Video still — Beethoven
Technique for the sake of music.
J.M.Simonsen
01 — Teaching
A small studio
Twelve students at a time, no more. Weekly lessons in the 7th district, or online when travel gets in the way.
Rates & availability →
02 — Performing
Chamber & orchestra
Second violin with the Lindengasse Quartet, regular substitute at the Wiener Kammerorchester, and the occasional recital.
Full CV →
03 — Method
Ear before hand
We sing it before we play it. Technique arrives as the answer to a musical question — never as a drill for its own sake.
Get in touch →Two places open this term
Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. A 30-minute trial lesson costs nothing — bring an instrument if you have one, or borrow mine.
Beginners, age 6 and up
Returning adults
Audition preparation
German · English · Danish
Weekly lessons, in Neubau or online
Everyone starts with a trial lesson so we can hear whether we work well together. After that, students take a regular weekly slot — the same day and time each week, which is what actually makes progress possible.
Listen to recordings and watch performances:
30 minutes
Young beginners
€35
Ages 6–10. Short, playful lessons with a parent in the room and a practice plan they can actually follow.
45 minutes — most students
Standard lesson
€50
The usual choice for teenagers and adults. Scales, études and repertoire, plus sight-reading every week.
60 minutes
Advanced & audition
€70
Conservatory candidates and serious amateurs. Programme building, mock auditions, and recording sessions before deadlines.
Good to know
Trial lesson. 30 minutes, free, no obligation on either side.
Payment. Monthly by bank transfer at the start of each month.
Cancellations. 24 hours' notice and we reschedule; less than that and the lesson is charged.
Instruments. I can help you rent a good student violin rather than buy a poor one.
Events
Where to hear the violin next
Chamber programmes, orchestral dates and the occasional studio evening. Tickets go through the venue; write to me for guest-list requests.
Concert diary
Seasons 2026 / 27
| Date | Programme | Venue | Tickets |
|---|
Recordings
Six things worth listening to
Live takes, mostly unedited. Drop a YouTube or Vimeo link into any tile and it plays in place.
▶ 1:56 · Paganini-16 Record
Paganini 16 - Simonsen
Video still — Beethoven
Händel / Halvorsen Passacaglia on a Theme from Händel - for Violin and Viola
▶ 3:11· Bach Sonata Largo Record
Bach Cdur Sonata Largo - Simonsen
Video still — Beethoven
Richard Strauss, Vier letzte Lieder, Konzertmeistersolo
▶ 3:30· Paganini-05 Record
Paganini 05 - Simonsen
Video still — Beethoven
Richard Strauss, Vier letzte Lieder, Konzertmeistersolo
▶ 5:35 Bach Amoll Sonata Andante Record
Bach Amoll Sonata Andante - Simonsen
Curriculum vitae
J.M. Simonsen
Born 1989 in Odense. Studied in Copenhagen and Vienna; teaching since 2013. A printable version is available on request.
Teaching
2015-2018
Private studio, ViennaTwelve students, ages 6 to 61. Six conservatory admissions since
2020.
2014
Musikschule NeubauViolin and chamber music teacher; coordinator of the string
ensemble programme.
2013
Sommerakademie MelkAssistant tutor, junior strings course.
Education
2013–16
mdw Vienna — MA, violin performanceClass of Prof. Anneliese Roth. Distinction.
2009–13
Royal Danish Academy of Music — BMusClass of Tine Halvorsen.
2011
Kronberg Academy masterclassChamber music with members of the Artemis Quartet.
Performing
2019 -
Wiener Akademische PhilharmonieSecond violin. Some forty concerts a year across
Austria and Germany.
2018 -
Divertimento Viennese OrchesterRegular substitute, first violins.
2013 -
Wiener Sängerknaben (Schubert Akademie
Orchester)Three programmes of Bach,
Nielsen and Pärt.
Awards
2016
Fidelio Competition — 2nd prizeChamber music category, with the Lindengasse Quartet.
2012
Jacob Gade ScholarshipAwarded
for solo Nielsen performance.
Also
Suzuki teacher training, books 1–4 (2018). Fluent German, English, Danish; working Italian. Member, Österreichischer Musikschulverband.
Contact & booking
Write to me and we'll find a time
I answer within two or three days. Tell me a little about who's playing and what you'd like to get to — that's enough to start.