
Theresa S.

Teaching Locations:

Teaching Locations:

Levels taught:
Beginner, Intermediate, AdvancedAbout Theresa S.
Theresa S. holds a Master of Music degree from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Science in Music (Performance) from Texas Woman's University. She graduated Magna Cum Laude, in 1997 and featured in the 1995-1997 editions of the National Dean's List, inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa, Gamma Beta Phi, and Mu Phi Epsilon organizations, serving as the Mu Chi Chapter President from 1998-99. She holds a valid certificate from the Texas Board for Educator Certification and an advanced license from the Hawai'i Teacher Standards Board. While attending SMU she was a Meadows Scholar. In 2000, she was accepted into the prestigious Musica Schola Cantorum program in Paris (an extension collaboration through Julliard). A multiple award winner and featured in Who's Who; she was trained classically while studying with Carlo Pezzimenti and Robert Guthrie. Theresa has extensive experience with MIDI implementation of modern rack gear and the use of effects, amplification and programming.
As a composer, she studied with Robert Frank, Mark Dal Porto and attended masterclasses with Donald Erb, Wynton Marsalis and Samuel Adler to name a few. Her compositions have been performed in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Florida. A commissioned composer, her Dualities for Clarinet, Brass Ensemble, Electronics and Percussion; Fantasia pour Cor; Feline Romp for solo clarinet; are works performed in the classical idiom. Plains of Lhasa and Tearing were composed in the electro-acoustic medium. She is a member of ASCAP, TMEA, TODA, ASTA, and self publishes. She has performed internationally and in addition to her professional schedule, taught music technology related courses and music theory at Collin College, Spring Creek Campus as well as applied cello studies at Brazosport College. Theresa was nominated for a Grammy in 2016 and 2017. In 2017, Theresa relocated her private teaching studio to Honolulu. She retired as the Head Music Director of the orchestra program at Brazosport High School and its feeder school system in 2017.
Theresa believes that there is no substitute for a "hands on" teacher that can aid in correcting bad posture, hand positions and technique to name but a few that online instructors will never catch or correct. Additionally having the student in front of you helps diagnose their deficiencies (Front and side perspectives) including issues with their instrument. This is why she does not offer online lessons for those that ask.
Reviews
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Look no further if your on Oahu. Theresa Strange is who you are looking for if you want to take your musicianship to the next level. A keen and thoughtful teacher, every lesson has been money well spent. 11/10 ⭐️

Theresa is a wonderful teacher. I am a beginning cello student but with 12 years of upright bass experience, and she tailors our lessons to match my classical knowledge and play style with the basics required transitioning to a new instrument. She has an incredible depth of knowledge and communicates it in a way that is easily understood and and applied, regardless of whether it's bow technique, musical phrasing, or historical in nature. It has made learning a new instrument a great joy - thanks, Theresa!

Can't wait to bang-out the drills

A Great lesson today. Mahalo.

Theresa is one of the most amazing teachers I ever had. I am an adult student, so I was a bit nervous about starting the cello; but Theresa is so laid back, it was easy to feel comfortable around her instantly.
Her knowledge about everything music is mind blowing, and together with her music philosophies, just puts me in total awe of her.
Her lessons are fun, she is encouraging and patient, and I am amazed at how much she has taught me in a relative short time. I am always looking forward to our lessons. I highly recommend her.

Teresa is an excellent music instructor. She teaches not only how to play guitar but also explains principles of guitar cords and music in general. I think this is very important to person like me who just started to play guitar.

Today was my daughter’s second lesson from Theresa.
My daughter loves to learn from her and she wants to come twice a week. Theresa is a very kind and detailed teacher. She is also humorous too. My daughter feels comfortable with her. I think she is a very nice teacher.

Ms. Strange was so helpful during my time working with her! She's patient, kind, has a wonderful sense of humor, but above all that: an outstanding cellist.

Mrs. Strange is the best teacher I have ever had. She is always well prepared going into every lesson. The lessons are clear, concise, and constructive. She does her best to adjust her teaching style to you for the best progress possible. Mrs. Strange gets to know you and cares for every student equally. She does not view you as another student because every student is important to her. You can go to her for any problems you are having with technique, tone quality, sound projection, or any other problem you may have as a student and she will work through the problems with you until you feel comfortable enough to move on to other troubles you are having. Every lesson with Mrs. Strange has a reason, you will never waste time or money with her as a teacher because she can help you achieve new heights as a musician and then surpass them. She taught me everything I needed to know in order to make it into a university for music performance and she still helps me to this day when I am struggling. I recommend her as a teacher to anyone who wants to become a better musician.

Very good teacher

Theresa is most excellent. There's no question that she knows music and is an accomplished musician, but the real trick is being able to share that talent with a saugsage-fingered doob such as myself. And make it seem a reasonable proposition, something you could do. She has an innate style of instruction that is at once comforting and challenging,setting the bar ever higher while giving enough encouragement that you want to do better. My highest recommendation.

Amazing amazing amazing. I learned so much and had fun at the same time. Theresa has a great and friendly personality, it's such a joy working with her. If you want to learn Cello, I highly recommend her.

Awesome teacher..love it and learning a lot of what I was expecting!

Theresa is amazing! My daughter has been taking cello classes for a few months and has greatly improved. Theresa is very knowledgeable, patient, encouraging, understanding and also has a great sense of humor.

Theresa is very patient and understanding. She is very easy to talk to and gives the motivation to keep me going. Our lessons are always upbeat, fun, and I feel confident when I leave.

Theresa has been superb in all areas of teaching--pacing, expectations, understanding, tone, content coverage, core skills---you name it. Highly recommended!

So helpful!

Terrific lessons--excellent musical pointers and close score study incorporated into essential period music style points. A lot gets packed into the 30 min time frame, leaving me with solid guidance for homework and practice between lessons. Great experience!

Very informative and very easy to work with.

Theresa is very knowledgeable and easy to work with. Highly recommend for anyone looking to try something completely new, or improving on an already strong skill set

Theresa is the best! I am 28 years old and have never played cello before now, and she makes me feel comfortable and encouraged each lesson. She's is relatable, and her teaching style is fun. She makes you want to learn. I am sure if you were good at your instrument ( unlike me) she could push you along as well. I only wish I practiced more for her ! Because she deserves the best students out there.
Very great lessons. Really helps with address my fundamentals on the violin!

Made me feel confident and took away all my fears. I know I will be able to do it now!
She is very good teacher. We're very happy to study with her

I had my first lesson this past weekend. I was pretty nervous but Theresa made me feel at ease with just holding my cello!! She is very very knowledgeable! I am fired up about doing my homework and ultimately our next lesson!!

Theresa had such patience with my 11yr old son. We will be continuing lessons. He enjoys learning to play the guitar. Awesome beginning experience!

Theresa was very nice and easy to get along with, and she teaches very well.

This was my first lesson after ten years of not playing. I was initially nervous, but Theresa made me feel comfortable and was very patient. Already feeling more confident and excited about playing again! Highly recommend.

This was my first lesson after ten years of not playing. I was initially nervous, but Theresa made me feel comfortable and was very patient. Already feeling more confident and excited about playing again! Highly recommend.

Fun experience. Does an excellent job of holding your attention. Looking forward to the many lessons to come!

Extremely knowledgeable in so many facets of music! Very good communicator and facilitator making understanding very easy. Very personable with a great sense of humor . Makes music fun!

This was a great first lesson with Theresa. She did a great job getting to know my 11 year old daughter and listening to her explain her previous experience, as well as listening to her play.

I had my first lesson with Theresa. It was great. She was patient and encouraging. I can't wait for my next lesson.

Theresa is a wonderful teacher! I have had many private lessons teachers, and she is by far the best. She is incredibly patient with me (especially when I get frustrated and struggle with a particular technique) and always challenges me each and every lesson. I feel that her pricing is very fair (my previous teachers charged much higher rates) and she is flexible whenever I cannot meet for lesson (given advance notice). I highly recommend her for anyone looking for teacher --- young child or adult. I have only had her for acoustic guitar lessons, but I imagine she is probably just as competent at teaching other instruments.

Theresa is a great teacher. She is nice and patient.

Incredibly knowledgeable and versatile, yet perfectly personable, Theresa has been an absolute treasure of a teacher. From the very start, she has made the extra effort to relate our lessons to my particular musical interests and aspirations, while also just being tremendously fun to talk to. If she weren't the best music teacher I'd had the privilege of working with (which she certainly is), I'd probably still recommend her for the repartee alone.

Theresa is a great teacher. My son is a beginner and has attention issues. For the two sessions he has had with her, she has been very patient with him.

My daughter loves her Cello lessons from Theresa. She is learning and feels very welcome and comfortable with Theresa. Theresa is very personable and knowledgeable. My daughter and I recommend her as a teacher.

I just had my first lesson and Theresa was wonderful!! She is extremely knowledgeable and patient. Every question I asked was answered completely. Teresa guided me in selecting the perfect guitar for me. I feel I am in good hands and lucky to have found someone so professional!!!

I absolutely love working with Teresa! She knows her stuff and works to adapt her lessons to fit my specific skill set. I highly recommend her for anyone wanting to learn the cello.

I had my first lesson with Theresa today. I am very impressed. She's very friendly and has a deep knowledge of bass and music in general - she showed me some finger exercises for flexibility, we discusses various picking/plucking techniques and went over general bass playing basics (scales, metronome work) for me to practice. We also had a discussion about how great we think John Entwistle is :)
I am very pleased and look forward to growing as a musician under her tutelage.

Mrs. Strange is a great teacher. She listens to her student when they are having trouble. She easily recognizes a students weaknesses and shows them how to build on them to make them a strength. This does not allow a student to start making mistakes which can easily become habits. You will learn to play your instrument properly and consistantly. Kind caring and compassionate I highly recommend her to anyone that really wants to learn to play.

This review is for myself and my daughter who are both taking lessons with Theresa. We give Theresa S. 5 stars each for being a great teacher and 5 stars for her location being very good for us. In addition, she made us feel very comfortable as if we had known her a long time. Her passion for her music and love of teaching makes her very enjoyable to be with. When we hit a bad note, her enthusiasm and the way we kept moving forward, I found, made us strive harder to get it right. We are both looking forward to many weeks under her direction.

What can I say? She is amazing. She is so tuned into what is going on with her students. Great teaching skills, she knows her craft, and her personality lets you know right away that it is going to be a relaxed pleasant stress free atmosphere that creates the perfect environment to learn. She is patient and is a joy to be around. My whole attitude has been changed from I wonder if is possible for me to learn to play the violin, to I am so excited at the fact that in time, that I actually will be proficient at playing. For that I am so thankful!
Photos & Videos
6 Photos & VideosExperience
Applied Music Professor - Cello
Sep 2016 - PresentBrazosport College
Instruct performance major students in cello performance and performance technique, repertoire and ensemble performance.
Private Studio Instructor
Aug 1997 - PresentSelf Employed
Successfully maintained a continuous private studio in Dallas since 1997 with student enrollment averaging 2-3 years per student.
Music Director
May 2017 - Aug 2017St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church
Retired
Director of Orchestras and Music Director - Emeritus
Aug 2010 - Mar 2017Brazosport High School - BISD
Head director of the secondary orchestra program at Brazosport High School and Freeport Intermediate.
Director of Orchestras
Aug 2008 - Sep 2009Grand Prairie ISD - Reagan and Truman MS
Head orchestra director of two secondary orchestra programs at Reagan and Truman Middle Schools in GPISD.
Director of Orchestras
Jul 2005 - Aug 2008Lancaster ISD - Lancaster High School
Head orchestra director of the secondary orchestra program at Lancaster ISD.
Instrumental Director
Sep 1997 - Jul 2005Dallas ISD
Directed instrumental music programs at Reinhardt, Charles Gill, Bayles Elementaries and Sarah Zumwalt MS
Adjunct Professor
Aug 2001 - May 2002Collin College
Music Theory Sound Reinforcement Technology
Education
Master of Music - Music Composition
Sep 1997 - May 1999Southern Methodist University - Dallas, TX
Bachelor of Science - Applied Music in Performance
Sep 1995 - Aug 1997Texas Womans University - Denton, TX
Associate of Science - Music
Sep 1993 - May 1996Brookhaven College
Languages
English
Fluent / Native Proficiency
French
Limited Proficiency
Japanese
Fluent / Native Proficiency
Spanish
Limited Proficiency
Certifications
Advanced Teaching License
Jun 2016Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board - State of Hawai'i
Personal First Aid / CPR / AED
Jun 2015Red Cross - AHA
Texas Educator Certification
Sep 2000Texas Education Agency TEA State of Texas
Awards
2016 & 2017 Music Educator Award Nominee
Dec 2015GRAMMY Foundation
Musica la Schola Cantorum Candidate
Sep 2000Julliard
Meadows Scholar
Sep 1997SMU and the Meadows Foundation
Who's Who of Colleges and University Students
Sep 1997Who's Who
Affiliations
Texas Orchestra Directors Association
Sep 2005American String Teachers Association
Aug 2005Conductor's Guild
Aug 2005Texas Music Educators Association
Aug 1998American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
Dec 1997Mu Phi Epsilon
Aug 1997Gamma Beta Phi
Sep 1996Phi Theta Kappa
Sep 1994College Music Society, The
Aug 1994Let Our Student Counselors Help You
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