Viola Lessons in Tennessee
What viola lessons cost across Tennessee, and how to find the right teacher.
Viola lesson prices across Tennessee
A one-hour viola lesson in Tennessee typically costs $58 to $83, and a half hour $32 to $45. Most towns sit close to that range. The Nashville area runs highest, up to $97 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville area | |||
| Nashville | $33–$53 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Murfreesboro | $32–$50 | $59–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Franklin | $33–$52 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Spring Hill | $33–$51 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Hendersonville | $33–$53 | $61–$97 | LessonsCosts |
| Smyrna | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Gallatin | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Brentwood | $32–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Columbia | $33–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Lebanon | $32–$50 | $59–$91 | LessonsCosts |
| Mount Juliet | $33–$53 | $61–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| La Vergne | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Springfield | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Goodlettsville | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Dickson | $33–$52 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Nolensville | $33–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| White House | $33–$52 | $60–$95 | LessonsCosts |
| Portland | $33–$52 | $60–$95 | LessonsCosts |
| Hartsville | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Memphis area | |||
| Memphis | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Bartlett | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Collierville | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Germantown | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Arlington | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Lakeland | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Millington | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Atoka | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Knoxville area | |||
| Knoxville | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Oak Ridge | $31–$44 | $57–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Maryville | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Farragut | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Powell | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Alcoa | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Lenoir City | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Chattanooga area | |||
| Chattanooga | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| East Ridge | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Soddy-Daisy | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Middle Valley | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Red Bank | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Collegedale | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Kingsport area | |||
| Kingsport | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| Bristol | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| Johnson City area | |||
| Johnson City | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Elizabethton | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Sevierville area | |||
| Sevierville | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Seymour | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Tullahoma area | |||
| Tullahoma | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Manchester | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Other Tennessee towns | |||
| Athens | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Clarksville | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Cleveland | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Cookeville | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Crossville | $31–$44 | $57–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Dyersburg | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Greeneville | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Jackson | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| Lawrenceburg | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Lewisburg | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Martin | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| McMinnville | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Morristown | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Shelbyville | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Union City | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
No Tennessee town by that name yet. Lessons are live online, so you can still start from anywhere in Tennessee.
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How viola learning works in Tennessee
How does viola fit school music in Tennessee?
Tennessee public schools include music in instruction through eighth grade, but that does not mean every child has orchestra in elementary school. In Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, orchestra is a middle school elective and the starting grade varies by school; Bearden Middle School in Knox County Schools and White Station Middle School in Memphis-Shelby County Schools offer it in sixth grade. Williamson County Schools also begins orchestra in sixth grade without requiring prior instrumental training. A viola student can therefore begin privately before school orchestra, then use school playing to build ensemble experience.
When school music starts in Tennessee districts
Who runs what for Tennessee violists?
Tennessee has two distinct student music routes worth knowing. The Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA) represents school music and runs All-State ensembles, including a Middle School Honors Orchestra that can include selected violists. The Tennessee Music Teachers Association (TMTA) runs local spring auditions and a separate state competition; students earning a Superior rating and meeting musicianship requirements advance. TMEA recognition is an ensemble honor reached through school directors, while TMTA offers an individual competition route, so your goal determines which preparation and adult support matter most.
Who runs what in Tennessee
Tennessee Music Teachers Association (TMTA)
- Runs
- Runs local spring auditions and a state student competition.
- For
- Elementary, junior, and senior student competitors.
West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association
- Runs
- Runs a West Tennessee Solo and Ensemble Festival.
- For
- K–12 string players enrolled at member schools.
Auditions and events in Tennessee
How does a violist reach Tennessee's top student honors?
For a young violist, the clearest school honors route begins with the Tennessee Music Education Association Middle School Honors Orchestra. A TMEA-member director may submit up to 12 seventh- or eighth-grade students from a school, with no more than six on one instrument, and selections draw from all three Tennessee regions. Registration usually closes in early October, with audition materials due later that month and results in November; the clinic and concert take place in January. A separate route runs through the Tennessee Music Teachers Association: students audition locally in spring, and those earning a Superior rating with the required musicianship advance to the state competition. These are distinct honors, so identify the route that matches your student’s age and school connection.
The viola route in Tennessee, step by step
- Middle School Honors OrchestraA TMEA-member director submits eligible seventh- and eighth-grade students; registration usually closes in early October.
- Audition materials and resultsMaterials are due later in October, and selections are announced in November.
- Clinic and concertSelected students attend the January clinic and perform the concert.
- TMTA local auditionsStudents perform repertoire and take musicianship tests in spring.
- TMTA state competitionStudents with a Superior rating and required musicianship advance to the spring state competition.
The Tennessee viola year
MTNA Competitions – Fall 2026 (Tennessee state-level rounds)Music Teachers National Association; Tennessee host: Tennessee Music Teachers AssociationStart the piece Apr to Jul
Working on the event piece, 3 to 6 monthsEvent
What do auditions ask you to prepare?
Tennessee’s main viola auditions reward prepared solo playing and reliable musicianship, not just a polished piece. For the Middle School Honors Orchestra, students submit two etudes, two two-octave scales, and a video through their director. Tennessee Music Teachers Association local auditions pair repertoire performance with musicianship tests for students in grades 3–12, and a Superior rating plus the association’s musicianship standard is needed to advance. The West Tennessee Solo and Ensemble Festival has a different format: the director selects suitable music, generally at least 32 measures, and a performance is limited to five minutes. In weekly lessons, allow three to six months for a strong event piece.
What else is there to enter?
Beyond school honors, the Tennessee Music Teachers Association’s spring local auditions and state competition suit students ready to perform repertoire and show musicianship. Students in grades 3–12 take musicianship tests at local solo auditions, and those who earn a Superior rating and meet the association’s requirements advance. This individual route gives a violist a goal outside an ensemble audition.
Viola events in Tennessee, 2026–27
Tennessee Music Teachers Association Competitions – Spring 2027
Tennessee Music Teachers Association
- When
- Spring 2027; state competition held with the TMTA State Conference; exact dates not published
- Entry
- $43 per member Elementary entry; $48 per member Junior entry; $53 per member Senior entry; $72 per non-member entry
- Who
- Elementary, Junior, and Senior categories
MTNA Competitions – Fall 2026 (Tennessee state-level rounds)
Music Teachers National Association; Tennessee host: Tennessee Music Teachers Association
- When
- Usually late October each year
- Entry
- Ask the organizer
- Who
- Junior, Senior, and Young Artist categories; category age limits are in MTNA rules
Homeschool and private school students
Homeschool students and students at schools without an orchestra program can still pursue Tennessee honors auditions: they may register for Mid-State and All-State Honors Orchestra auditions through Vanderbilt Youth Orchestras. That route keeps a violist connected to the school honors process even without a school orchestra director. In East Tennessee, Knoxville Christian Youth Bands serves homeschool, private school, and public school students, though a band is not a viola ensemble. Nashville Notes offers orchestra programming for homeschooled students in Middle Tennessee.
Starting at any age
Starting a child on viola
Many children are ready for viola around age seven or eight, when they can manage the instrument’s size and bow and follow a steady practice routine; a teacher can help choose a properly fitted instrument. Tennessee school orchestra often begins in fifth or sixth grade, while some schools start later or vary by campus, so private lessons can make the first school year less abrupt. A dedicated teacher builds comfortable posture, bow control, note reading, and listening habits, then helps your child carry those skills into ensemble playing.
A teen in Tennessee
A teen can begin viola without having started in elementary school, but school orchestra entry points differ: some Tennessee schools begin in sixth grade, while a school such as Science Hill Orchestra in Johnson City expects prior orchestra experience or three years of private lessons. The strongest first step is to ask the school music director what participation is possible, then shape weekly lessons around the student’s current level and school commitments. For a student aiming beyond school orchestra, the honors and competition routes have their own calendars, so a teacher can help build skills steadily rather than cram.
Starting or coming back as an adult
Adults can begin or return to viola and work toward playing with others; Tennessee has community orchestra options for experienced players. The Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra is a volunteer community orchestra in Nashville, and Scruffy City Orchestra in Knoxville is open to adults 18 and older. A teacher can meet you at your current reading and bowing level, then help you build toward chamber or orchestral playing at a pace that fits your goals.
Finding the right teacher
What should a good viola teacher do?
A strong viola teacher listens for a relaxed bow, a clear tone, and the ability to read the alto clef without tension, then connects that work to the student’s aim, whether that is a first school orchestra, a TMEA honors audition, or playing again as an adult. Fit matters as much as credentials because a young beginner, a late-starting teen, and a returning player need different pacing and feedback. Every Lesson With You teacher holds at least a bachelor’s degree in viola. You can choose a teacher yourself or ask us to recommend one who suits your age, goals, and learning style.
How do live online viola lessons work?
A live Zoom viola lesson lets your teacher hear tone, rhythm, and intonation in real time while seeing your left hand, bow path, and posture. Set the camera far enough back to show your full playing position, with the instrument and bow clearly visible; the teacher can ask you to adjust the view as needed. Online lessons replace travel with focused one-on-one time and give you access to a teacher who fits, not only the closest option. A weekly time is easier to keep when it does not require a commute. A student in Nashville or Nolensville gets the same choice of teacher and the same lesson.
What $35 a week gets you at Lesson With You
Viola in Tennessee
Where to hear viola
Tennessee’s orchestral and chamber performances let you hear viola as part of a larger sound. In Nashville, Chamber Music City’s March 25, 2027, Junction Trio performance features violinist Stefan Jackiw, pianist Conrad Tao, and cellist Jay Campbell; Metro Nashville Public Schools students may attend free with an accompanying adult’s general-admission ticket, and other K–12 and college students can buy $10 tickets. In Memphis, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra performs Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 on January 30, 2027, at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts.
Where to play with others
For younger players, youth orchestras provide a route into larger string sections, while community orchestras are generally a later goal for musicians who can already read and play proficiently. Knoxville’s Scruffy City Orchestra welcomes adults age 18 and older, and Jackson Area Community Bands waives dues for new high school and college students for their first year or two semesters, though its band is not a viola ensemble. A violist building ensemble experience will usually focus on school orchestra or a string orchestra.
Viola around Tennessee, area by area
Nashville area
Nashville offers more than one way for a young violist to explore ensemble playing. Tennessee Youth Symphony and Vanderbilt Youth Orchestras provide student orchestra opportunities, and the Nashville Civic Orchestra holds a Section Viola audition. College students can also find discounted tickets to eligible Nashville Symphony concerts. These choices let a student hear professional playing and consider whether an auditioned group fits their goals.
- School year
- Aug 11 to May 25, 37 lesson weeks (Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools)
- Town guides
- Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Spring Hill, Hendersonville, Smyrna, Gallatin, Brentwood
Memphis area
In Memphis, young violists can find openings in several Memphis Youth Symphony Program string and orchestra ensembles, with audition-based placement. Students and seniors can attend its fall concerts at a reduced ticket price. Opera Memphis brings free performances to locations around the city during 30 Days of Opera each September, offering families another way to hear live music.
- School year
- Aug 3 to May 20, 37 lesson weeks (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)
- Town guides
- Memphis, Bartlett, Southaven, Collierville, Olive Branch, Germantown, Horn Lake, West Memphis
Knoxville area
Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestras accept viola auditionees, with tuition assistance and scholarships available. For listening, children in grade 12 and under from Knox and surrounding counties can attend Knoxville Symphony Masterworks or Roy Cockrum Chamber Series concerts free with a paying adult ticket, up to three children per adult. That gives young players a chance to connect their own ensemble work with a live orchestral performance.
- School year
- Aug 10 to May 26, 38 lesson weeks (Knox County Schools)
Chattanooga area
Young violists in Chattanooga can audition for Chattanooga Strings, a youth symphony program that uses auditions for seating and ensemble placement. This gives a developing player a local route into a larger string ensemble, where listening across sections and following a conductor become part of playing. Families can also explore student orchestra concerts in town as the player gains experience.
- School year
- Aug 5 to May 19, 38 lesson weeks (Hamilton County Schools)
- Town guides
- Chattanooga, East Ridge, Soddy-Daisy, Middle Valley, Red Bank, Collegedale, Fort Oglethorpe
Clarksville area
Clarksville’s Downtown @ Sundown offers free, family-friendly concerts at Downtown Commons on select Friday nights from May through October. Austin Peay State University’s Department of Music also presents concerts and recitals that are free unless noted otherwise. These are useful places for a young violist to hear live music and experience different kinds of performance.
- School year
- Aug 4 to May 27, 38 lesson weeks (Clarksville-Montgomery County School System)
- Town guides
- Clarksville, Hopkinsville, Fort Campbell North
Kingsport area
Kingsport’s Twilight Alive series provides eight weeks of free downtown live music, giving families a regular opportunity to hear local performers. A violist can use these concerts to listen for how strings contribute to different musical settings, while developing ensemble experience through school or a student orchestra.
- School year
- Aug 3 to May 19, 38 lesson weeks (Kingsport City Schools)
Morristown area
Morristown’s Walters State Community College campus hosts a free Community Band concert, which offers an accessible chance to hear wind and percussion music. For a violist, it is a listening opportunity rather than a string ensemble, and can help broaden a student’s sense of how different groups shape their sound.
- School year
- Jul 30 to May 19, 38 lesson weeks (Hamblen County Schools)
- Town guides
- Morristown
Jackson area
Jackson’s community bands are built for winds, brass, and percussion, so they do not offer a viola part. A violist looking to play with others will need a string orchestra or school orchestra instead; the Jackson groups can still offer a chance to hear community musicians performing together.
- School year
- Aug 3 to May 21, 37 lesson weeks (Jackson-Madison County School System)
- Town guides
- Jackson
A little viola history in Tennessee
Viola has a living place in Tennessee’s orchestral and chamber music life, rather than a single defining state tradition. Knoxville Symphony principal violist Kathryn Gawne has been with the orchestra since 2001, while Memphis-born violist Matthew O’Neal Finley brings viola to both chamber music and jazz settings. Nashville luthier Jennifer Halenar builds traditional violas as well as five-string instruments that blend violin and viola ranges. For a student, that range of work is a reminder that viola can lead a section, support a quartet, or move across styles while retaining its distinctive middle voice.
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 technique, tone, and alto-clef reading in a way that fits your goal, whether that is school orchestra, an honors audition, or adult playing. Lesson With You offers live one-on-one weekly Zoom lessons with teachers who hold at least a bachelor’s degree in viola, and you can choose one yourself or ask us to recommend a fit.
Yes, because a teacher can hear intonation and tone and see your bow arm, left hand, and posture live over Zoom. A clear camera view and steady weekly time let you receive real-time feedback without a commute.
Tennessee schools commonly offer orchestra in middle school, often beginning in sixth grade, but the starting point depends on the district and school. For example, White Station Middle School in Memphis and Bearden Middle School in Knox County offer sixth-grade orchestra, while Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools varies by school.
A middle-school violist can pursue the Tennessee Music Education Association Middle School Honors Orchestra through a school director, while students seeking an individual contest route can enter Tennessee Music Teachers Association local auditions. The latter advances students who earn a Superior rating and meet musicianship requirements to its state competition.
Yes, homeschool students can register for Mid-State and All-State Honors Orchestra auditions through Vanderbilt Youth Orchestras. The West Tennessee Solo and Ensemble Festival, by contrast, requires a K–12 student to be fully enrolled at a member school.
Many children are ready around age seven or eight, when they can manage the instrument and follow simple practice routines. A teacher can confirm fit and help choose an instrument size before your child begins.
No, adults can start or return at any age, and weekly lessons can begin with the reading and bowing skills you have now. As you progress, community orchestra options in Nashville and Knoxville give experienced players places to play with others.
Viola lessons in Tennessee typically cost about $65 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.