Viola Lessons in Louisiana
What viola lessons cost across Louisiana, and how to find the right teacher.
Viola lesson prices across Louisiana
A one-hour viola lesson in Louisiana typically costs $58 to $82, and a half hour $32 to $45. Prices change noticeably from town to town. The New Orleans area runs highest, up to $94 an hour.
Every town has two guides: a viola lessons guide, with local schools, events and places to play, and a costs guide, with that town's prices in detail.
| Town | 30 minutes | One hour | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans area | |||
| New Orleans | $32–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Metairie | $33–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Kenner | $32–$50 | $59–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Marrero | $32–$50 | $59–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Laplace | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Terrytown | $33–$51 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Chalmette | $32–$50 | $59–$91 | LessonsCosts |
| Harvey | $32–$50 | $59–$91 | LessonsCosts |
| Gretna | $32–$50 | $59–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Estelle | $32–$50 | $59–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Luling | $32–$47 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| River Ridge | $32–$51 | $60–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Woodmere | $32–$50 | $59–$91 | LessonsCosts |
| Destrehan | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Waggaman | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Belle Chasse | $32–$49 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Timberlane | $33–$51 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Baton Rouge area | |||
| Baton Rouge | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Prairieville | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Central | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Zachary | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Shenandoah | $32–$47 | $59–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Gonzales | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Baker | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Gardere | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Shreveport area | |||
| Shreveport | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Bossier City | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Lafayette area | |||
| Lafayette | $31–$44 | $57–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Youngsville | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Broussard | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Carencro | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Crowley | $31–$44 | $57–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Abbeville | $31–$44 | $57–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Mandeville area | |||
| Mandeville | $32–$50 | $59–$91 | LessonsCosts |
| Slidell | $32–$50 | $59–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Covington | $32–$50 | $59–$91 | LessonsCosts |
| Houma area | |||
| Houma | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Bayou Cane | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Thibodaux | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Bayou Blue | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| Lake Charles area | |||
| Lake Charles | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Sulphur | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Moss Bluff | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| Monroe area | |||
| Monroe | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| Claiborne | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| West Monroe | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| Alexandria area | |||
| Alexandria | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Pineville | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Other Louisiana towns | |||
| Bogalusa | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Hammond | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Minden | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Morgan City | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Natchitoches | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| New Iberia | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Opelousas | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Ruston | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
No Louisiana town by that name yet. Lessons are live online, so you can still start from anywhere in Louisiana.
Meet a Viola Teacher in Louisiana Before Weekly Lessons
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- Live feedback on bowing, tone, and intonation
- Setup guidance for viola size and comfort
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How viola learning works in Louisiana
How does viola fit school music in Louisiana?
Viola fits Louisiana school music through orchestra and string ensembles rather than a separate viola class. The clearest local starting points are fourth, fifth, and sixth grades in St. Tammany Parish Public Schools, where orchestra is available at Tchefuncte Middle School, and fifth grade at Copper Mill Elementary in Zachary Community School District. Louisiana’s music benchmarks for grades 5–8 include performing and reading music individually and in ensembles, so private study can give you or your child a foundation that carries into school playing. East Baton Rouge Parish School System students may lease a district instrument.
Who runs what for Louisiana violists?
Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) coordinates the central viola honor route through its orchestra programs, while its assessments give students a separate way to receive ratings for solo and ensemble playing. LMEA’s Orchestra Division is the relevant state home for string players, and the Louisiana High School Rally Association (LHSRA) offers another route for students who qualify through a Superior rating at a District Rally or LMEA contest. These roles differ: one connects students to orchestra honors and assessments, while the other recognizes qualifying high school music work.
Who runs what in Louisiana
Louisiana High School Rally Association (LHSRA)
- Runs
- Recognizes music events for students who earn a Superior rating.
- For
- High school students meeting the qualifying rating.
Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA)
- Runs
- Runs All-State orchestra and solo and ensemble opportunities.
- For
- Eligible middle and high school musicians.
Louisiana Bandmasters Association (LBA)
- Runs
- Offers middle and high school band honors.
- For
- Middle and high school band students.
Auditions and events in Louisiana
How does a violist reach Louisiana's top student honors?
The main viola honor route runs through Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) orchestra auditions. In middle school, students in grades 6–8 can audition for the All-State Middle School String Orchestra; high school students can audition for the All-State High School Orchestra if they meet the school participation and sponsor rules. The high school district audition is a monitored recording, followed by a separate chair-placement recording for selected players, due in early January. High school string students may also be considered for the Multi-District Honor Symphony Orchestra through their All-State audition. The All-State events take place in January, giving a student a clear progression from district selection to placement and performance.
The viola route in Louisiana, step by step
- Middle school All-StateGrades 6–8 audition for the LMEA All-State Middle School String Orchestra; auditions usually take place in early November.
- High school district auditionEligible high school violists submit a monitored district audition in September.
- Chair placementSelected high school players record a separate placement audition, due in early January.
- January All-State eventsSelected middle and high school musicians take part in All-State events in January.
The Louisiana viola year
Multi-District Honor OrchestraLouisiana Music Educators AssociationStart the piece May to Aug
State Solo and Small Ensemble AssessmentEntry fee: $25 per solo; $20 per ensemble memberStart the piece Sep to Dec
Working on the event piece, 3 to 6 monthsEvent
What do auditions ask you to prepare?
For the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) All-State High School Orchestra audition, viola players prepare scales and two selections, one slow and one fast. The 2026–27 audition uses Set III; scales come from C, G, D, A, E, F, B-flat, and E-flat major, and music may be used for scales. Scales count for 30 percent and the selections for 70 percent, with tone, accuracy, intonation, bowing, and tempo assessed. Solo and Ensemble performances have time limits, and memorization is not required. A prepared audition piece usually takes three to six months of weekly lessons to shape.
Homeschool and private school students
Louisiana’s home-study law allows an approved homeschool student to try out or apply for public school extracurricular activities under the same process as enrolled students, if the student lives in the school’s attendance zone. For LMEA All-State High School Orchestra, a homeschool violist auditions in the district tied to the home address and needs an active LMEA-member sponsor, such as a parent, private lesson teacher, or homeschool or community music-group director. Eligibility therefore depends on both the school-zone process and the orchestra sponsor requirement.
Starting at any age
Starting a child on viola
A child is ready to begin viola when the instrument can be held comfortably and they can focus on a short, guided practice task; many begin around age seven or eight. Starting privately before school orchestra is available gives your child time to get comfortable with posture, bowing, and reading, while weekly individual instruction can also support school playing once it begins. The right starting point is the child's readiness, not a race to join an ensemble.
A teen in Louisiana
A Louisiana teen can start with private viola lessons and join a school string program when one is available, then build toward district and state orchestra auditions. High school All-State auditions happen in the fall, with selected students later completing a chair-placement recording; middle school auditions follow their own fall window. That calendar rewards steady preparation, but weekly lessons can fit around school rehearsals by focusing on the specific excerpts and technique the student is working on rather than adding another group commitment.
Starting or coming back as an adult
Adults in Louisiana can join the New Orleans Civic Symphony in New Orleans, the Symphony of New Orleans in New Orleans, or the Northshore Community Orchestra in Slidell, all of which include orchestral playing suited to violists. The New Orleans ensembles have regular attendance expectations, while the Northshore group brings youth and adult players together. It is not too late to start or return: a dedicated teacher can begin with your current reading and bowing, then help you work toward ensemble parts at a pace that fits your experience.
Finding the right teacher
What should a good viola teacher do?
A strong viola teacher builds a relaxed bow hand, dependable intonation, and a sound that stays clear across the instrument’s range, then connects that work to the student’s goal. A younger beginner needs patient, concrete steps; a teen preparing Louisiana orchestra auditions needs a teacher who can shape weekly practice around the audition material; an adult may want reading fluency or an ensemble-ready part. Training matters, but so does a teacher’s way of explaining and listening. Every Lesson With You teacher holds at least a bachelor’s degree in viola, and you can choose one yourself or ask us to recommend a fit.
How do live online viola lessons work?
A live Zoom viola lesson lets the teacher see your posture, left-hand frame, bow path, and instrument setup while hearing tone, rhythm, and intonation in real time. Set the camera far enough back to show your whole playing position, with the instrument and bow clearly visible; a second angle can help when a hand detail needs attention. In New Orleans or Opelousas, you get the same choice of teacher and the same one-on-one weekly lesson. Online means no commute and access to a teacher who fits, while a steady weekly time makes it easier to keep practice connected from one lesson to the next.
What $35 a week gets you at Lesson With You
Viola in Louisiana
Where to hear viola
In New Orleans, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra presents orchestral and chamber programs, with student ticket offers for K–12 and university students who have current identification. The New Orleans Opera Association’s March 2027 festival includes staged and concert performances around the city, while New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival brings a broad range of styles to the Fair Grounds in late April and early May. These listening experiences help a violist hear how string parts work within larger musical settings.
Where to play with others
Baton Rouge’s Louisiana Junior Youth Orchestra accepts string players in grades 6–8, while Louisiana Youth Orchestra accepts string players from grade 9 through college. In Shreveport, Centenary Youth Orchestra gives families a free fall concert to hear young orchestral players. Together, these options let students build ensemble experience at different ages and give families a chance to hear how string parts work within a full orchestra.
Viola around Louisiana, area by area
New Orleans area
Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestras asks auditioning musicians to pay a non-refundable fee, with one amount for its May cycle and another from August to April. LMEA district Solo and Ensemble assessments offer another way for a violist to perform alone or with a small group for a rating. These options suit different aims, from playing with others to receiving feedback on a prepared performance.
Baton Rouge area
In Baton Rouge, Live After Five offers free concerts downtown, giving families a chance to hear live music together. A violist seeking an ensemble experience can explore the local youth orchestra route, while these outdoor concerts offer a relaxed way to listen beyond formal orchestral performances. Hearing varied live music helps students notice how melody and accompaniment fit together.
- School year
- Aug 6 to May 21, 38 lesson weeks (East Baton Rouge Parish School System)
- Town guides
- Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Central, Zachary, Shenandoah, Gonzales, Baker, Gardere
Shreveport area
Shreveport’s free Levitt AMP Shreveport Music Series brings family-friendly concerts to Caddo Common Park in summer and fall. The Highland Jazz & Blues Festival adds an annual free event at Columbia Park. Both offer a violist a chance to hear live music in styles beyond orchestral repertoire, and give families accessible ways to share a performance.
- School year
- Aug 10 to May 19, 36 lesson weeks (Caddo Parish Public Schools)
- Town guides
- Shreveport, Bossier City
Lafayette area
Lafayette families can receive free tickets to Acadiana Symphony Orchestra regular-season and chamber-series concerts through its Ticket Angels program. The concerts give a student a chance to hear viola within both orchestral and chamber settings. Free recitals and ensemble performances also take place in Lafayette, offering another way to hear local musicians perform.
Mandeville area
Slidell’s Bayou Jam offers free concerts at Heritage Park, generally in March and April and again in September and October. In Covington, Sunset at the Landing presents free downtown concerts on third Fridays from March through October. Together, the two series give families in the area regular options for live music across much of the year.
- School year
- Aug 10 to May 25, 38 lesson weeks (St. Tammany Parish Public Schools)
- Town guides
- Mandeville, Slidell, Covington
Houma area
Thibodaux offers free Tuesday concerts at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center featuring South Louisiana music, as well as Boogie on the Bayou, a free family-friendly outdoor concert downtown. These events bring local music into a community setting and let a viola student hear performance beyond formal orchestral repertoire.
- Town guides
- Houma, Bayou Cane, Thibodaux, Bayou Blue
Lake Charles area
Lake Charles offers free Downtown at Sundown concerts, a public way to hear live music together. Red, White, Blue and You is a free family event with a patriotic concert and live entertainment on July 4, 2027. A student can listen for how melody, accompaniment, and ensemble balance work in a live performance.
- School year
- Aug 13 to May 26, 38 lesson weeks (Calcasieu Parish School Board)
- Town guides
- Lake Charles, Sulphur, Moss Bluff
Monroe area
Monroe’s Brown Bag Concert Series offers free live music every Wednesday in October at Palace Park. A violist can hear a range of performances in a daytime setting, providing a different listening experience from a formal orchestra concert. The series is an easy way for families to include live music in the school-year routine.
- School year
- Aug 10 to May 20, 36 lesson weeks (Monroe City Schools)
- Town guides
- Monroe, Claiborne, West Monroe
A little viola history in Louisiana
Louisiana has a documented tradition of string-instrument making, and makers Adner Ortego in Washington, Deborah Viator in Eunice, and Tex Grimsley in Shreveport have made violas as well as other stringed instruments. In New Orleans, Louisiana Philharmonic assistant principal violist Bruce Owen has held that position since 1999 and was among the orchestra’s founding members. Baton Rouge violist Kimberly Sparr has performed as a soloist and with major orchestras. For a student, that means viola belongs both to Louisiana’s craft history and to the professional orchestral life heard in its cities.
Start Viola Lessons With a Free Trial
- One teacher, one student, one personalized plan
- Live feedback on bowing, tone, and intonation
- Setup guidance for viola size and comfort
- Claim a free first 30-minute lesson
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose a teacher who can explain bow control, intonation, and sound in a way that suits your age and goals. With Lesson With You, you can choose a teacher or ask us to recommend one, then use the free first 30-minute lesson to see if the fit feels right.
Yes, a live teacher can watch your posture, bow path, and left hand while giving immediate feedback on tone and intonation. Lessons happen one-on-one over Zoom, so you avoid a commute and can work with a teacher who fits rather than only one who is close by.
School orchestra entry varies by district: St. Tammany Parish Public Schools offers orchestra at Tchefuncte Middle School from fourth grade, and Zachary Community School District begins orchestra at Copper Mill Elementary in fifth grade. Private lessons can help a student prepare before a school ensemble starts.
The main route is auditioning for Louisiana Music Educators Association All-State orchestra, first at middle school level in grades 6–8 or later at high school level. High school players selected from the district audition complete a separate chair-placement recording before the January events.
Yes, approved home-study students can apply or try out for public school extracurricular activities under the same process as enrolled students when they live in the attendance zone. A homeschool high school student auditioning for LMEA All-State Orchestra also needs an active LMEA-member sponsor and auditions through the district where they live.
Many children are ready around age seven or eight, when they can hold the instrument comfortably and focus on a short practice task. Readiness matters more than age, and private lessons can prepare a child for Louisiana school orchestra entry in fourth or fifth grade where those programs begin.
No, adults can start or return at any age, and a teacher can meet you at your current reading and playing level. Louisiana has adult-friendly community orchestra options, including the New Orleans Civic Symphony, Symphony of New Orleans, and Northshore Community Orchestra.
Viola lessons in Louisiana typically cost $58 to $82 an hour, or $32 to $45 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.