Hi, we’re Allie and Joe!
We started Hilltop Music Lessons to connect with our Pittsburgh community and make the world a little more musical, one student at a time. We teach all ages and skill levels from the comfort of our home studio in the Southside Slopes neighborhood.
Allie Lovee
piano, guitar, composition, songwriting, music theory
“I care about the whole student and meet them wherever they are in their musical journey. I believe music should be a joyful experience, and that the skills learned in music lessons should be applicable in many aspects of life. Together let’s help your musical garden bloom!”
Education and philosophy
Allie has honed her teaching style since 2018, taking inspiration from the kind, open-minded, and dedicated teachers in her life. Her degrees in composing and music theory allow her to explore all facets of music. She encourages a well-rounded education in all her students, and dives into topics like history, ear training, and musical philosophy.
Allie received two graduate degrees from the Peabody Institute in May 2022: Master of Music in Composition and Master of Music in Music Theory Pedagogy. She also taught sections of first-year theory and graduate ear training at Peabody.
Allie received her Bachelor’s degree in Composition at Southern Methodist University, where she was accepted to an exchange program at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and the International Music Festival of the Adriatic.
Musical projects
Allie Lovee has traveled the US and Europe premiering her large ensemble works, chamber music, solo works, and art songs. She incorporates her identity into her music and hopes to use her platform to spread positive change in the music world.
When not teaching, Allie writes and performs her own songs. Her first release, “rat funeral,” is available on all streaming platforms, and features Joseph on violin! Allie believes in literally practicing what she preaches, and aims to help her students acquire practical performing skills as well.
Other noteworthy works include “revel,” written for the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, her song cycle “Believe Me, Folks: Ten Songs for a Mad President,” her piece “Three Short Pieces for String Quartet,” which won her the International Music Festival of the Adriatic’s Duino Prize for composition, and her piece “till the water runs clear,” a collaboration with musicians from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as part of their online “Lunch Bachs” series.
Joseph Bates
violin, viola, cello, college prep
“I strive to incorporate both traditional teaching methods and the latest research on pedagogy and educational psychology in order to help you set and achieve your musical goals. I’ve been fortunate enough to learn from world class musicians and I want to make what I’ve learned accessible to as many people as possible.”
Goal-oriented teaching
Joseph believes there is no “one size fits all” method for learning a stringed instrument. He prioritizes tailoring his curriculum to the needs of each student. At the first lesson, we’ll put together a detailed plan which takes into account your musical goals (or those of your child) and maps out the most effective strategy for achieving them. Whether you want to play Beethoven, Benny Goodman, Bob Dylan or Beyoncé, we will chart a course to get you there!
Despite his love of the instrument, playing has not always been easy for Joseph. During his undergraduate degree, he dealt with severe tendinitis and carpal tunnel, as well as neck and back pain. In order to overcome this, he had to learn to play with as much ease and comfort as possible, and re-learn much of his technique. Because of this, Joseph strives to set his students on the path to easy, comfortable playing from day one.
Background
Joseph is currently completing his Master’s of Music in Violin Performance at Carnegie Mellon University, studying with Professor Callum Smart. He finished his Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance as a student of Dallas Symphony Co-Concertmaster Nathan Olson and former Concertmaster Emanuel Borok in 2020. While there he also studied viola under Barbara Sudweeks and conducting as a student of Dr. Jack Delaney.
In 2016 Joseph was selected by Carnegie Hall as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America which toured the US and Europe.