Lisa Toner began teaching her first group of private students six years ago and immediately realized that she'd found her calling. In 2008, she completed a Bachelor's in Violin Performance at Western Washington University, where she performed in the Scholarship String Quartet and won numerous scholarships and awards. Her interest in the processes of teaching and learning led her graduate school at the University of Washington, where she recently completed a Masters of Education with a specialization in Educational Psychology. In addition to graduate coursework, she did a three-year research study about how she developed the ability to help her violin students think about their learning and correct errors. For two seasons, she performed as the assistant concertmaster of the Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra.

Characterized by a deep understanding of violin pedagogy and the ability to understand and motivate each student, Lisa believes that solid technique and consistent practice are the gateways to musical expression. While maintaining very high standards, she is patient and caring towards her students as they learn to play with beautiful technique, intonation, and expression. Lisa has taken four Suzuki Teaching Training courses with the well-known pedagogue Cathy Lee. She is comfortable teaching very young beginners as well as advanced older students. She has also spent many hours observing the teaching of Margaret Pressley, a nationally respected traditional violin teacher. Lisa has been to the Marrowstone Music Festival, the Heifetz International Summer Music Institute, and was a participant at the 2009 Starling-DeLay Symposium of Violin Studies at Juilliard. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys racing bikes with her team and climbing mountains with her husband Jon.