My daughter learned to play viola in public school. She worked hard to grow her skill and worked her way up to a NYSSMA level 6 by 9th grade. Unfortunately, in 10th grade she had to stop playing due to medical issues. She felt a lot of anxiety about playing again after being out of practice for so long, and was frustrated with falling behind and afraid of being disappointed in herself. I didn't want her to lose the love for her instrument, but how could I help her? It was then that God sent us a blessing with Will's phone call. I had inquired about lessons years prior, but we were unable to coordinate our schedules. Will called to tell us he had added more openings locally and was wondering if we were still interested in lessons. After praying on how to keep Maya's interest and passion for music alive, Will became our answer. With his kind and patient manner, he was able to dispel Maya's intimidation and raise her confidence so she could re-engage her Viola. Will invested time into making Maya feel confident again by giving her positive reinforcement throughout every lesson and finding a pace that made her comfortable. Will is very aware of his students' emotional and physical needs and customizes each lesson accordingly. He always finds the perfect balance between student & teacher involvement in each lesson and is able to make my daughter feel at ease with healthy expectations and no unduly pressure. Will is always respectful and thus teaches respect to his students by being punctual, understanding, polite and always greeting students with a smile and dismissing them with a bow of appreciation, in true Suzuki manner. And speaking of Suzuki, Will is well trained and has extensive knowledge on the Suzuki method, teaching not only technique but also good form and posture to make sure students are playing comfortably and safely to reduce fatigue and avoid injury. He even writes down the takeaways learned at each lesson and shares a copy at the end of every lesson. Don't think twice about a lesson with Will, just sign up today! He will work with your schedule and is prompt with text messages. Will is a great teacher and can be a good role model for your child. If it weren't for Will, I do not know if Maya would have played Viola again. We will always be grateful to Will for being the gentle teacher at a critical moment in our daughter's development. What she's learned with Will are not just good technical skills, but also practical and wholesome counsel that she will draw from her whole life. Thank you for everything, Will. Rita and Maya read more

I've been playing cello on and off for over 50 years, but I hadn't taken lessons since high school. My cello teacher back in the day was pretty intimidating, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I decided that I wanted to take lessons again. Will Hayes had excellent reviews online, so I contacted him and set up a lesson. Wow, he is so good! He made me feel comfortable right from the beginning. He suggested that we play a duet, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself! He also helped me with a music piece I was having trouble with in my community orchestra. I went home with clear instructions on what work to do to improve the particular bowing problem I had. On top of a wonderful lesson, he gave me great advice on what strings to buy. When I had my second lesson, I accidentally dropped my cello and broke the neck. Yikes! He reacted very calmly while I was freaking out inside. He got right on the phone and called a luthier who was able to see me that day. But first I had my lesson, using his cello. Nothing ruffles him, and that's a sign of an experienced professional. I love that he's so flexible and adjusts for my individual learning needs. We are very lucky to have a teacher of his caliber in the area. I HIGHLY recommend him! read more

A dream of mine since I was young was to have live string music at my wedding. Fortunately, my Google search during wedding planning brought me to Will. Will played cello accompanied by a violinist and pianist for the ceremony and the cocktail hour. It was PERFECT. Will is so fun and easy-going, and really takes an interest in making sure your day is what you want it to be. The options were unlimited with his flexibility, he even learned to play 'Peaches' from the Mario Movie for us To entertain our guests during cocktail hour. Even when an unseen, unfortunate event required a last minute change of accompanying musicians, Will was able to contact his network and make the process of getting coverage seamless, all while keeping me updated. I couldn't be more pleased, and can't wait for another excuse to hire Will again! read more

I've been a lifelong musician and recently decided to add the cello to my repertoire. After being referred to Will by Shaker Violin, I can confidently say it was a fantastic decision. Will is not only patient and knowledgeable but also has a profound understanding of the cello. He presents different approaches to learning a new technique, which really helps solidify my understanding and makes the process easier. What I particularly appreciate is his approach to teaching; he takes detailed notes during our sessions and shares them with me, enhancing my learning and providing valuable references for practice. I wholeheartedly recommend Will for anyone seeking to learn the cello or other string instruments, regardless of age! read more

We hired Will for an event we hosted at Howe Caverns in NY in September 2023. Will showed on time, came with a smile and a great attitude, and played for us in the cave for more than 2 hours. HE WAS AMAZING!!! We had hundreds of people attend this event and everyone was raving about how well Will played, the songs he played, the requests he took, and the great interaction with all of our guests. Will was extremely professional and his Cello playing was top notch. We will be hiring him more again. In fact, we already booked him to come back and play for us in June for another event. We highly recommend Will! read more

Will has been a colleague of mine for about 20 years. I have played with him taught for him and had him teach for my students as well. He is also now taught my very young son. He's great with people of all ages especially little kids. He is a child at heart with a great sense of humor. He also expects his students to practice and fulfill assignments as well! Dedication and hard work is part of playing an instrument just as well as it is having fun and being expressive and tapping into your creativity. I would recommend Will without reservation. read more

"As we approach our first anniversary, we reminisce about our December wedding with fond memories of the incredible live music provided by Will Hayes. He not only put together an awesome group of musicians to play prelude music, he also performed cello duets with his daughter, Veronica Nettles Kolegas during our reception. Both performances were simply incredible and enjoyed by all of our guests. We are so thankful that Will guided our music choices; they were a welcome addition to our special day." - Michael & Catherine Lyon read more

Will is an exceptional 'cellist and will be a terrific asset to your special event. Will performed at my wedding & welcomed a traditional mixed with non-traditional repertoire. As a big U2 fan, I requested whether Will could perform a few U2 songs at the wedding - he undertook the task effortlessly which truly added a special touch to our wedding day! As a fellow 'cellist, I would highly recommend him not only for his talent but also for his personality - a true gem! read more

We found Will Hayes and his fellow string musicians through Funk Evolution, the band my daughter and her fiancee hired for their wedding. Their selections added so much to the prelude, ceremony and cocktail hour on a magical autumn afternoon in Manchester, VT. Our guests were wonderfully impressed with their musical talents. If you know anyone who is looking for a string quartet in the 518, I heartily recommend him. read more

Will Hayes has been a wonderful violin teacher for our son. Using the Suzuki method, he involves the whole family in deepening their understanding and love for music and for playing an instrument. His knowledge, talent, and experience playing and teaching are incredible and he makes the lessons fun! He has a very child centered and goal oriented approach. We are so happy with our time with Mr. Hayes read more

Will was an absolute pleasure to work with for our wedding! He was easy to communicate with, let us choose all of our ceremony music, and played everything beautifully. His music added so much to our day, and we received many compliments from our guests. He was also very reasonably priced. We highly recommend Will to any couple looking for a talented and professional wedding cellist! read more

My teen daughter has been taking violin lessons with Will Hayes this summer, and has been thoroughly enjoying it. She likes his fun style of teaching, his patience and enthusiasm. Will is very knowledgeable, has a wide range of experience and makes lessons easier to understand. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to improve their violin skills. read more

Mr. Hayes is a talented, compassionate instructor truly dedicated to his students' improvement as musicians. While I have not been a student of his for some time, he remains a steadfast supporter whose advice has helped me preserve music in my life. I highly recommend him as an instructor of the highest quality. read more

Will played his beautiful cello at my daughter's wedding ceremony. Elevated the entire experience! Will arrived before our guests so all were able to enjoy his music from the moment they arrived. It was very elegant! I highly recommend Will for his talent but also for his professionalism. A joy to work with! read more

Will was kind enough to perform a series of contemporary pieces that were4 recorded and used in a theater production. Will was professional and brought a lot of creative ideas to the table. He was extremely flexible, and was available to return and do some re-recording when we realized we'd missed something. read more

Will Hayes has been such an asset in helping my children learn music. my son plays cello and my daughter plays violin and they have come so far with his help. He has been so accommodating and his unique style puts everyone at ease and gets the whole family motivated and involved. He's worth every dime! read more

My daughter has been working with Will for a year now. Will is a great teacher. Knowledge is off the charts, but the best thing about Will is how comforting he is with my daughter. He keeps the lesson light and moving while pushing her forward in hermetically pursuits. I highly recommend him. read more

I've heard Will play at different events and he never disappoints! The sweet, warm sound of the cello brings so much emotion, beauty and class to special events. I've seen him play solo and in different configurations with others. Also, he plays classical and pop music. Simply amazing! read more

Will is among the most talented and popular teachers and wedding event performers. He is fully qualified to teach upright Bass, Viola. Violin as well as master level Cello. A consensus of my Shaker Violin Repair clients have confirmed this top rating consistently for several years. read more