Instructor

Tomoko Omura — Violinist & Teaching Artist

Named the #1 Rising Star Violinist in DownBeat magazine's 2021 Critics Poll, Tomoko has performed on many of the world's most storied stages — among them Carnegie Hall, the Village Vanguard, Blue Note, Lincoln Center's Appel Room, SFJazz, and the Newport Jazz Festival.

Her recordings have drawn wide critical acclaim. Branches Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (Outside In Music) were both named to Bandcamp's Best Jazz lists, and DownBeat awarded Roots — a tribute to her native Japan — four and a half stars, calling her "a leader with a fine future." Her work has been featured by GRAMMY.com, Strings magazine, DownBeat, WBGO, JazzTimes, and Bandcamp Daily.

She has studied with a distinguished lineage of violinists, including Richard Rood (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra), Mark Feldman, Christian Howes, Rob Thomas, Matt Glaser, and Sandy Kott (Boston Pops).

Since founding Brooklyn Violin Lessons in 2010, she has brought that same standard to her teaching. She holds a Level 3 certification in the Paul Rolland approach to string pedagogy — a method grounded in natural, tension-free movement and a secure technical foundation, well suited to students of every age. Her students have gone on to earn places in some of New York's most competitive programs, including the Juilliard Music Advancement Program (MAP) and the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.

Her teaching is customized to each student and welcomes all levels — from first-time beginners to advanced players refining repertoire, sight-reading, theory, improvisation, and performance. She works especially well with students looking to undo bad habits or ease physical tension, helping every player build a technique that lasts and a sound of their own.