Solace Viola — Violin & Viola Lessons

Kate on stage with violin at orchestra stand

the teacher

Kate Hamlin

Kate has been playing since childhood and performing since she was a teenager. She has sat in orchestras, played in living rooms, and taught students from age five to sixty-something. She teaches violin and viola — both instruments, all levels, all ages.

Her approach is simple: music belongs to everyone. Not just the people who started young, or who practice perfectly, or who have the right background. Everyone. If the instrument is calling you, that is reason enough.

Lessons are held in-home in Seattle, Olympia, and Tacoma. Online options available.

what we do here

Violin & Viola Lessons

All ages. All levels. Beginners welcomed with no apology.

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Beginners

You have never held a bow. That is fine. Kate has started hundreds of students from zero. You will make a terrible sound at first. That is also fine. It gets beautiful faster than you think.

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Returning Students

You played as a child and stopped. Years passed. Now the instrument is calling again. Come back. There is no shame in the gap — only music on the other side of it.

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Children

Kate teaches children with patience, humor, and a belief that kids know when music is real. No pressure. No performance anxiety manufactured before it needs to be. Just the joy of sound.

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Viola

The viola is the instrument people discover when they are ready to stop being ordinary. Kate plays viola and loves it unreasonably. She will make you love it too.

let's meet

Book a Free Meet-Up

No commitment. Just a conversation — about where you are, where you want to go, and whether we're a good fit. Thirty minutes. No charge.