Meet Lila Hood: Electric Violinist & Master Teaching Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lila Hood and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lila, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started my own business because I saw a lack of diversity in classical music. Oftentimes, I was the only person of color, or one of a few people of color, in a classical music environment. While sitting on the stage in a rehearsal at Carnegie Hall, something hit me. I felt very strongly that while talent is sometimes perceived as natural, the most important factor in developing talent is access. I was preparing to pursue a soloist career and perform in front of symphonies worldwide, but I found a new passion in creating my first community performing arts program in the DC area in 2000. 

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business was designed with the underserved community in mind. I spent a lot of time researching how children are exposed to classical. music, and I found extreme disparities within the public educational system with regard to having access to music programs in the school. I made it my business to implement programs, train teachers, and offer my elite training at less than half of the going rate. As I traveled along this path, I learned that there was an even greater need to include the families of new students in the learning process. I then added a parent workshop component to introduce parents and families to this new genre of music and to teach them how to support students with practicing at home. My super fun, patient, and nurturing approach to teaching from the perspective of a former student is what sets me apart. I am in tune with what students need and I treat each student as an individual, because we all behave differently when learning something new. We even have programs for adults of all levels as part of the Blue Violin Community Orchestra, which serves a mission of bringing diverse string players together to share music and as host to “Orchestra Jam Night LA”. The most important lesson I’ve learned along the way is that patience pays off. There’s a certain phase of instruction that I call “coming into the light”. It’s the “A-ha!” moment for students, or when everything comes together for the student. It’s on the road to “coming into the light” where other teachers lose students or students give up on themselves. I have found that my strongest teaching effectiveness is along this road. In fact, I have decided to go for the ultimate goal in ensuring “Arts Access for All” by creating a music educational TV show for kids called “THE BLUE NOTES”! It will feature 10 of my top violin students from Los Angeles in a new and exciting way to tell the world about the wonderful world of Strings, music, and more particularly, the violin! The show will launch on YouTube in 2021, so we are urging everyone to Subscribe to the “Blue Violin TV” YouTube channel today, so you won’t miss “THE BLUE NOTES”!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Where to take a best friend visiting LA for the week? If we weren’t in a pandemic lockdown Coffee & Tea + brunch items – Hilltop Coffee, Hot & Cool Café Lunch spots – My Two Cents, Merkato Ethiopian Restaurant Dinner – Coley’s Jamaican Restaurant, Crossroads Kitchen, NOBU Artistic Experience – Wednesday Night “Moving Art” dance class with Karen McDonald at Debbie Allen Dance Academy Exercise – Culver Stairs, Runyon Canyon Hiking, G-Train Fitness Excitement – OUE Space Skyslide Entertainment – Sayer’s Club on Thursdays, The Comedy Union, Jazz Eclectic Mondays at Sofitel Hotel, Seventy7 Lounge, Rooftop Cinema Places to Go – California African-American Museum, The Beaches, L.A. Live, Grammy Museum, The Grove & Farmer’s Market, The Last Bookstore Favorite Chill Spots – The Standard Downtown LA Rooftop, Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, LA parks and open spaces

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my son, Askari Frith. As a young child, he was always so giving in that he shared his Mom with hundreds of student siblings each year. He has been my biggest cheerleader in many situations where I considered passing on opportunities while balancing Motherhood, and he has also been my biggest inspiration to keep striving to pursue my dreams.

Website: www.theblueviolinonline.com
Instagram: @theblueviolinofficial
Twitter: @theeblueviolin
Facebook: “Lila Hood”
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSmW6Y6XURjIUF2EtwOeSg or “Blue Violin TV”
Other: Website for Students: www.blueviolinclasses.com You Sound App: @theblueviolin Greater Than App: Lila Hood

Image Credits
*Main Feature personal photo (Lila & students) – Morreco Coleman Photos listed under additional photos: 1) students in fun pose w/ violins in the air = Morreco Coleman 2) Lila w/ arms up in middle of street w/ Orpheum in background = Jon Trini 3) Blue Violin Community Orchestra shot in front of a house in a driveway = Victor Ward 4) Lila teaching students in park with students seated at music stands = Marlene Yang 5) Lila w/ purple flowers background = Jon Trini 6) Lila on “Live from the Living Room” set w/ head down to side = Askari Frith 7) Lila animated Album Cover = Scott O’Gara 8) Lila leaning forward with violin w/ pink & green mural behind = Victor Ward