Why Left-Hand Tension Can Begin Before the Fingers Move
Left-hand tension often begins elsewhere in the setup. Follow the connected roles of the chin, shoulder and both hands before changing finger pressure.
Online worldwide · In person in Bergen County, New Jersey
Private violin lessons for developing and advanced players
Study online from anywhere, or in person in Bergen County, with violinist and teacher Baek Kim. Lessons are for young musicians and adults who already have a basic foundation and want focused work on technique, repertoire and practice.
Review lesson formats and studio fit before deciding how you would like to get in touch.
Hear the playing first
Ysaÿe's Sixth Sonata for solo violin.
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Who I teach
A studio for committed players
Young musicians
For students building reliable technique, preparing repertoire, auditions or competitions, and learning how to practise with purpose.
Adult learners
For adults returning to the violin or continuing their study with specific musical and technical questions.
Students should already be able to hold and play the violin and read basic music notation. The studio is not currently accepting complete beginners.
How I teach
Juilliard-trained instruction
Personalized lessons grounded in the teaching principles of Dorothy DeLay, studied first-hand at The Juilliard School from the age of nine.
Individual instruction
Lessons are tailored to students who already have a foundation on the violin, from developing players to working professionals, and designed around your goals and the way you learn.
Online and in Bergen County
The same instruction online worldwide or in person in Bergen County, New Jersey. Online works best once the basics are in place.
About BK
“His musical nature is profound, his understanding and acceptance of heritage complete.”
Darrell Rosenbluth, New York Concert Review
Baek Kim is a violinist and teacher whose training began at Juilliard Pre-College with Dorothy DeLay. His lessons combine close technical observation with clear explanations of how movement, sound and musical intent work together.
Read the full biographyLevels and areas of study
View lesson levels- Foundation
For players who can already play the violin at a basic level and read basic music notation.
Suzuki repertoire and complementary technical work strengthen posture, bowing, intonation and finger placement. This level is for developing players rather than complete beginners picking up the instrument for the first time.
- Suzuki Books 1-3
- Posture, bowing, finger placement
- First concerto movements
- Intermediate
Starting with Suzuki Book 4 and beyond - the techniques that define real playing.
You begin essential advanced techniques: vibrato, complex bowing technique, and refined left- and right-hand agility. You also start exploring small solo repertoire, including beautiful but challenging pieces such as the Viotti and Vivaldi concertos.
- Suzuki Book 4 and beyond
- Vibrato and complex bowing
- Viotti, Vivaldi concertos
- Advanced
For conservatory students and advancing professionals.
Advanced refinement and repertoire depth, focused on challenging pieces in the standard classical repertoire - from Bach to Tchaikovsky - to prepare you for auditions, performances and a professional career.
- Bach through Tchaikovsky
- Carl Flesch scale system
- Audition and competition prep
Students at the studio
Read more experiences“For the past couple of years, taking violin lessons with BK has been such a positive experience. He's a friendly, kind teacher who explains everything in a way that's easy to understand. Not only have I become more confident in my playing, but he also helped me fix past mistakes and introduced me to new techniques I never thought I could play. Every lesson is engaging, and I always leave feeling like I've learned something valuable.”
“I began learning the violin as an adult and have been studying with BK for four years. He has been actively performing since childhood, and with his wealth of experience, he provides clear, precise guidance - from the basics to advanced techniques. Thanks to his instruction, I have been able to grow steadily and truly enjoy music, even though I started later in life. He is a wonderful teacher who successfully brings the joy of learning to adult students. I wholeheartedly recommend him.”
“No matter what piece you're currently playing, I'm confident you will find BK's teaching methods astonishingly intuitive and systematic. He addresses everything from on-bow strokes to spiccato, vibrato, and various methods for connecting notes. He approaches diverse, period-appropriate techniques with a fresh perspective, making them surprisingly easy to master. The wealth of knowledge and know-how he shares will absolutely double your enjoyment as you learn music. Get ready to experience a whole new world of violin sound.”
From the studio
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Five Bow Variables Behind a Clear, Projecting Violin Tone
Bow speed, contact point, weight, hair angle and distribution work as one system. Learn what each variable changes and how to balance them.
Start with a 15-minute conversation about your playing.
bk.violinstudios@gmail.com · (201) 478-1234