Dunja Lavrova

About Online Instrumental Lessons:

Online instrumental lessons have recently become a necessity due to COVID19 pandemic restrictions. But even before that, they were becoming more and more popular as they offered real convenience for a student who either wants to learn with a specific teacher who might be based in another country, or when attending lessons in person is problematic because of the student's schedule. 

Dunja Lavrova, who has 16 years of overall teaching experience, has successfully taught via online video platform for the past 7 years. Lessons are scheduled based on the most suitable time (whatever the time zone!) for both Dunja and the student.

Dunja Lavrova's message to future students: 

"I believe that developing a strong connection between mind, body and our "soul" is absolutely necessary when learning to play a musical instrument. Through the years of extensive practice-led research, I have developed a very “holistic” approach to teaching violin, which encourages self-expression and self-improvement through music practice/ performance and mindful use of the body. I believe that the way we learn is closely connected to our “mindset”, our lifestyle & general habits. A basic understanding of our physical bodies and human psychology is required to achieve the most effective and fulfilling results when learning something as complex as a musical instrument. 

I also an advocate of the idea that music promotes better mental health - both due to it being a "mindful" activity and a tool of self-expression.

I always listen to what my students want first from their lessons and then work out the best and most efficient way to achieve what they want.

I have an individual approach towards each of my students, depending on their abilities and goals. 

From a technical perspective, I have always been greatly fascinated by violin and methods of teaching how to play it, and believe that each student should have their lesson tailor-made for them in order to fulfil their full potential.

I help my students by showing them how to achieve maximum results through appropriate way of practising and time-management, coaching them various performing techniques, helping with audition behavior and stage presence, helping to deal with anxiety, stage fright and much more. 

I teach my students independence, organisation, discipline and responsibility so they can achieve expressive freedom in music and in life.

During my lessons you will learn that:

- "There is a strong connection between our mindset and the way we learn, including learning a musical instrument."

- "Positive mindset is key for enjoying music lessons - and life."

- "Establishing a strong connection between mind, body and our "soul" will help you achieve better results on your musical instrument."

- "Discipline is important for enjoying and embracing the freedom of life and freedom of music."

- "Creativity drives human evolution. Creative expression is an essential tool for enjoying life."

- “Failure is part of a journey, don’t let it stop you on your tracks. Failure teaches us how to move forwards.”

- “It's always "quality over quantity.”

- “Fear is natural, everyone is afraid of something - it’s what you make of it that matters.”

- “I am here for you."

I look forward to our first lessons where we can work out how I can help you with reaching your goals on your instrument!”

- Dunja

About:

In addition to being a world renowned performer, Dunja is a passionate educator. She has vast 

experience in teaching violin, viola, chamber music and musicianship, as well as piano and music. She

has taught both privately and at schools since 2001. Dunja Lavrova’s students have achieved

consistently high grades at their ABRSM exams in the U.K. 


In the first year of her 4-year Bachelor of Music degree studies at the Royal College of Music, Dunja

participated in the RCM Student Associates Scheme - an approved programme, supported by UK’s

official Teacher Training Agency. During the duration of this internship-style, classroom teacher-

training program, Dunja was assigned to teach groups of children and large classes in both primary and

 secondary school scenarios, getting valuable feedback on her performance as a teacher from the TTA

Assessor and the Schools’ Directors. 

Dunja chose Education and Outreach as a study module in her second year as a BMus student. This is

 where Dunja’s skills for inspiring children and adults through music & music education really began to

develop. The Royal College of Music’s Education and Outreach module required Dunja to work for a

year with two other classmates on developing and executing programmes for groups of children and

adults of various backgrounds. Those education and outreach programmes were designed to inspire

individuals of various age groups to either pick up a musical instrument or to help them overcome

various obstacles (such as mental health or social problems) through music. The module required

Dunja to conduct substantial research into the psychology of education and outreach to support

multiple written essays on the chosen subject. During the undertaking of her Education and Outreach

studies, Dunja was particularly interested to explore the effects of music (as a "mindful" activity as well

as a creative outlet) on mental health. Dunja's research into this matter and her consequent essay as a

Bachelor of Music, have resulted in Dunja's involvement in various activities and events supporting

mental health and the positive effects art and creativity have on it.

Through the years of extensive practice-led research, Dunja has developed a very “holistic” approach to

teaching violin, which encourages self-expression and self-improvement through music practice and

performance through “mindful” use of the body. She believes that the way we learn is closely

connected to our “mindset”, our lifestyle & general habits. She suggests that a basic understanding of

our physical bodies and human psychology is required to achieve the most effective and fulfilling

results when learning something as complex as a musical instrument. Dunja believes that developing a

strong connection between mind, body and soul is absolutely necessary when learning to play a

musical instrument. 

Dunja integrates mindfulness, yoga postures and anatomy, as well as neuroscience studies into her

music lessons. It is the combination of this holistic approach and her extensive knowledge and

understanding of the more traditional “violin schools” that have enabled Dunja Lavrova to connect to a

variety of age groups with complex and difficult backgrounds and engage students of all levels, with all

kinds of goals.

Dunja was initially introduced to meditation, yoga and Alexander Technique when she was a student at

The Yehudi Menuhin School. However, she began her daily practice of mindfulness-based meditation

and various intensive styles of Yoga 6 years ago. Since then, Dunja has completed the Transcendental

Meditation Training in Melbourne in 2019 and is currently working to complete her Yoga Teacher

Training (fully certified by the Yoga Alliance) with ULU Yoga School.

Dunja Lavrova is currently creating a diverse online lessons library which showcases her unique

teaching methodology and which will become available via her teaching website

(www.dunjalavrovateaching.com), YouTube (Dunja Lavrova) and other social media channels. She is

also in the process of writing her own violin teaching methodology book and planning to start her PhD

(Music Performance) research studies in Victoria. 

Since graduating the Royal College of Music in 2009 with First Class Honours (Bachelor of Music)

and with Distinction / Tagore Gold Medal in Advanced Postgraduate Diploma (Master of Advanced

Performance programme), Dunja has managed various professional projects. Dunja’s project

management experience includes: realising and developing the concept, design, communication and

planning of all stages of the execution of her highly-acclaimed debut solo album, My Dusty

Gramophone; as well as booking and managing orchestras / music ensembles such as Covent Garden

Soloists (London), Classico Latino (Colombia) and London Symphonic Rock Orchestra on world tours. 

To further develop her Project Management and Leadership skills, Dunja is currently completing a

Project Management Diploma in Melbourne’s Albright Institute of Business. The course combines

study units such as: project quality / time / scope, human resources management and personnel

communication, among many others. All units are assessed on a 3-week interval basis and involve

weekly lectures and detailed study of human relations, psychology of communication and leadership. 

In 2012, Dunja gained professional communication and project management experience by working as

an Office Manager and Communication Manager for LEMCO / NatCap Group UK - a global

network of project partners which works on solutions to make a positive impact on the world’s natural

capital. 

Between 2003-2006, Dunja was a fine instrument advisor and specialist at Phelps Music (UK).

As a daughter of a singer-songwriter, Dunja has always been passionate about composition and score

arranging - the skills she acquired as a student at The Yehudi Menuhin School and The Royal College

of Music. In 2019, Dunja became a score arranger for the highly-acclaimed “The Greatest Love of All:

The Whitney Houston Show” (presented by Showtime Australia). Dunja has supplied her score

arrangements worldwide and in a professional capacity - to performers and institutions alike. Her most

popular arrangement is of the Russian song Dark Eyes, her performance of which has been viewed

over 100,000 times on YouTube. Most of Dunja’s recent concert repertoire consists of a combination of

her own arrangements, scores she has commissioned or helped to unarchive.

Dunja’s editorial work for Carl Fischer Music (USA) of previously-archived “Levee Dance” score by the

African-American violinist and composer Clarence Cameron White is included in the ABRSM 2020

-2024 Syllabus. The work has recently been performed on London Symphony Orchestra’s Digital Hall 

platform by the orchestra’s concertmaster, Carmine Lauri.

Dunja is fascinated by improvisation - both in music and in life. She received extensive improvisation

tuition throughout her musical studies - both at school and at the Royal College. Dunja frequently

includes improvisation in her own concert performances. Dunja’s PhD thesis proposal largely focuses

on improvisation - both in musical performance and as a philosophical concept.

Dunja is currently a violin tutor at Bialik College, Melbourne (groups and individuals, years 4-6).

Previous appointments have included Millfields Community School (London) and Ealing Junior Music

School (London), among others.

Please read Dunja’s official biography by visiting www.dunjalavrova.com/about

Dunja’s students’ testimonials and school references are available via her teaching website:

www.dunjalavrovateaching.com/testimonials. Professional recommendations are available upon

request. 

Dunja holds a valid Working with Children Check, recent Police Certificate (Australia and U.K.) and

First Aid Certificate (including CRP and Provide Basic Life Support).