Your teaching is excellent and your methods are a great fit for Ian's learning style. Thanks very much--he gets a lot out of his lessons. - KB, parent
I think it's just a matter of time before she will start to open up to you. You 're really good with her. I can see why you are so highly recommended. - MN, parent
(We) are thrilled to see how much the boys have enjoyed their time with you. Thank you for your talents and the way you guide them to discover. - AG, parent
Thank you so much for your music lessons, wealth of knowledge and general kindness. You are a wonderful part of our family life. - MO, parent
Thank you for all you do to bring music and joy to our family. - KB, parent
Thanks for your steadfast encouragement and patience. - AK, parent
I am hopeful that the music will serve as a life skill that he can use as a social bridge for making friends and connecting with others, as well as a toll for his own emotional self-regulation.
AK, parent
She has been very lucky to have had you as a teacher and mentor. - CB, parent
The recital was very fine! Meant to write you to thank you for your obviously great teaching and for the sweet attitude of every one of your students and their families. Love that UNC participates through this annual recital! - J. J. of UNC Hospitals
I am so thankful that they have your soothing, encouraging, having-fun-making-music influence in their lives right now. - A.G., parent
I just wanted to tell you THANK YOU for everything! I really feel that I now have a much better understanding of music that I will have with me forever. You are a great teacher and I really enjoyed being your student! - I.B., student
You two really connect well with one another. You are very patient with him and I appreciate your fun and kind way of keeping him on task. He likes you a lot. - P.K., parent
He really enjoys his lessons with you. You have helped him grow immensely as a musician, as well as being such a positive influence on him as a person. - B.T. parent
You are very talented, lucky to learn from you! - G.C. student
Thank you for inspiring (him) so much!! You were really able to match his wants so well that he is really loving playing the guitar. Every morning he is down here working on stuff and yesterday started learning Holiday by Greenday - I think you have done such a fabulous job of giving him instruction in the places he is most passionate about. It has been fun to watch him blossom in this way. Thanks Gabe!! Truly we give you credit for opening (him) in this way!!!
- M.V. parent
I'm really proud of her too. Usually, she's had enough by now and wants to move on to something else. Learning to play the violin has boosted her self-esteem!!
Thank you for your patience. - M.N. parent
We have been so thankful for our connection with you this semester. We really love going to your place and playing and having fun playing!! - A.G. parent and students
Dear Gabriel, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your superb teaching and positive influence on our family! - D. and J., students
Thank you very much for your excellent teaching (W. African Kora Music for Violin) and bringing a special and wonderful time to all the students. - Chapel Hill/Durham Suzuki Workshop
Thanks so much for opening new doors to this old violinist and aspiring fiddler. Your encouragement and inspiration will make the Brasstown experience that much more fun.
D.H. student
Your inspiration and teaching is beautiful to see - you are changing the world in important ways.
C. B. parent
Yet again, I'm amazed at how effective you are with him, striking the perfect balance between following the child and teaching him something new at the same time. - P. K. parent
I am proud to say that I made the Eastern Regional Orchestra! I am a second violin in the second orchestra, but I am so excited. Thank YOU so so much for all your help - I truly could not have done it without you. - E.W. student
Music is so important to our family and you have been a huge factor in his love and joy with music. - T. W. parent
You are brilliant. Raffi has nothing on you! - A. M. L summer camp director
Thanks you for your friendship as well as being a teacher to my girls. - S. S. parent
Thank you so much for these last 10 years of lessons and mentorship! I am beyond grateful for all the opportunities you have given me. Thanks for helping me grow as a violinist and as a person. - L. B. student
Thank you for being a wonderful inspirational mentor for my son this past decade. Your patience and constant encouragement has meant a lot to our family. His joy in music has only grown and this is in large part due to your style of teaching and developing. - T. W. parent
I don’t know if we will keep up our lessons, we probably will. Either way, you’re an amazing teacher. Thank you so much. - J. O. student
Thanks!! He loves his lessons with you. It’s really helped him get through the social and emotional shifts of this (Covid) season. Thank you! - M. G. Parent
I’ll really miss taking lessons with you. Thank you for being such a big part of my life for the past decade or so!! - E. W. -student
Thank you. That (Zoom recital) was lovely. We really appreciate that you are bringing your students together. - R. B. -parent
Thanks so much for the online lessons and new songs. She is really enjoying learning them!
K. M. -parent
Thank you fro the all of your great work online with my daughter. She is doing really well and always looks forward to her lessons, although it may be hard for you to discern that. We are so happy with her progress.
P. R. -parent
I love listening to her lesson. You're so patient w/her--thanks for all you do.
-M. J. -parent
Thanks for all your patience and guidance with G. She is really enjoying her lessons with you.
-D. G. -parent
She loves the lessons!!! And that you like the same music. And thank you for continuing to bring her musical joy....
-S. P. -parent
Her lessons with you were the best therapy ever........ “violin whisperer”.......
R. P. -parent
Lessons with you were the saving grace of my semester at school.
-A. P. -student
I can’t thank you enough for your patience and kindness with her. It’s lovely to see her exploring her musical creativity.
-J. B. -parent
Just stopping and seeing you and fooling around with my violin completely shut down my stress and bad mood. Without that break I might have been just so exhausted. But I shut it off for an hour to just visit you and my violin and it got me through the long day.
-M. O. -student
Even over facetime, it's still a wonderful part of her day. She looks forward to it and is smiley after. All of our days are definitely better with music!
-J. B. -parent
It was really lovely to meet you and I thoroughly enjoyed the lesson! You play beautifully; I felt very inspired to know that one day I will play like that too :)
T. D. -student
Thanks for a good year, even during covid. Also, thanks for the kind words about the kids.
A.C. -parent
Thank you for the lesson yesterday! It's really nice to see S. has come so far with his playing and he is so happy and motivated to learn and perform. Your lessons during the past pandemic year helped to give I and S a bit of normalcy and kept their moods up during a challenging time.
K.B. -parent
Also wanted to say thanks for all the support and guidance you have given L. over the last 8 or 9 years : ) It really means a lot to all of us, most of all him. You’re a GREAT teacher, but more importantly, a really good guy. We miss you, but look forward to seeing you play sometime soon.
M.P. -parent
You have been a wonderful teacher and I’m so glad to have the chance for one more lesson with you! Learning how to fiddle has been such a highlight of the summer, and I’m determined to keep it up come fall.
L.R. -student
She loves doing the lessons with you but she would like to explore other instruments. Violin might not be the thing she is passionate about but she is definitely passionate about music and your lessons this year opened up many doors and connected musical bridges for her.
D. G. - parent
Thank you for so much joy you bring to my life. It's truly one of the best parts of my life.
M. O. -student
I have had so much fun playing with you and learning from you. I am so grateful to you! I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
A. P. -student
Thank you so much Gabriel! I had so much fun at the concert! I can’t wait to have our lessons later in the summer!
E. C. -student
Thank you for continuing to offer these lessons-- they have been such an amazing experience for I and S. I am really grateful to be able to have this be a part of their childhoods. What lucky kids they are.
K. B. -parent
D. has been very enthusiastic about the help you are giving him in improving his technique and giving him a leg up in his school orchestra. He may not convey this himself, but we’ve had some very high-spirited drives home where he effuses about his lesson.
S, K. -parent
Not at all surprised that your students would get scholarships to Swannanoa;-)! You help bring out the best and steadily mold each student’s skills.
H. C. - student
M. has come a long way. We're grateful for your musical and teaching talents-- such a gift! I always want M. to play for her own enjoyment and to share freely with an audience; seems like that's progressing as her skills grow. The theater connection is really good for her.
J. D. -parent
Thank you for a great lesson and another year of amazing instruction, new insights into music and especially the history behind the music. I feel very fortunate to have a weekly spot on your schedule. It’s always a pleasure to grow musically and center in the process…always a highlight of my week;-) It’s cool to take from a local musician who is equally talented and passionate about both playing and teaching. Those two qualities don’t always go hand in hand.\
H.C. -student
You have no idea how important your instruction and mentorship has been to H. during his middle school/post-pandemic time of his life.
J. R. -Grandparent
You’re a fabulous teacher who brings out the best in each student, and makes them feel comfortable.
H. C. -student
Gabriel, I really appreciate how E. trusts you and is willing to be vulnerable artistically with you.
Thank you for you care.
J. B. -parent
I appreciate your patience as a teacher since you have to repeat yourself so often until it sinks in. It would probably help if I bring a notebook.
I absolutely love learning to play, I am not patient with myself but I will persevere.
Looking forward to continuing this journey, it has made my old age enjoyable.
P. B. -student
Thank you so much for arranging the concert for your students and encouraging H. to participate. It is clear that you meet your students where their interests lie and develop their skills from there.
Your lessons have been so important to H. in this post-pandemic haze that is so confusing especially to our children. Hopefully music helps connect and heal us all.
J. R. -Grandmother
Gabriel Pelli is an amazing teacher. I always love my Mando lessons with him. He’s amazingly patient, fun and knows lots about music history and genres.
D. C. Student
Gabriel is my instructor! My husband and I love him! We are 65+. Gabriel covers playing techniques, music theory, how to use amplification as well as teaching our instruments. He is in several bands, he practices what he teaches. Find him on YouTube! The Old Ceremony, the Onyx Club Boys, for example. I’ve seen him with young people as well. He is very approachable and easy-going. He loves what he does and you feel it when you’re in class with him.
I am getting no price cut for this endorsement! 😆 we enjoy him.
T. M. -Student
I have really enjoyed my lessons with you. You are an excellent teacher whom I would recommend to anyone.
J. B. -Student
Thank you very much for your kind words. S. really enjoys your lessons. He feels very inspired to play guitar and sing under your tutelage. And music is one of the things that brings him the most joy. Thank you for being such an attentive and sensitive teacher to S's aspirations.
G. C. -Parent
I really appreciate your feedback, A. really enjoys learning from you and it has sparked a new level of enjoyment and confidence in him.
R. K. -Parent
We wish to thank you 1,000 times over for being a patient teacher for T. I know he has appreciated learning to produce songs, compose songs (especially the one for his baby sister! We all LOVED that!) and play unique music from around the world.
You have been his favorite teacher to date!
D.M. -Parent
They all enjoyed playing at the recital, and you clearly enjoy them! Actually, more than just performing assigned pieces, they actually made music with you. You are generous with your gifts.
C. C. -Grandparent
Thanks again for putting together the recital! It was hard for A., but she came out saying that she would love to do it again. It was so good that she could conquer her fear! Thanks for being so encouraging to her.
A.O. -Parent
I just wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed these lessons and working with you. It has meant so much to me to be able to continue pursuing music, and that you can teach me all these songs I've wanted to play for so long; and different instruments.
Music has helped me manage my mental health, and I'm not sure I would be as healthy as I am today without it. Plus I just love the feeling of being able to play things I thought I couldn't learn because of my ear challenges.
K. H. -Student
Gabriel is an excellent musician on multiple instruments, including violin guitar and vocals. He’s also a very patient and kind teacher. I’ve learned so much over the years studying with him. It’s always been effortless and natural in the process. He’s also a great human being. Highly recommend!
D.H. -Student
I will start by saying we drive 45 minutes one way to get to class. My husband is now coming with me and we spent two hours with Gabriel once a month. We have had music teachers before and they were just fine but, Gabriel is an exceptional person, musician and an exceptional teacher/coach. He is excited about music and teaching his craft. We discuss the profession, the business end of music and so much more. He is helping make a promo video, as well as explaining how to use equipment. And by the way, Gabriel has played his guitar for us a few times at the end of class, and it is absolutely inspiring! I would consider myself a beginner intermediate, and Gabriel allows me to see that I can advance. My husband feels the same way. I have seen Gabriel with all ages, I am 65 and my husband is 69. At the end of the year recital, he played an alongside students who weren’t so excited about playing. Musician, and an exceptional teacher/coach. He is excited about music and teaching his craft. We discussed the profession, the business end of music, he is helping, make a promo video, as well as explaining how to use equipment. And by the way, Gabriel has played his guitar for us a few times at the end of class and it is absolutely inspiring! I would consider myself a beginner intermediate, and Gabriel allows me to see that I can advance. My husband feels the same way. I have seen Gabriel with all ages, I am 65 and my husband is 69. At the end of the year recital, he played a alongside students who weren’t so excited about playing in front of people. He had those students completely relaxed. The whole affair was fun for all. We are absolutely thrilled that we are under his tutelage,. We have also had the opportunity to hear him play professionally. WHAT A TREAT!!
T. M. -Student
When looking for a teacher I found multiple violin instructors in my area, but friends told me about Gabriel Pelli. It takes me an hour to get to his studio, and it is well worth the ride. He is passionate about music and patient as a teacher. Every lesson is enjoyable, and I highly recommend him.
P.B. -Student