Violin & Viola Lessons by Cookie Segelstein

Specialties

Classical, Suzuki and European style, and Klezmer fiddling.

History

Established in 1984.

I have been teaching violin and viola for more than 25 years. My students range in age from 4 years old to 94. I love beginners! I was trained as a Suzuki teacher in New Haven, CT, where I was Assistant Principal Violist with the New Haven Symphony for 28 years, until I moved to California 2 years ago. I am currently treasurer of San Francisco chapter of ASTA (American String Teachers Association) and a board member of the North California Viola Society. And I was raised with Jewish music from the Carpathian mountains, the birth place of my parents. So I am equally comfortable with a music stand, and on a dance band stand. My group, Veretski Pass (www​.veretskipass​.com), specializes in Jewish Instrumental music from the Carpathian Bow.

Meet the Business Owner

Cookie S.

Business Owner

I received a Masters degree in Viola from The Yale School of Music in 1984. I was principal violist in Orchestra New England and assistant principal in The New Haven Symphony Orchestra for 28 years until my recent move to Berkeley. I am the founder and director of Veretski Pass, member of Budowitz and The Youngers of Zion with Henry Sapoznik, and have performed with Kapelye, The Klezmatics, Frank London, Klezmer Fats and Swing with Pete Sokolow and the late Howie Leess, Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys, and The Klezmer Conservatory Band. I have presented lecture demonstrations, concerts and workshops on klezmer fiddling all over the world, including at Yale University, University of Wisconsin in Madison, Marshall University in Huntington, West VA, University of Oregon in Eugene, and throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland. A regular at teacher/​performer at Living Tradition’s KLEZKAMP, I am equally at home in the viola section, and leading a Jewish dance band.