“After just one session with Aiko online, my daughter’s confidence in her practice routine has taken a big jump forward. Aiko helped her develop practice methods for a difficult etude she’d been struggling with. What used to be a drag to get her to practice has turned into a joy. You could have knocked me over when she came bounding out of her room after her session with Aiko, begging me to practice further on her own. Aiko truly has the gift of encouraging young violinists!” Parent: 9 year old violinist, Philadelphia

“We literally cannot say enough about Ms. Daniela. She is simply the best. Not only is she an incredibly skilled music educator, but we are continually amazed by the dedication she shows to her students. Our son has grown by leaps and bounds as a musician since he began working with Daniela. But more importantly, he has found a mentor and a musical home that he will have for the rest of his life.” Parents: 12 year old violinist, Philadelphia

“I like Ms. Daniela’s class because it is fun and you can apply your violin focus from class to school!” 8 year old violinist, Philadelphia

“My son started playing violin at a music institution when he was four. Three years ago, he lost his passion for playing and insisted on quitting music lessons after eight years. Around that time, a friend of mine referred me to Ms. Daniela who was able to reinstall the love of music in my son. Her passion for what she does, commitment, creativity, innovation and positive attitude helped my son regain his love for music.” Parent: 12 year old violinist, Philadelphia

“Eliana shows my son how to break down extremely difficult passages and how to practice them. She is gifted at helping him come up with his own musical interpretations and then helping him integrate them into the music. Any child  who has a chance to learn from her will benefit from her musicality, patience, communication skills and cello technique.” Parent: 16 year old cellist, New York City

“The online group and private violin lessons have provided my daughter with an outlet of normalcy during the pandemic. The online forum feels very personal because of the charm, expertise, and warmth of the teachers, who provide individualized instruction while maintaining a positive group dynamic which balances learning new techniques while solidifying the necessary basics of violin playing.” Parent: 5 year old violinist, Philadelphia

“As quarantine became the new normal in March of 2020, Ms. Daniela’s teaching didn’t skip a beat. She patiently worked with her students to manage both private lessons and group classes online. Where many might have given up due to early struggles, Ms. Daniela persisted and has found a system that really works for all ages of her students. She effortlessly manages a rotation of 20 students every Saturday morning where the kids continue to enjoy their connections with each other and are learning complicated scales, fiddle tunes and more…all from their living rooms! I continue to be impressed with what is possible through Ms. Daniela’s ingenuity. We look forward to Sponoco String Camp online this summer!” Parent: 6 year old violinist, Philadelphia

“Our family has had the joy of beginning and continuing our lives as violinists for over 4 years under the tutelage of Ms. Daniela. She is a master at forming even the tiniest fingers into a beautiful bow hold, and the most wiggly beginner into a poised performer. She has continually tailored her approaches to the varied needs of my son and daughter’s education. She accomplishes this by combining endless patience with a deep appreciation for the way a child’s mind grows over time into their understanding of music and music theory. She seems to have about a thousand ways to achieve any outcome while having fun. While Daniela’s knowledge and experience as a teacher is truly a cut above the rest, perhaps her greatest gift is her love for teaching and her genuine care for each and every one of her students. She engenders a love of music into the kids that will last a lifetime, regardless of where their playing may take them.” Parent: 6 & 9 year old violinists, Philadelphia 

“Aiko has been teaching my daughter violin lessons for the past two years. The time spent being taught by Aiko is a highlight in my daughter’s life. Aiko’s enthusiasm for playing the violin is contagious. She is a dedicated instructor who is truly devoted to the growth of her students’ creative expression. Professionalism, example, commitment to detail, patience and acknowledgment of progress are just a few attributes of Aiko’s effective teaching method. She instructs my daughter with seriousness and joyfulness, while teaching her scales, music theory and history, and classical European and Gospel music performance. Aiko curates songs for my daughter to learn that relate directly to my daughter’s personal interests, thus making the lessons that more meaningful. Beyond being a violin teacher to my daughter, Aiko is a positive role model and a shining example of compassion, excellence and professional achievement. A recording artist, Aiko invites us to watch her perform violin live and prolifically at major concert halls and in charitable gigs for the homeless populations of Skid Row. In my daughter’s words, Aiko is ‘so cool! She’s just totally awesome! Our classes are so much fun!’ My daughter looks forward, with zeal, to her weekly violin lessons from which she always emerges with a huge smile and excitement for the lessons Aiko has taught her.” Parent: 12 year old violinist, Los Angeles

“…Ms. Daniela is not only an expert in the Suzuki method but also incredibly knowledgeable about how children develop musically at each age. We have felt completely supported every step of the learning process and felt like every expectation matched what our daughter was capable of and every challenge was met with empathic and thoughtful pedagogy.” Parent: 4 year old violinist, Philadelphia

"Daniela Pierson is a Philadelphia treasure and we couldn't be more thrilled with the work she has done and continues to do with our daughter Arabelle.  The way she combines a focused attention to detail and impeccably high standards with a patient, generous, and loving approach is the epitome of excellent instruction" Parents, 9 year old violinist, Philadelphia

“Ms. Daniela is supportive and knowledgeable. She creates a bridge between music and her students. Since our son started his violin lessons in mid-November 2019, our lives have been filled with music. We appreciate Ms Daniela’s dedication in teaching and there is now doubt she will continue making impacts in the lives of her students during these unprecedented times.” Parents, 6 year-old violinist, Philadelphia