About
I grew up as a cellist in El Sistema, a huge educational system in Venezuela that’s famous for its innovative process and for creating among other great musicians, Gustavo Dudamel and the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra. El Sistema relies heavily on the buddy system, which means that as I learned and was taking lessons from cellists who weren’t that much older than me, I was also teaching lessons and translating for masterclasses by the time I was 12. Teaching the cello is something that I kept doing when I came to the US to study at Juilliard, teaching at their MAP program and other programs in the New York area. I’ve taught students of all ages and levels, and truly believe that building a healthy rapport with my students is the only way to instill in them the passion I have for music and for the cello. I don’t like forcing students to do something they’re not passionate about, however, a big part of what I teach is that how you do something is how you do everything.
Highlights
Details
Student's age
Lesson length
Able to read music
Years experience
Student has instrument
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Holly W.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
It depends on the student's age and level of skill, however, I like to focus on building a good rapport with a student while learning and cementing the essentials of cello playing: having a good posture, holding the bow, reading, etc. I prefer to have a process that is somewhat slow in the beginning and that gradually picks up as the student becomes more acquainted with the cello. If a new student already knows the basic things, I still like to do a quick brush up to see what bad habits need to be fixed and how we can move forward in the most productive way.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
While getting my B.M in cello performance from the Juilliard School, I worked as a cello teacher at the Union City Music Project and the Washington Heights Music Conservatory. At Juilliard, I was fortunate to be a Gluck fellow and a MAP fellow, both highly involved with teaching, performing, and working with young students. In Denver, I worked at the Colorado Music Insitute giving private instruction.
For the last few years, my life has been both playing and teaching. Giving lessons has been as important as receiving them.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Online: 50$
In-person: Cincinnati area 65$
How did you get started teaching?
Honesty, out of necessity. I needed money to afford some tuition and housing in NYC and teaching was the only option. I was lucky enough to get started and cannot give enough thanks that I did. I started at the Union City Music Project just as I was finishing my Freshman year, working with medium to large-sized groups in a workshop setting. It was incredibly challenging, made me switch from tea to coffee, and taught me most of what I know about dealing with young students.
What types of students have you worked with?
From ages 5 to 60, beginner to medium levels and many different kinds of learning ability.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
I'm all about being honest with my students, and I love it when my students are honest with me--even difficult questions such as: do I really like the cello? I want my students to enjoy our lessons, and I will be doing all I can to show you how fun it can be. Questions that might be helpful for students to think about are: what kind of music do you like? how much time could you practice every day? what other interests/sports/activities do you pursue apart from school? The answer to these questions will help us establish a solid ground to start our lessons!