At Tidewater Strings, we provide high-quality music education for students of all ages and skill levels. Our experienced faculty consists of professional performing musicians with degrees in their instruments and years of teaching experience. Whether you're just starting your musical journey or looking to advance your skills, our personalized approach ensures each student receives the attention and guidance they need to succeed.
Don't have an instrument? We offer quality rental instruments for students. Need your instrument repaired or set up for lessons? Our in-house repair technician can get your instrument performance-ready so you can focus on learning and playing your best.
Violinists | Educators | Shop Owner
Mike Williams: Charleston-based violinist known for his groove-focused, improvisational style. With over 20 years of performance experience, Mike was among the first to bring Popular and Classic Rock into local violin sets.
He holds a Music Performance degree from the College of Charleston and has been teaching violin since 2007, inspiring students to find freedom through music.
Guitarist | Audio Engineer
With 25 years of performance experience and 15 years of teaching, Bryan offers beginner and intermediate guitar lessons to all ages. His approach is practical, encouraging, and rooted in real-world experience.
Bryan also serves as our in-house repair technician and brings both technical skill and a musician's ear to his teaching and repair work.
Pianist | Composer | Educator
Originally from Yerevan, Armenia, Arshak is an award-winning composer and pianist with deep classical training. He began piano at age seven and studied at the prestigious Komitas State Conservatory.
As a teacher, Arshak blends classical foundations with real-world creativity, helping students of all ages grow as musicians, composers, and performers.
Real reviews from our valued students and families
"I wish Google would let me give Tidewater Strings 10 stars! They have been absolutely wonderful this year! My daughter started playing the cello last September for her school and rather than splurging to buy one, we rented it from them. They were so nice, attentive and responsive to every need my daughter had with her instrument. For example, at one point her teacher said that she needed to take it in to have the bridge repaired. So I dropped it off that day, they repaired it overnight and she was good to go! And they didn't charge me a thing! We will definitely be using them again in the fall! Can't recommend them enough!"
"Great family owned local shop! We rented a viola for our daughter for school and she dropped it and broke it 😔. They were so nice about it and helped get a new one. I'm sure it would've cost me much more money at a chain rental place and I can't imagine how much easier they were to work with at Tidewater Strings! Definitely recommended if you need a rental instrument or lessons!"
"I have two boys who take violin lessons ages 9 and 5. Lauren Williams has been wonderful with the boys - very patient and positive and helpful communicating with me about their progress. I would highly recommend Tidewater Strings!"
"My son has taken lessons at Tidewater Strings for four years. He has taken violin lessons with both Lauren and Michael Williams and has taken saxophone lessons with Bob Williams. They are all patient and effective teachers who have really helped my son progress in both instruments as well as develop a love of playing. They are very encouraging, and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a music teacher."
"I have an instructor whose name is Bob who has been teaching me how to play guitar for about four months. He is a great instructor and has taught me alot. The staff is extremely nice and im so glad I stopped by to learn guitar."
Contact us today to schedule your first lesson or learn more about our programs. We offer flexible scheduling and personalized instruction to help you achieve your musical goals.