JVLMA teachers not only cultivate playing techniques for young musicians in string instrument performance, but also lay the foundations for performing with a string quartet and a symphony orchestra. The department's team of lecturers is composed of high-class professionals, leading Latvian educators and concert masters of symphony orchestras.
Students of string instrument performances are offered a variety of concert practices, by performing in concerts and representing JVLMA at events in Latvia and beyond. A number of opportunities for master classes with various internationally recognised musicians are available for professional growth: participation in the Gidon Kremer-led chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica, and various international youth orchestra projects – Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, European Union Youth Orchestra, Orkester Norden, Nordic Orchestra and the Baltic Youth Philarmonic. Many of the department's graduates continue to work beyond Latvia's borders and work in symphony orchestras in Finland, Germany, Norway and other countries.
The head of the Department of String Instruments is Teresa Zīberte-Ijaba. Among the graduates are Latvia's leading string instrument musicians, whose performances have received international accolades many times. Musicians whose educational path has passed through JVLMA are to be found in large numbers in the string instrument groups of Latvian symphony orchestras.
The Department of String Instruments prides itself on its traditions. Among its educators and alumni, there are numerous recognised string performance masters whose skills have been recognised internationally.
Upon successful graduation of a Bachelor’s study programme "Music and Performing Arts" a Professional Bachelor's degree in Music is conferred upon a student, together with the sixth level professional qualification.
The integral curriculum of the Bachelor's studies, which in addition to academic and professional training courses also include the courses required for teaching, provides all graduates the corresponding pedagogical qualification (teacher of piano playing, violin playing, choral conducting, music theory, dance, etc.). Considering the requirements of
today's labour market, a number of study programmes allow students the option to obtain the right to work in a music school as a teacher of a different subject (to teach piano playing, music theory, a related wind instrument, etc.) as an elective course.
Upon completion of a Professional Master's degree programme a graduate is granted a Professional Master's degree in Music or Choreography. Upon successful graduation from the Academic Master's degree programme, a Master of Arts degree in Humanities is conferred.
At the end of academic doctorate studies, students receive a statement regarding the acquisition of a doctorate study programme and, after successfully defending the promotional work, obtains a doctoral diploma and a degree of Doctor of Arts (Dr. Art.).
