Clarkdale, GA Viola Lessons

ls. I believe talent is not a factor in learning. Mastering an instrument is the result of effective instruction and step by step guidance toward foundations and skills. I love to teach private lessons because I believe in spreading the word to make the great gift of playing music available to many. It is an inherited right and gift to enjoy a lifetime of personal satisfaction from playing a musical instrument. I love to help students build confidence and make progress. I help them problem solve by going through problems with them. I teach "how to think" and how to become a life long learner of the instrument. I love the challenge of finding ways to help students become successful at every step of the way. I am excited and enthused to be apart of student progress. I am influenced by many 20th Century performers including Van Cliburn, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing, Erroll Garner, Yudi Menuhin, Issac Stern, Dave Brubeck, and Horowitz among others. I am passionate in my teaching about providing an effective solution to my student's needs. I am pleased to announce my teaching has awarded a cello student a spot at Del Sol music high school for the 2017-2018 school year. this student of mine passed an audition January of 2017 as a result of my teaching. The student worked very hard and followed my instruction very well. Congratulations!! I am also pleased to announce two of my cello students have both passed auditions to play in the Las Vegas Youth Orchestra starting in September 2017 and September 2018. They both auditioned during May 2017 and May 2018. Congratulations to both of you!!! I also had a violin student who passed auditions for LVA (Las Vegas Academy) a couple of years ago. I have no connection to these organizations. These students all worked hard and followed my instruction. I can help you learn as well. Recently with the development of "octave" strings, if you have been split between learning violin, viola, or cello; these strings installed on a violin or viola make the instrument sound like a cello. It is really something. They are tuned an octave below, so they sound very low. A lot of cello music will have to be transcribed for owners of these instruments installed with "octave" strings. Videos can be found on YOU TUBE of these instruments played. They are ordinary violins or violas strung up with thicker strings to sound an octave below.

I am a professional educator who works with both children and adults, and has the patience to help them. I am a performer who has over 30 years of public experience in solo playing as well as ensemble work. I have performed at Nordstrom for nine years, and performed at many private functions. I have performed classical as well as jazz music as part as my performance experience. I have taught private lessons for well over 17 years. I'm sorry, as of Summer 2016 I do not travel to student locations. I teach at my studio as well as online. If you are among the many parents who home-school your children, you should consider music lessons for them. There are many benefits of home-schooling, but unfortunately students miss out on specials. Practicing an instrument can make up for that and also teach critical learning habits and personal skills toward learning in general.

*** Lesson Details ***
I believe in personalizing your approach to the strangeness of the instrument. You need to learn much about posture, and proper tone production within the first year. Method books are not "how to" books. You need a teacher to guide you toward becoming familiar with the instrument. You also need to learn how to listen to the sounds you make as you play. To develop "musical independence" you need to become musically literate, develop tone production skills, and internalize a steady beat. Rhythm and tone are basic concepts that must be mastered to maximize pleasure in playing your instrument. Learning how to problem solve is another skill I teach so you can help yourself toward progress.
I believe in using the instrument in daily activities such as playing "Happy Birthday" at family get together. Christmas Songs or Hanukkah Songs can bring much joy during December family parties.
A musician in the house brings much joy during holidays and celebrations; and the families are brought closer together. Memories are created and last forever. Playing an instrument is exciting and expresses what can not be said using words. I believe in teaching students based on their strengths, and building upon them. I am excited to help you learn!!

I only teach in my own studio and online. I do not travel anymore.

You can advance quickly if you are taught to listen to yourself and follow my instruction. I will guide you every step of the way to understand how music making works. Music lessons are fun and enjoyable. I am pleased to guide you through your learning every step of the way. My students in Las Vegas have had much success with my teaching and guidance. I will succeed where others fail. You will reap the benefits of my professional instruction. I bring a wealth of teaching experience, teacher training, and professional playing experience to every lesson. Most music store studio instructors have very little or no teacher training. Playing experience does not make one a helpful teacher. Failure to learn "how to" teach along with not earning any teaching credentials will not make a satisfying music instructor.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Grand Piano 5'1', Digital Piano 88 Keys, Violin, Viola, Bass Guitars ( 5 String Fretless), electric guitar (Fender), Upright Bass 3/4 Size French/German Bows.

*** Specialties ***
Suzuki for string instruments. Thompson, Schaum for piano. Blues, Jazz and " Real Book " for jazz piano as well as Frank Mantooth books for chords. I also create materials to suit individual student needs. Classical Piano Volumes.

ic in addition to the mechanics of playing a string instrument. My ultimate goal is to help each student become their own teacher!

***Special Needs***
I am more than happy to explore ways in which students with special needs can engage music through listening, reading, writing, singing and even playing an instrument...let's talk!!

erhaps you are someone interested in pursuing an ability to play a certain style - pop, jazz, hymns, oldies, classics, or certain artists. I customize our lessons to match your objectives.
My students have an opportunity to perform publicly several times a year which encourages practice and also builds confidence. After a few lessons, I can provide an idea of where a student will be in 3-6 months. You can always expect to find me prepared with fun ideas for our lesson. I have a grand piano as well as several keyboards to add variety and fun to our lessons.

*** Studio Equipment ***
home-grand piano in living room seating for parents
church- digital piano and seating for parents

*** Travel Equipment ***
I would bring my own violin to demonstrate but would expect students to have their own instrument.

*** Specialties ***
For piano, I use Faber & Faber, Alfred, Bastien and Music for Little Mozarts. I include sight reading books, rhythm workbooks, improv studies, and later scales and arpeggios. For violin I have created my own hybrid using traditional methods and Suzuki.

are unique for three main reasons:

1. I have a very deep understanding of music, sound, and theory, and feel music to be one of my native languages.

2. I have devoted considerable amounts of time and energy studying neuroscience, which has greatly improved my understanding of the learning process.

3. I have been blessed with the tremendous amount of patience necessary to guide a student through the necessary steps it takes to learn at whatever pace is optimal, in order to maximize the efficiency of the learning process for each individual.

*** Equipment ***
Students must have their own instrument, and purchase their own materials (books, etc). From time to time I make my way to a local music shop, and am happy to purchase materials for reimbursement.

*** Specialties ***
Classical music is my background, and what I believe to be the most cognitively and emotionally fulfilling style of music to study and play. That said, I'm also a big fan of pop music (as well as other genres), and encourage students to enjoy learning their favorite songs from the radio.

My understanding of music theory is extremely thorough, and I'm happy to incorporate as much or as little of it as the student's interest dictates, nevertheless maintaining the minimal amount of theory necessary to get the most out of learning music and the instrument.

Thanks for checking out my profile! Please contact me with any additional questions you may have, as well as to inquire about day/time availability. I'll do my best to get back to you right away (usually within a few hours).

esult, I have seen teachers hold viola students back, simply because they play the "lesser" instrument in the viola family. I do not hold my students back and I hold them all to the same high level of playing, regardless of which instrument they play.

es including the Luther College Symphony Orchestra, the University of South Dakota Symphony, the Kent State University Orchestra and the University of Akron Symphony Orchestra. Dedicated to performing chamber music, he currently plays with and is the manager of the Cuyahoga String Quartet. Additionally, he has founded several ensembles including the Enigma String Quartet, the Rosen String Quartet, and several piano trios.

Andrew earned a MM in Chamber Music and Violin Performance from Kent State University where he studied with Cathy Meng Robinson (Miami String Quartet) and Jung-Min Amy Lee (Associate Concertmaster with The Cleveland Orchestra). He studied chamber music with members of the Miami String Quartet and the Verve Chamber Players. Prior to Kent, he earned a MM in Violin Performance from the University of South Dakota studying violin with Dr. Eunho Kim and chamber music with members of the Rawlins Piano Trio. He earned his BA in Music from Luther College where he studied with Drs. Virginia Strauss and Jubal Fulks. Additional studies were undertaken with Frederick Halgedahl, Dan Auberbach and Maria Peters.