John Shine
John Shine performing as a fiddler
“I could not recommend Devin highly enough as a fiddle teacher. I do not think a better teacher in North America can be found. Devin has been teaching fiddle to two of my sons for the last few years. Their improvement has been simply astounding. As a fiddle player myself (who knows better than to teach his own kids) I could not be happier with the results. His knowledge of Irish music is deeply rooted in the tradition. He demands excellence from the kids while at the same time making them feel comfortable and at ease. He is very encouraging while still bringing out the best in them.
Devin’s method of teaching online is even better than in-person lessons. He video records an instructional video for every new tune for the kids to listen to and review throughout the week. He separately records instructional videos to guide them through specific parts of the tune that need extra attention. Everything is laid out so clearly and precisely in these videos. It is like having a continuous lesson throughout the week!
After witnessing how much my kids had learned in such a short period of time, I decided to take some lessons myself with Devin. Although I have been playing Irish music most of my life (since childhood) I strongly suspected that Devin would still have something to offer me. I was not disappointed! Devin’s knowledge of Irish music is so vast and deep that he was able to peel back the layers and help me hear things I did not even know were there. He manages to teach principles of bowing and phrasing in a way that few can. We are all very grateful to have Devin as a teacher.”
Leslie Weibeler
“I began studying Irish fiddle with Devin soon after returning to my instrument following a long hiatus. My experience beyond classical music was minimal, but I was inspired to try Irish fiddle while on a trip to Ireland, where I happened upon a fantastic session in Galway. From day one, working with Devin has been positive, motivating, and extraordinarily productive. Devin's systematic approach is backed up by his many years of experience teaching Irish fiddle. During lessons, he thoughtfully breaks tunes down phrase by phrase and creates videos that students can use to guide their practice.
My goal when starting lessons was to be able to join sessions, and Devin went above and beyond to help me get there, offering much more than the tunes themselves. I also learned how sessions work on a social level, how to prepare tune sets and select tunes that other musicians will know, and how to start making connections in the Irish music community. As I have progressed, he has encouraged me to make more of my own decisions on bowings, variations, and artistic interpretation.
I may have reached my initial goal of playing at sessions some time ago, but Devin has helped me stay motivated long-term. I look forward to working with him in the years to come to refine my skills and bring my musicianship to a higher level.”
Kelly Murphy
“Devin and Marta are terrific teachers! They have a wonderful way of making practice fun. My son improved his Irish music skills tremendously under Devin’s guidance. Not only that, but Devin helped improve his violin playing overall, and my son ended up playing first chair violin in his high school orchestra due to his time with Devin. So happy with our time with Devin and Marta!!”
Shifra Lipson
“Devin and Marta taught my children violin and harp for several years in the early 2000s. Speaking as a parent of children that are now grown up, the music lessons, rehearsals, trips, and performances during that time are some of the memories from their childhood that I look back on most fondly. Marta and Devin are fantastically knowledgeable, dedicated and talented teachers!”