St. Paul Cello Lessons
About
As a cello instructor, I have spent the past decade teaching students of all ages and from beginning to advanced playing levels. My teaching philosophy is that every student has the potential to play music at a high level and develop a life-long appreciation for music. I also incorporate the Alexander Technique into lessons in order to develop a better sound, more fluid technique, and fewer tension-related injuries.
As an active performer, I have performed regularly at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall and Merkin Concert Hall in NYC, to the Baroque Room and Sundin Music Hall in Minnesota, with such ensembles as the New York Youth Symphony, the Nova Philharmonic, and Ensemble 212. My most recent performances have been with Lyra Baroque Orchestra, La Grande Bande, Consortium Carissimi, and the Bach Society of Minnesota, as well as other collaborative early music projects around the Upper Midwest. My own teachers (from whom I pass wisdom onto my students) have included cellists Jerome Carrington (Juilliard Pre-College), Clive Greensmith (Tokyo String Quartet), and Marcy Rosen (Queens College), and Julie Elhard on viola da gamba. I hold a Bachelor of Music degree from Queens College and a Masters from the University of Minnesota.
I enjoy cultivating a love for music in my students and watching them succeed at the cello. I am a very supportive teacher and meet each student where they’re at and tailor my teaching style to the individual student. It has been such a joy to watch my students make progress and in turn come to develop a lifelong love for the cello.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
After first determining how much experience a student has in cello thus far and note-reading ability, I talk with the student about their goals for learning the cello and we discuss strategies for attaining their particular goals. Then I will determine repertoire based on age and learning style of the student.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Bachelor of Music degree from the Copland School of Music at Queens College. A BMus degree involves taking private lessons with some of the best teachers in the world throughout college, and it is from these teachers that I pass on my own cello technique and musicality.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with students of all ages, from preschool to retired, and all abilities, from beginner with no prior music reading ability to advanced students working on concertos.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I would suggest finding a teacher who specializes in the instrument you are looking to learn. “Cello” teachers whose main instrument is actually violin, bass, etc. will often have faulty technique that the student eventually has to unlearn, which is much harder than attaining a solid fluid technique from the start!
Also, consistency of lessons is important. If there’s too much time between lessons (ie. more than a few weeks), progress takes much longer to achieve.