About Tiller Strings

Tiller Strings has been owned and operated since 2010 by Suzuki violin instructor, Megan Tiller. A long-time musician hailing from a wide variety of musical traditions, Megan provides an outlet where local musicians, strings students, and teachers can find high quality instruments, music, and accessories for purchase or rental. Megan understands the importance of reliable and experienced face-to-face networking, targeting the student/teacher market while remaining accessible to a diverse clientele.

Megan was born and raised in Salem, Virginia and found herself in Harrisonburg for school in 2003. She began working for EMU’s Prep Music Program shortly thereafter. Since then, she has called the Shenandoah Valley home. Adept at a variety of stringed instruments from a young age, sharing her love of music with students of all ages and experiences remains one of Megan’s greatest passions. Throughout her musical career she has developed a devoted group of students and local musical peers. One of Megan’s prized possessions and outlets for her art is her own violin which was hand-crafted by Arthur Conner, a luthier in Copper Hill, Virginia, close to where Megan was born. Having first-hand knowledge of the unique skill of this region, Megan strives to make Tiller Strings a venue that will help link others to the vast richness of Virginia’s musical culture and craft.

In addition to teaching private and group classes to students of all ages, Megan works closely with EMU and Harrisonburg administration to advocate for stringed instrument classes to be taught alongside traditional band programs in the Harrisonburg City Public Schools. Megan also has particular interest in old-time fiddle music, often teaching and attending fiddle workshops throughout the year. In 2015 she helped launch the first Red Wing Fiddle Workshop with The Steel Wheels and in 2017 became director of the expanded Red Wing Academy.

Megan studied stringed instrument and bow repair through the University of New Hampshire and with renowned luthiers, including Michael Anthony Daddona and Lynn Hannings.

She is actively involved in the local music scene and enjoys working in a variety of musical environments across the country, on staff at Bonnaroo, Red Wing Roots Music Festival, Pickathon, and Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival.

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