.”

• J. Kim

“I’m a classically trained violinist who went on to become a composer working mostly in TV and Film so looking for a violin teacher to freshen up my dusty violin playing was a worrisome decision…that is till I found Dimitry. It just so happened that I had studied with his professor Gregory Kalinovsky back in the day (MSM prep along with Patinca Kopek) so I knew Dimitry was legit before meeting him. After taking several lessons though, I now know that he’s a fully formed pedagogue in his own right and he’s become an indispensable part of my musical practice. I can’t attest, I won’t go play a show, or do a vigorous recording session without seeing him first! So for those of you who are a bit older (I’m 37) who are looking to get back into shape, look no further!”

• Bryan S.

“I started taking violin lessons from Dimitry and I can definitely say that he taught me a lot of things I didn’t know before. I had some violin background as a kid years ago and he made me realize what I did wrong and gave me so many tips to correct my mistakes and learn the right technique. There is no need to say that he is really talented and one of the best teacher you can find. I’m really glad that I was lucky enough to learn a lot of things from the pro and had a chance to see him play with me.”

• Ilkyaz S.

“I knew I needed to unlearn a lot in order to do more. Enter Dr. Olevsky! In the few months I’ve been working with him, my dexterity is improving, sight reading (which I haven’t had to do since 1994!) is less of a challenge and more of a delicious brain-bender. Having tiny hands is far less of an impediment as he’s taught me ways to compensate and ways to make my practice time more efficient and focused - a HUGE benefit with my busy schedule. I’m excited to continue growing my skills with Dimitry as my guide.”

• Cat B.

“Dimitry is a terrific teacher. I’ve had my share of music teachers as a kid and as an adult. The best ones, especially the teachers I’ve had as a working adult, have been those who make the lessons about the student, who are able to give enough push to help the student achieve their goals while still maintaining enough flexibility in recognition of the fact that the students have other aspects of life that needed attending to. Dimitry is one of those teachers. He pushes as needed, encourages as needed, and adjusts as needed. He not only possesses the technical expertise and communication skills required to be an effective teacher but also has the patience and empathy to adapt to the student’s circumstances. I highly recommend Dimitry.”

• Jose M.

“Dimitry is absolutely a great teacher. I began classes very scared because I’ve never even touched a violin in my life but he has a lot of patience, and he explains everything so well that I stopped being afraid; he creates a very relaxed environment for you to feel confident and secure. He’s always on time for classes and he’s super professional. He’s also flexible schedule-wise, so he will always find time to fit you for lessons. Learning a new instrument is always a challenge and you want to have the best teacher to guide you through the process and Dimitry is the absolute best. I’m very happy with my lessons.”

• Stephanie G.

“To me, Dimitry is a great teacher. My progress was obvious. He pointed out and corrected the mistakes in my gesture/habits that I kept for years. He knew my status and could always offer advice and suitable practice methods whenever problems occurred. His encouragement was not like pampering kids, but I could certainly feel it and via it gained further confidence in attacking new challenging (to me) pieces. The experience is similar to a tour guide, or rather an experienced companion, to me during hiking. I also appreciate his analogy between violin skills and other sports activities in daily life to enhance my understanding of the former, which I would perhaps remember for a long time. For my age and occupation, studying violin is to enjoy life and to purify my spiritual world, and I think he helped me achieve it.”

• Mingwu L.

“I contacted Dimitry and he responded promptly and kindly offered a chat over the phone with me to get familiar with my son’s previous learning experience and areas that needed improvement. During the lessons, he’s always on time, very professional, and has high standards of techniques, which is really helpful in terms of beginners forming good postures. He also took time to communicate with parents about his ideas and philosophy of helping the student with tailored methods.”

• Shan G.

“Unlike other teachers, I found Dr. Dimitry very honest in specifying the subtleties and nuances, especially the snaggy ones which make the violin one of the most challenging instruments to learn. I chose him as he was a straightforward and experienced violinist and I never compromise on the quality of teaching. Also, being a doctoral student myself, I know what it means to earn a Ph.D., and that too in music. His analogies and examples are an apt way of understanding the techniques of playing the violin. Though Dr. Dimitry is an advanced violinist, he is very patient with absolute beginners. To sum up, I would highly recommend him to people who are very serious and determined to learn and practice the violin.”

• Kiran K.

“A true professional and a great teacher! Having switched to Dimitri after having had a mediocre experience with my previous teacher. Wow…what a difference. Dimitry ably blends his extensive knowledge, talent, and seriousness about his craft with a witty sense of humor. He is able to simplify the complexities of violin technique so that it truly feels accessible. Highly recommended.”

• Sharon J.

“My 5-year-old son has been taking violin lessons from Dr. Dimitry Olevsky and has been thriving and learning faster than we expected. We absolutely love him! He is extremely kind and patient and has an amazing teaching style.”

• Akiko F.

“Dr. Olevsky was immediately able to improve my playing with direct, practical advice. He is concerned with efficient practice and making the maximum amount of progress in the time that one has. He is highly knowledgeable about the audition process and the real day-to-day of being a professional performing violinist. I have been playing for 15+ years and find Dimitry’s lessons very challenging and stimulating.”

• Alex N.

“Dr. Olevsky’s teaching style is an embodiment of the ideals that I find most important for a music educator to possess. He has taught me how to smartly approach difficult repertoire no matter what technique or skill is tested. He has taught me how to listen closely and analytically to my playing, and how to align my execution of musical phrases to the implied directions of the composer. He has taught me techniques of performance and how to utilize the anxiety that occurs with an audience to my fullest advantage. And not only have these lessons greatly assisted my musical performance, but they have also applied to general areas in my life in which precision and mental focus are required. Truthfully, the lessons that I have gained from him have transcended their original purpose and found various other uses in my life. It is rare to find an outstanding teacher with a powerful dedication to their work and a mission to perfect an already superb teaching method. Thankfully, Dimitry Olevsky is one of the few individuals achieving such a standard.”

• Isa M.

“Dr. Olevsky is inherently able to discern between problems related to technique, versus those associated with internal barriers. He infuses his knowledge of sports psychology into his teaching, giving him the unique ability to address the mental roadblocks that prevent students from unlocking their maximum potential. Dr. Olevsky takes the time during lessons to advise students on how to overcome such barriers, providing them with guidance on how to consistently achieve peak performance. Dr. Olevsky not only possesses the extensive knowledge in musical theory and practice required for teaching students at the university level but also the personality and temperament to mentor young musicians. Due to his genuine character, quick-witted humor, and sense of self-discipline, he is both well-liked and respected by students. Needless to say, Dr. Olevsky is an exceptional violin instructor whom I hold in the highest regard.”

• Vanessa R.

“Dimitry displays an exceptional talent and contagious enthusiasm for teaching. He consistently brings the same energy to each and every single one of his lessons. Rather than sitting in a chair and throwing suggestions out for an hour, he is always on his feet interacting with his students. I have noticed how Dimitry constantly polishes his own playing. He exhibits the discipline to relentlessly improve even after reaching the most advanced level of his craft. On multiple occasions, I have arrived minutes late to lessons only to see him taking advantage of every possible minute to work on his own technique and repertoire. I view this as one of the keys to his effective teaching. As a result of his persistent self-improvement and reflection, his advice to his students precisely reflects his own work ethic as a violinist. His dedication gives him an unparalleled ability to comprehend his students’ struggles, and ultimately relate them to his own experiences as a performer. As a result of my studies with Dimitry, my playing has reached heights that I never believed to be possible. My proudest and most exciting moments have come as a result of my opportunities in classical music, and I owe them all to Dimitry.”

• Gene T.

“I look forward to lessons every week. In these 10 months, I have gained confidence in my ability to learn the violin. I am a beginner (hobbyist) and I feel I learned more in the first four months as Dr. Olevsky’s student than I would have learned in a year with any other teacher. Dimitry’s teaching style is very concise and technical. From the very first lesson to the present, he strongly focuses on form, technique, and efficiency in learning, which is ultimately making all the difference in my progress. In hand with technique, Dimitry is exceptional at using theory, analogies, and stories to help work through each step of the learning process. He is also very insightful and willing to share stories, history, and/or any information related to his experiences as a musician...which I enjoy hearing. I find Dimitry to not only be a fantastic teacher, but a patient, kind, and funny person who is passionate about what he does and what I am there to learn. He has high standards and expects exceptional effort from me as a student..which is a lot of hard work. In return; however, I have unlimited access to his wealth of knowledge and experience...and sometimes I get to just listen to him play the pieces I am learning which is worth all of the effort in and of itself. So beautiful.”

• Kimberly C.

“Dimitry is one of the best coaches I have had the pleasure of working with and learning from. He is very well educated and intelligent and not only he is a great violin coach but also his expertise in the art of teaching allows the student to move forward while remaining motivated and hungry to want to learn more. Dr. Olevsky is one of very few who has the capacity and knowledge to provide great insights into the art of music as well as personal growth. His expertise in the teaching of the Violin speaks for itself. His approach to teaching has helped me with better playing of other instruments. His desire to teach is pure and as a person and coach I highly recommend and value him.”

• Mohammad M.