Daily Virtuoso

Practicing shouldn’t feel like a constant battle with your own limitations.

Experience the revolutionary membership experience that helps you take control of your progress — while learning the greatest pieces in the repertoire (no more waiting!)

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3,000+

Course Members

15+

Years Teaching Online

16K

Instagram Followers

28K

YouTube Subscribers

I’m Nathan Cole,
and I want to make you a Daily Virtuoso…

“Before, I’d spend hours practicing but it wasn’t targeted enough to see the kind of improvements that I needed. Nathan helped me focus on the skills I needed to improve the most. He has a special ability to pinpoint and distill the most essential information incredibly clearly.”

– James McFadden-Talbot, Louisville Orchestra

The absolute key to daily progress is realizing you’re ready now

I don’t need to tell you that everything in your life will transform the moment you…

Truly fall in love with your daily practice
Blow your own mind with your technical ability
Play the great music written for the violin, and actually like how you sound

But what you might not realize is this:

Getting there isn’t about waiting until you feel worthy while shutting yourself off from the very music that made you pick up the violin in the first place.

It’s about using Bach, Kreisler, Mendelssohn, Wieniawski, and all the rest to become a better player. To face AND CHANGE your inner dialogue about who you are as an artist.

Count me in!

Join today Click for pricing

Nothing will keep you from the music you want to play anymore, not…

Misinformed judgments about your own unworthiness

Mozart’s 3rd violin concerto was a great success, yet he wrote to his father about the concertmaster who performed it: “…that coarse and dirty Brunetti who is a disgrace to his master, to himself and to the whole orchestra.”

Orchestra/gig-related repertoire overwhelm

I’ll be right there with you, as I commit to my solo playing while performing full time as Concertmaster of the Boston Symphony.

Thinking you still need to spend another 3 years solidifying your fundamentals

Daily Virtuoso is all about building the fundamentals through the practice of great music.

Over the last 20+ years, I’ve inspired tens of thousands of violinists through my online courses and YouTube videos.

I’ve also spent decades teaching privately and doing audition coaching.

As serious violinists, we hold ourselves to impossibly high standards. You may have heard the phrase, “stop comparing your ‘behind-the-scenes’ to someone else’s ‘highlight reel.’” That about sums it up for us, doesn’t it?

When you expect your daily work to sound like the (often edited) performance of an established star, you set yourself up for failure on a daily basis. You come to expect it.

And lower expectations mean smaller dreams. Those magnificent cornerstones of the violin repertoire seem to float further and further away.

You keep practicing but your morale decays as time passes. After another month, or another year, you’re not any closer to enjoying the pieces that made you fall in love with the violin in the first place.

And your daily practice becomes a constant uphill battle with little reward.

The hardest part of the day

Opening the case. Every time you take out the instrument, it feels like starting from scratch. Yesterday’s practice never seems to show up in today’s playing.

An impossible task

You can’t improve in all the ways you want, all at once. But maybe it’s “good enough for orchestra,” as they say!

The hamster wheel

You’re constantly working on someone else’s music: pieces you don’t want to play, stacks of scores. It’s overwhelming, and stopped being fun a while ago.

An internal practice bully

He doesn’t let you win, ever. Your self-talk alone makes practicing miserable.

The imitation game

You spend free moments polishing the pieces your students are learning…and you fear you’re starting to sound like them too.

Feeling alone

You can’t let colleagues know about your self-doubt. Everyone else seems to have it figured out.

If these thoughts have haunted you in the past – you’re not alone.

And here’s some good news: in the Daily Virtuoso, you’ll be writing a new narrative about yourself as an artist — in addition to solidifying the technical foundation that has always eluded you.

A community of support

Colleagues and friends who will stand alongside you for years to come, sharing in your violin victories and the inevitable challenges. Feeling alone? Not anymore.

Mindset and attitude

As you separate practice from self-worth, you’ll be free to find better solutions with less work. Instead of focusing on how you’re failing, you’ll start seeing results.

No more spinning your wheels

I’ll guide you with practice planning. You’ll have the focus and clarity to get the most out of whatever practice time you do have.

The great repertoire, now

My modular approach means you can go at your own pace, meeting your current abilities and stretching in an appropriate way.

All in all, the Daily Virtuoso will teach you how to make daily progress in the practice room the norm — so that improvement is undeniable!

Ready to start?

Join today

“As far as my playing, the technical aspects and the musicality, I’m able to dig into a much deeper level of practicing and inquiry. And I think I express myself at a depth that I wasn’t sure was possible. And I’m talking about playing repertoire that is very demanding that I honestly came in wondering, “Is this even possible for me?” And now I know, yes, this is absolutely possible. Working with Nathan has been completely transformative.”

Chrystal Smothers

In the Daily Virtuoso, we do things differently…

We use the greatest repertoire as the vehicle for building your technical foundation — it’s functional fitness, on the violin.

The double-stops and chords in Bach: we’ll find the culprit behind your intonation inconsistencies and help you reorganize your left hand frame.

The passion and pyrotechnics in Tzigane: we'll break down every challenge into achievable steps, then learn how to put the pieces together, week by week.

The purity in Mozart's 3rd violin concerto: we'll see how to spin a long line and shape each note within seemingly simple phrases.

Those boring etudes: we'll see how they support the major repertoire, and how that direct connection totally changes your motivation to work through them.

No more choosing between technique and great music.

Here, you’ll improve your foundations as you learn the music you love.

And even better?

You’ll see surprise improvements popping up in your playing all over the place: your very next gig, rehearsal, lesson…even the big auditions and performances.

It’s impossible to predict how all of that growth will impact you.

You might feel ready and inspired to…

Schedule that solo recital
Make a recording of your playing
Audition for a bigger orchestra

And if you’re a teacher, you’ll discover you have new tools (and a growing excitement about your playing) to share with your students — to help them step onto a faster highway of violin progress.

Here’s Katie — a professional orchestral player — who rediscovered her desire to learn new repertoire through our work together:

“The most exciting thing for me? It’s not about the auditions that I’ve taken this year, and it’s not about how I improved my playing for that specific stuff. I have been challenged this year to learn new repertoire for the first time in maybe 20 years. And I’ve learned some Ysaÿe solo sonatas, I’ve learned some Paganini, and I have been practicing like crazy because I am so inspired by this course.”

Katie Chilmaid
Queensland Symphony Orchestra

Pricing options

Monthly: most flexible

$275/month, cancel any time

Join monthly

✓ New masterworks each quarter

✓ Virtuoso Vault fundamentals

✓ Weekly practice plans & videos

✓ Nathan’s marked parts

✓ Montlhy live workouts

✓ Monthly live hot seat sessions

✓ Quarterly special guest

✓ Practice Squads

✓ Discord community

Annual: best value

$3,000/year

Join Annual

✓ Everything in Monthly, PLUS:

✓ Priority for hot-seat spots

✓ Special topic classes (examples include Harmonic Analysis, Historic Performance, Body Mapping)

✓ Open repertoire masterclass

✓ Sight-reading class

✓ 14-day refund period

Quarterly: new option

$797 every three months, must make 4 payments

Join Quarterly

✓ All benefits of Annual

✓ Commit to four quarters

✓ 14-day refund period following first payment

I’m Nathan Cole, your violin guide

I’m Concertmaster of the Boston Symphony. After a degree from the Curtis Institute, I joined the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Now in my third decade with major orchestras, I’ve also been helping violinists online for 15 years, leading thousands of players through such events as the Violympics, Bach on the Road, the Spring Audition Intensive, and the Summer Bach Retreat.

It’s always bothered me to see players struggling to get through a door that could easily be unlocked with the right key. And as I’ve been blessed with knowledgeable, patient teachers who have given me the right keys over the years, I’ve always wanted to pass them on to others. Since 2001 — when natesviolin.com went live — I’ve been able to do just that, working with violinists I’ve never met in person!

For the last few years, my high-level Virtuoso Master Course has been the laboratory in which I’ve tested strategies and solutions with my most dedicated students. Summer programs, like the Violympics, have demonstrated the power of community paired with repertoire-based challenges. That’s why the Daily Virtuoso is the natural evolution of my teaching, bringing together the best of the VMC and the summer: year-round mentorship as part of a worldwide studio of dedicated violinists.

And as much fulfillment as I get from helping you, I’m taking the Daily Virtuoso journey for myself! By making a multi-year commitment to my growth as an artist, I’ll be in the best position to share only the best and most proven wisdom with you.

“We often make sports analogies in our field, but one cue that we musicians seem to have missed is the fact that sports professionals have coaches for the entirety of their careers. Nathan’s Virtuoso Master Course was my opportunity, at my age and stage, to try that on. And….it turns out that the athletes are on to something. An entire season spent in the midst of a such a brilliant violinist and pedagogue yielded countless fresh ideas for both my teaching and playing that have added up into something radically — and transformationally —better. This was a space to break through some limits that had long left me frustrated, as well as a space to stay immersed in the inspiration of Nathan’s uncanny acuity. In the bigger picture, my great takeaway is that this course inspired a deep reclamation of my love for violin playing and performing. What a gift!”

Rebecca McFaul
Fry Street Quartet, Utah State University

Here’s what you get in Daily Virtuoso:

Core curriculum

Weekly Video Assignments: $10,000 value

Nathan takes you through each piece over a 12-week period. There’s a rhythm and arc to the learning experience, from learning the first notes of the piece to bringing the piece to performance. You can watch and re-watch anytime you want to revisit the repertoire, as long as you’re a current DV member. We now have twelve major pieces in the library, with three additional works added each quarter.

Practice Plans: $4,000 value

Detailed plans linking important concepts and tools to the content in Nathan’s weekly videos. No spinning your wheels for how to approach your practice time. You’ll have the distilled insights and strategies in front of you so that you can easily create your daily practice plan. Downloadable and electronic versions available.

Virtuoso Vault: $25,000 value

An ever-growing collection of videos on topics ranging from the smallest building blocks (vibrato, thirds, hand frame) to the practice strategies that will get you unstuck… The Vault will truly revolutionize the way you practice AND perform.

Nathan’s marked parts: $1,000 value

Not only are you getting Nathan’s fingerings and bowings (saving you time, effort, and the agony of having to change your mind later), you’re getting a glimpse into his thought process. Accelerate your progress, trusting that these major decisions have already been made by someone with vast experience who has already tested out all the possibilities, picking the best ones.

Live sessions

Workouts: $12,000 value

Over the course of the year, you’ll get to experience 12 technique-focused sessions with Nathan where he leads you through a one-hour technique-focused class. Like all DV material, you can revisit these whenever you need a reminder about how to structure your time, bounce your bow, practice fast passagework, or any number of other topics.

Hot Seat Studio Classes: $12,000 value

90-minute monthly sessions in which Nathan answers your burning questions: Why doesn’t this fingering work for me? How can I practice to get a good spiccato? What makes my vibrato sound “off?”

This is YOUR time to connect 1:1 with Nathan, and since he doesn’t teach privately anymore, it’s an exclusive opportunity.

Practice Squads: $6,000 value

Four practice squad meetings each month, led by some of Nathan’s long-standing students who have a deep knowledge of his methods, along with their own decades of experience. These sessions are great opportunities to connect with your colleagues, get real-time practice support and accountability, and be motivated by the progress of your peers. Come to get your questions answered and stay for the amazing community and conversations. Plus, Nathan is known to make surprise visits to practice squads where he will also provide insights and real-time coaching.

Guest Artist Sessions: $4,000 value

Every quarter, join a conversation between Nathan and one of the living legends of the violin. These sessions are focused on the repertoire of the quarter, so you’ll get to see your violin idols demonstrate the music you’re working on, and gain insights into their approach. You can submit questions in advance and participate in real-time. Previous guests include Augustin Hadelich, Simon Fischer, Ida Kavafian, and Kerson Leong.

Community

Discord Community: $1,000 value

Connect with your violin and viola colleagues throughout the week to share progress updates, questions, and wins. It’s a friendly community of supportive musicians who are all on the path of growth.

Annual member bonuses: $5,000 value

These perks are reserved for our annual members:

Special Topic Tracks

Each quarter Nathan brings in a guest expert to teach a handful of sessions on specialty topics that are relevant either to the repertoire or to the general interests and goals of the Daily Virtuoso community.

For October-December 2024, Daily Virtuoso will feature two special topic tracks:

Harmonic analysis with Joseph Sowa

Learn the ins and outs of Bach, Mozart, and Ravel, so that you can make this music your own.

Historical Performance with Laura Corolla

Develop your own, historically-informed approach to Bach with the help of a dedicated baroque-violin performer.

Plus, don’t miss these Annual Member perks later in 2024:

Open Repertoire Masterclass

While Daily Virtuoso live sessions (including masterclass opportunities) are closely focused on the quarterly repertoire, Nathan will teach an additional masterclass focused on any repertoire you like! Only annual members will be invited to apply for these select spots.

Sight Reading Masterclass

Want to fast-track your ability to access new pieces? Nathan’s never-before-taught sight reading masterclass will reveal his secrets for reading and absorbing new music quickly.

FAQs

Why is Nathan leading Daily Virtuoso instead of teaching lessons?

For many years, Nathan has had a passion for helping as many people as possible around the world to solve their violin challenges and reach new levels of coordination, facility, and ease on the instrument. Nathan has taught for decades in a variety of formats – both virtual and in person – and has been longing to spend more time focused on the repertoire he loves most, while using that great music to help students open all kinds of new possibilities in their playing. As Nathan’s children have gotten older, he’s been looking for ways to share his teaching in the most impactful way while still having the time to devote to his family. Hence, Daily Virtuoso! It’s designed to let you focus on what matters most in your violin life.

What type of violinist is this for?

While learners of all levels are welcome, Daily Virtuoso is designed for intermediate, advanced and professional-level players who already have a commitment to daily practice. Daily Virtuoso focuses on great works from the violin repertoire that require a familiarity with all standard (and some more specialized) techniques on the violin, and is most useful to players who are comfortable with all core elements of violin or viola technique.

What if I'm not advanced enough to play the repertoire?

Throughout the assignments, Nathan will offer suggestions on how to scale down the workflow so that you can meet the program where you are. You can choose to focus only on certain elements of each quarter’s curriculum, or you can opt to do the most you can with all of the ideas presented. You get to keep the lessons and videos for as long as you maintain your Daily Virtuoso membership, so you can come back to the pieces again and again – you might surprise yourself with how quickly you’re able to improve!

Can I really make great progress studying violin online?

While learning online is not for everyone, many students have relied on online learning as their primary source of instruction. The majority of Nathan’s teaching over the last 10+ years has been online. If you are uncomfortable with Zoom, navigating the internet, or researching and implementing solutions to your tech challenges, or if you know that the best way for you to learn is by having a teacher standing in the same room with you, then Daily Virtuoso is probably not for you.

What are the program dates?

Daily Virtuoso runs on an ongoing basis, with quarterly repertoire arcs. The kickoff session for the second quarter of 2024 is on April 1st.

What's the format for Daily Virtuoso?

Daily Virtuoso is an entirely online experience. The course material includes pre-recorded videos and PDF downloads that are accessible through the natesviolin.com website. There are also live sessions that take place on Zoom and a community forum on Discord.

What do I need in order to participate?

If you’ve taken any online course before, most likely you have everything you need already. If you are new to the online format, here’s what you will need: A strong internet connection; familiarity with using the internet (accessing a web browser, checking email, logging into websites with a username and password); basic familiarity with Zoom (joining a meeting and connecting your computer audio); the ability to Google things – looking up solutions to your tech challenges first before asking for help. If that level of technology usage feels out of reach for you, then Daily Virtuoso may not be the right fit.

What's the schedule for the live sessions?

Each quarter’s meeting schedule is decided in advance and published on the Daily Virtuoso course page, as well as in the participant handbook. Live calls are scheduled according to Nathan’s availability, but we do try to vary the days and times to accommodate a variety of time zones.

How long do I have access to the course material?

As long as you are a member of Daily Virtuoso, you have access to new and archived course materials, replay recordings of Practice Squads and live sessions, and everything in our growing Virtuoso Vault.

What if I don't want to learn the repertoire Nathan chooses?

We encourage you to approach the repertoire with an open mind, or “growth mindset.” The tools and techniques presented each week can translate to any music you might want to learn. You might even find yourself enjoying the work after giving it a try for a few months. Will you be going over audition strategies? The Daily Virtuoso is not focused on audition repertoire. Nathan, being an auditioning orchestral leader himself, may bring in some concepts from his experience on both sides of the audition screen, but the musical selections will come from the masterworks of the solo violin literature. That said, you can apply Nathan’s approach to any music you’d like to learn, be it chamber music, audition repertoire, or that folder of orchestral music you need to have ready for rehearsal next week!

What are Practice Squads and how do they work?

The primary purpose of Practice Squads is to build community. This is a designated time to come together and connect about your Daily Virtuoso experience in a facilitated small group setting. The Practice Squad coaches are all alumni of the VMC program who have worked closely with Nathan for many years and are very familiar with his teaching style. We currently have four practice squad coaches, and each coach’s squad meets once a month. You are welcome to attend as many of the different coaching squads as you would like to! The Practice Squad coaches are all professional musicians who have studied extensively with Nathan and have a deep understanding of his approach, as well as their own decades of experience. As an added bonus, Nathan drops in on at least one practice squad a month! These surprise visits are opportunities for you to connect and work with Nathan in a more intimate setting. Practice Squads, like all Daily Virtuoso content, are recorded.

What if I fall behind?

We all get behind from time to time, so you’ll be in good company. We recommend that when you fall behind, you simply pick up wherever you are and keep going. You have access to the lessons and videos for as long as you maintain your Daily Virtuoso membership, so anything you missed this time around, you can pick up the next time! Nathan’s rule of thumb here: if the workload is too intense, reduce it. You can choose to work on less repertoire now and come back to this quarter’s materials when you have more time. Even if you’re right in step with the pace of Nathan’s curriculum, you’ll likely gain more and more insights the more you return to the repertoire.

I have a full-time job… can I do this?

Most Daily Virtuosi (including Nathan!) have very busy professional and personal lives, yet they share a dedication to making time for the violin in whatever way fits their schedule. While we love seeing participants join the live sessions, everything is recorded and organized to fit around any schedule.

What time commitment do I need to make?

Each week, Nathan releases approximately one hour of video content on the current quarter’s repertoire. There are two live calls with Nathan each month: a workout session digging into various techniques and topics relevant to the curriculum, and a Hot Seat Studio Class, in which participants get to ask for feedback from Nathan. Nathan also recommends spending one hour a day practicing for every piece you choose to work on if your goal is to fully learn the piece from scratch. It’s an entirely personal decision as far as how much to take on. Whether it’s all three pieces from front to back or a few phrases from one particular bucketlist piece, the key to Daily Virtuoso is the “daily” aspect – finding some version of consistency that makes sense for your life.

What if I can't make it to all the live sessions?

Not to worry, everything is recorded!

Can I just take private lessons with Nathan instead?

Nathan does not teach privately. The only way to work with Nathan currently is through the Daily Virtuoso.

How much does Daily Virtuoso cost?

The cost for annual members is $3,000. The cost for monthly members is $275/month. You can cancel anytime on the monthly plan.

How do I know this is a good decision for me financially?

Considering that a year of weekly private lessons with an experienced teacher in the US would cost at least $5,000, Daily Virtuoso offers an enormous amount of value for the cost. Not only do you get many more hours of instruction (via pre-recorded videos) than you would get in private lessons, ranging from in-depth repertoire lessons to a wide range of technical and mindset fundamentals, Daily Virtuoso offers robust community features that will keep you motivated and inspired.

Will DV help me get better performance opportunities?

If what you need in order to get better career performances is greater stability, reliability, and confidence in your playing, then this program will deliver on that – as long as you put in the consistent effort. Daily Virtuoso will provide you with exposure to all the tools and techniques you need to succeed as a violinist, as well as the mindset to incorporate them in a lasting way. However, the Daily Virtuoso can not practice for you! You’ll need to engage with the content in a meaningful way to reap its rewards.

Are there refunds?

Annual members can request a refund within the first 14 days of each yearly billing cycle. Monthly members are not eligible for refunds upon cancellation. Should you decide that the Daily Virtuoso is not for you, you may cancel your membership at any time through the Account Page in the course website. Simply click “My Account,” then select “Subscriptions.” That’s where you can deactivate your subscription. Please note, once you have canceled your subscription, you lose access to all course materials.

What if now is not the right time?

Daily Virtuoso is open for enrollment every quarter. If you can’t join us this time, we hope to see you in the future!

Do you offer scholarships?

We are not currently offering scholarships for Daily Virtuoso, but the program is open for enrollment every quarter. Should your budget change, we hope you’ll join us then!

Your complete toolkit

As I promised, by studying some epic violin pieces, we will leave no stone unturned when it comes to every dimension of violin technique. You can bet that I’ll be teaching:

Scales
Double-Stops
Bow Variables (sounding point, speed, pressure)
Detaché
Colle
Martelé
Spiccato
Vibrato
Shifting

…and so much more.

The moment you sign in, you’ll immediately get access to my “Virtuoso Vault” of videos covering these core technical elements.

Plus, I’ll introduce you to my “Daily 5” that will level up your practice session in a matter of minutes.

Through my weekly practice plans, you’ll become fluent with the ingredients of a bulletproof practice session, and you’ll learn how to build your own daily routine in no time.

Plus, did I mention…

…that by joining the Daily Virtuoso, you are entering the greatest online violin community that exists?

My programs are known for their exceptional communities that are all about friendship, collaboration, and mutual support. You’ll be inspired by having so many colleagues who are dedicated to getting better at the violin — and having fun while doing it!

My current Daily Virtuoso members are already having great results:

Let’s get going!

Join today Click for pricing

A year of Masterworks

You’re probably wondering, “What pieces will we learn in our first year?”

I’m glad you asked: the 2024-25 repertoire will include:

Bach, Partita in d minor
Mozart, Concerto No. 3 in G
Ravel, Tzigane
Barber, Violin Concerto
Beethoven, “Spring” Sonata
Sarasate, Zigeunerweisen
Bach, Sonata No. 3 in C Major
Bazzini, Dance of the Goblins
Vitali, Chaconne
Prokofiev, Violin Concerto No. 2
Brahms, Sonata No. 1 in G
(Arr. Hadelich) Por Una Cabeza

Of course, you’re not under any obligation to learn all of these in your first year. You’re free to pick and choose… Remember, the lessons and practice plans are yours as long as you’re a Daily Virtuoso!

“Since working with Nathan, my left hand has totally transformed! It’s so exciting to feel that my pinky is more curved and my finger action is so much more agile. And I’m really excited about shifts – the whole substitution shift was a total revelation to me! It’s so cool to be able to feel excited about that kind of stuff.

The first time the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra went back to the stage, I noticed that the excitement was inviting me to just do the same old thing: overwork and overplay. Instead, I was just letting the tools do the work. I thought, ‘Huh, this is actually sort of easy. I can trust myself to just play the notes and play them well.’ And I wasn’t exhausted anymore.”

Rachel Moody
Auckland Philharmonia