Lauri Hämäläinen is a teacher of violin, viola, and orchestral music at the Northwest Music Institute of Helsinki, Finland. He is playing viola in various orchestras and chamber music ensembles from duos to string quartets.

The first versions of the violin books and viola books started in 2016. The repertoire in the violin books had to be as motivating for the students as possible. Exercises in violin technique, short pieces, easy chamber music and concertinos got their place in the same music book. In 2018 ergonomic exercises was included in the Swedish versions of the books (1A and 1B).

All music can be practiced with the help of the Violin Friends baking tracks on Youtube.
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Violin Friends is a family of music books. The purpose is to share musical moments with friends. Students will get new friends with whom to play chamber music and musical friends (characters) from the music books. 

The family of Violin Friends gives the string teachers an easy way to teach their students in a colorful, chamber music orientated way. The books combine classical repertoire and technical exercises in a pedagogical way.

The author Lauri Hämäläinen is an active member in the Finnish string Teachers Association (SJO), The Finnish Viola Society (SAS) and The European string Teachers Union (ESTA).