Play with a Pro offers live one-on-one tuition with a star-studded roster of elite orchestral musicians.

Play with a Pro is a new initiative, giving you the opportunity to have one-on-one live video lessons with famous musicians including Australian trumpeter Rosie Turner, saxophonist Timothy McAsllistar and cellist Morten Zeuthen.

“We’re empowering both learners of all levels and dedicated teachers with a platform that facilitates the most effective form of learning: one-on-one lessons – regardless of where you are located,” says Play with a Pro founder Adam Simonsen, who himself is a clarinettist, who has played with the Royal Danish Orchestra for the past 14 years. 

Simonsen’s eureka moment came as he realised a wealth of untapped musical knowledge within Europe’s elite orchestras. He subsequently produced 110 educational videos featuring renowned musicians such as Emmanuel Pahud and Ralph Kirshbaum sharing their knowledge. “Students can get so much information from new media, but we have to help them choose the right source,” says Pahud, principal flute with the Berlin Philharmonic.

“I know a lot of people have been trying to do something similar, but the professionalism of Play with a Pro, in terms of how it looks and sounds, is something I haven’t seen anywhere else.” Musicians from over 70 countries engaged with the videos, and as the site grew in popularity, many students expressed the need to have direct access to teachers. Now, Play with a Pro offers live video lessons with teachers from around the world, with many holding principal seats in prestigious orchestras such as the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and The Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

All that’s needed to learn from some of the greatest musicians in the world is an Internet connection, a computer and a quiet room. The site allows you to choose a teacher based on their background and approach to learning, and then to book lessons, which are recorded so students can access them again later. Most teachers offer free introductions and can teach in multiple languages, opening the way for a truly global musical education. The international rostrum of teachers currently includes Australian musicians, trumpeter Rosie Turner and oboist Rixon Thomas, alongside oboist François Leleux and more.

For more information and to book your first lesson with an international musician, visit Play with a Pro.

Get Limelight's free weekly round-up of music, arts and culture.