Young beginners
First notes
A patient, encouraging start built around posture, violin- and bow-hand setup, hand strengthening, listening, rhythm, and the joy of making a real sound.
Arnold, Missouri · Serving Greater St. Louis
Arnold String
Academy
Private instruction with Stanley Shelver
Technique opens the door. Music walks through it.
Private violin and string instruction rooted in a professional lifetime of performance—and a genuine love of helping every student find their sound.
All agesAll levelsViolin · Viola · Cello
A lifetime of music, shared personally
More than weekly lessons.
A place to become a musician.
Every student deserves expert attention, clear direction, and the thrill of making music with others. Lessons are private and tailored; regular student concerts bring the studio together in ensembles.
Private instruction
Meet the student
where they are.
Whether the instrument is brand new or already an old friend, each lesson balances strong fundamentals with curiosity, confidence, and music worth loving.
Teens & adults
Find your voice
Thoughtful private coaching for new players, returning musicians, and anyone ready to make meaningful progress.
Advanced players
Refine the craft
Detailed work on technique, interpretation, audition preparation, and the choices that make a performance memorable.
Homeschool-friendly music instruction
Structured study.
Flexible scheduling.
Private instruction in technique, music reading, rhythm, theory, listening, and performance, with daytime scheduling available for homeschool families.
Attendance records and progress summaries are available to support family homeschool portfolios.
Ask about homeschool scheduling01–04
The studio approach
Individual attention.
Shared music.
1
Listen
Begin with the student—their goals, experience, learning style, and the sound they hope to make.
2
Build
Develop reliable technique and musicianship through focused, practical work at a sustainable pace.
3
Interpret
Move beyond correct notes toward phrasing, character, confidence, and a personal musical point of view.
4
Perform together
Regular studio concerts give students a welcoming reason to prepare, collaborate, and celebrate progress.
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The ensemble difference
Private progress.
Collective joy.
Music changes when it is shared. Semiannual concerts invite students to perform in supportive ensembles, listen across the group, and experience the confidence that comes from contributing to something larger.
Lesson options
Choose the right
pace for your goals.
Monthly tuition reserves a consistent weekly time and supports the continuity needed for steady, lasting progress.
Beginners & younger players
Foundation
$120per month
Weekly 30-minute private lesson
Monthly enrollment
Check availabilityGrowing & returning musicians
Development
$180per month
Weekly 45-minute private lesson
$500 for 3 monthsSave $40
Check availabilitySerious & performance-focused players
Advanced
$250per month
Weekly 60-minute private lesson
$700 for 3 monthsSave $50
Check availabilityFocused coaching
Performance Intensive
Four 60-minute sessions plus a 30-minute mock performance—ideal for auditions, concerts, chair placements, or returning to the stage.
$325complete packageAsk about performance prep
Masterclasses & small-group workshops
Two focused hours.
One musical breakthrough.
Explore essential techniques with the insight of a former professional orchestral musician. Each intensive is available privately or for up to four reasonably matched players.
Ask about a workshopLeft-Hand Freedom
Shifting, vibrato, finger independence, speed, extensions, and left-hand pizzicato.
The Art of the Bow
Tone production, bow distribution, contact point, speed, weight, articulation, and clean string crossings.
Intonation Without Guesswork
Hear intervals clearly, establish dependable hand frames, and use drones and double stops to correct pitch.
Performance Ready
Manage nerves, strengthen memory, recover from mistakes, refine stage presence, and finish with a mock performance.
Ensemble Intelligence
Lead and follow, read visual cues, align rhythm, balance voices, and match articulation like a chamber musician.
Two-hour workshopChoose one focus · 1–4 participants
1$1752$110 each3$85 each4$70 each
From $70 per participant
Meet your teacher
Professional experience.
A teacher's patience.
Stanley Shelver is a former professional violinist and music educator with decades of orchestral, studio, festival, and teaching experience.
He performed as a full-time violinist with the Birmingham Symphony, played viola in the Indianapolis Symphony's training orchestra, and worked as a recording-studio violinist on Coca-Cola commercials. His career also includes performances with Arthur Fiedler, conductor of the Boston Pops, and he served as concertmaster of the traveling Bob Hope Orchestra in Louisiana.
Stanley received Rockefeller Foundation support to study and perform at the Brevard Music Festival, performed at the Aspen Music Festival, and won the Annual Concerto Competition at Augustana College. He also plays the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle and has performed for the Scandinavian Folk Dancers of Kansas City.
Today, his Arnold studio welcomes complete beginners—including young children—as warmly as experienced players. His teaching is direct, encouraging, and shaped around the person in front of him.
Complimentary 15-minute consultation & skill assessment
Find the right
place to begin.
Meet Stanley, discuss the student's experience, musical interests, goals, and instrument needs, and receive his recommendation for the appropriate lesson level and a personalized path forward. No prior playing experience is required.