Violin with Julian T.

Julian has always been a creative and diverse musician, breaking down the distinctive barriers among different genres of music. He received his training both at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and from the Cleveland Institute of Music, from which he recently received his Masters in Music Performance. Though his training has been largely classical, he also has interests in jazz, fiddle, Latin, hip-hop, electronic and many other styles of music. In 2006, he became one of the core members of the eclectic hip-hop band, The Off Button, an elegant fusion of upright bass, banjo, violin, percussion, vocals, and rap artists. Since then, he has also performed with a large number of ensembles and bands, including the Meadows Symphony Orchestra at Southern Methodist University, the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, and numerous chamber music ensembles. Mr. Taylor has also performed with the The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and was the lead violinist in the flamenco group, Nomad. He also founded The ViOS Project, an electro-acoustic ensemble, performing traditional Christian music reimagined in a variety of musical genres. The ViOS Project, which became a nonprofit organization in 2014, has released 2 albums, all of which was written, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Mr. Taylor. They are currently working on their third album now, expected to be finished early 2024. As such, his knowledge base extends beyond just violin playing, but also music theory, audio engineering, sound production, improvisation, and more. His current aspirations continue to be in composition and performance, writing many original pieces and arrangements which contain elements of both classical instrumentation and electronic audio elements. In addition, he has also been an avid violin instructor and has maintained a private teaching studio for over 20 years. Over the summer of 2010, he was on faculty for the Chamber Music Festival through the Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory department and was one of the main directors and instructors at the Coda Music Academy in West Virginia until 2018. His extensive knowledge of the instrument and stronger focus on teaching practicing techniques have enabled his students to do very well and even some have gone on to win awards in various competitions and festivals. *** Lesson Details *** Julian has been an active and successful violin teacher for over 20 years, with students from the ages of 4 to 65. He has taught not only private violin lessons to many students, but has also taught in masterclasses, been on the faculty of music festivals and camps, and has coached many various ensembles and chamber groups. All his students speak highly of him in maintaining a good attitude throughout lessons as well as his ability to explain and detail the finer details and techniques of the violin. In addition, it is important that every student learns the 'language' of music, to learn not only the technique, but to learn music as a medium to express what words cannot: heroic stories, deep emotions of the heart, or excitement and happiness. Julian's technique is based mostly on Galamian-style technique, based on perhaps the greatest and most influential violin teacher of the twentieth century, Ivan Galamian (1903-1981). Galamian was well known for his incredible devotion to teaching and his students, as well as a solid technical approach to the violin, incorporating aspects of both Russian and French style violin playing. He had many extraordinary and successful pupils such as Michael Rabin, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zuckerman, and Jamie Laredo. Two of Julian's own violin teachers, Jan Mark Sloman and David Cerone, were also Galamian students, making Julian part of the third generation of the 'Galamian lineage.' In addition to providing private one-on-one lessons every week with his students, Julian likes to give the opportunity for his students to perform, play for other students, and to learn some music theory and history. One cannot get everything out of music and the violin without learning how music works (theory), where it came from (history), and how to express yourself through music to others (performing). And while every beginning student begins their studies in the Suzuki method, Julian encourages his students to explore other kinds of music and is always open to requests from his students to learn different pieces. Every student is important to Julian, and he devotes his time and knowledge in order to see every student progress and learn not just the violin, but important life skills such as dedication, attention to detail, time management, and the value of repetition, among others. For music is not just an exquisite art form and an enjoyable hobby, but a strong discipline, fun and useful for people of all ages and any talent. Whether a student is serious or not, learning a musical instrument can be fun, rewarding, and fulfilling. *** Studio Equipment *** Living Room: bookshelves, coffee table, sofa chairs, plants, parents can sit in on lesson (encouraged) *** Travel Equipment *** Students must provide music and instrument and occasionally, instrument accessories (such as chin rests or sponges). I will provide the rest, teaching aids, etc. *** Specialties *** For beginners, I mostly focus on Suzuki Method. I also like to add in Etudes and scales, starting with Wohlfahrt and Schradieck. For more advanced students I work closely with them to come up with a personalized repertoire lesson plan. While I teach mainly classical music, I encourage students to try other types of music, such as improv or jazz, and am always open to taking repertoire suggestions from students. I teach classical music first to students to give them a strong technical background. Once that is accomplished, then any learning any other type or genre of music becomes a lot easier. It is mostly a matter of learning the small nuances of each style. I also offer lessons in working with audio software, electronic music, improvisation, and music theory. For more information about those specialties, see the description on my applicable subjects.