Dr. Johnathan Spence
Violinist, Violist, and Chamber Musician

dedicated to spreading pedagogy and performance opportunities to the next generation of Hampton Roads.

I'm Johnathan Spence – Performer and Educator based in the Hampton Roads area.

As a teacher, I'm dedicated to helping students develop the tools necessary in order to build a technical foundation for musical confidence, and freedom of expression. I offer private violin and viola lessons in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.

No matter your age or ability, growing through music— whether through audition preparation, chamber music coaching, or recital opportunities — requires a type of navigation through life only music can teach us.

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Become an Artist
in Today’s World

You deserve lessons that build practical technical tools to create true artistry — not one at the expense of the other. I want you to leave every lesson with more confidence, more freedom, and a clearer sense of the musical voice only you have.

Here's what I do:

Violin Lessons

Individualized instruction is available for beginning, intermediate and advanced musicians. Students will develop healthy playing habits, technical security, musical understanding and the confidence to communicate through their instrument.

Request a free trial lesson today

Viola Lessons

As a violist myself, I understand how different this instrument is from the violin, the specific challenges violists face, and how to lean into those differences instead of working around them.

Request a free trial lesson today

Audition and Competition Preparation

Focused preparation is key to a successful audition or competition. Whether it's for one of the youth orchestras in our area, school placements, local competitions, college auditions, or other performances, learning to use practice time efficiently makes a real difference in the outcome. Students receive detailed guidance in repertoire selection, technical preparation, interpretation, and minimizing performance anxiety.

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Chamber Music Coaching

Through Galatea Chamber Music, we offer a year-round chamber music program. After many requests following New Wave Chamber Music Week, our summer program, and seeing no other options like it in the area, we decided to offer this opportunity to students throughout each semester.

Reach out to find out more about being a part of this program

"Spence has been working with my son for viola for two years now. He is an extraordinary instructor and performer that is able to connect to his students. He gives formative feedback that has helped to challenge my son to grow in his craft without becoming frustrated. He has always been accommodating, professional, and supportive. He has been influential in developing my son's love of music. Highly recommend."
- Kathy B.

"Dr. Spence is very professional and delightful to have as a violin instructor. My daughter has been taking violin lesson with him for more than a year. He is very calm and puts ease on her to learn. It is important for me to have someone who can teach the instrument and also who can work with kids. He has has both abilities. He is very knowledgeable in his expertise and is always willing to work around my busy schedule. I highly recommend Dr. Spence to anyone who wants to learn the violin."
- Carita T.

"My daughter has been receiving lessons from Spence Academy for Strings for two years. Dr. Spence has helped her gain confidence and greatly improve her technique. He drives her to do her best while allowing her the space to develop intrinsic motivation. He is a talented teacher and musician and it has been our privilege to have our daughter as his student."
- Isabel N.

"Dr. Spence is an amazing teacher! Under his instruction for the past few years, I’ve watched both my daughters (currently 15 and 7) grow musically as well as develop other skills that translate outside of music. He has a keen eye for details and is able to tailor instruction to the individual while using a whole-child approach to learning. His open communication with parents has helped to ensure that my children are able to meet their specialized needs and flourish in their enjoyment of creating music. Through his instruction, my oldest child also met her goal of having a successful audition for Bay Youth Orchestra this year.This is a teacher that will go the extra mile for his students. He also offers other beneficial opportunities for his students and the community. I highly recommend him!"
- Elizabeth S.

Music as a Way of Life

A musical approach teaches us how to navigate life, especially in the times we find ourselves in now. For a child growing up in today's world, having an outlet to develop discernment, discipline, and honesty is crucial to becoming the best person they can be. These instruments teach us to identify what's true in the present moment — is this working, or is it not?

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Free Live Performances

I'm the founder and artistic director of Galatea Chamber Music, a nonprofit bringing high-caliber chamber music to Hampton Roads. Through Galatea, I organize free community concerts — no ticket, no cover charge, just music that's genuinely open to anyone who wants to walk in and experience it. My students also get to see, and sometimes perform alongside, the chamber musicians who play these concerts — a different kind of learning than anything that happens in a lesson room.

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