Cello Lessons in Howard Beach, NY

Instruments: Piano Violin Cello Viola

Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one of my students develop a passion for music! I strive to find an individual approach to each student and it's important that each student progresses at his or her own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students at each lesson. While daily practice is necessary for quicker progress, not every student has the time for it. So I teach my students how to use the time allocated for personal practice more effectively and how to develop good practice habits. Read More

Instruments: Cello

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. Read More

Instruments: Cello

In private lessons, through the assignment of scales, arpeggios, technical exercises, etudes, and solo work, students gain a progressive yet sound understanding of technique. Students develop an internal map of the fingerboard, learn how to accurately and consistently arrive in positions, have the flexibility of creating their own a fingerings, understand the fundamentals of sound production, bowing styles, and how to use these techniques as an aid to music making. Read More

Instruments: Cello

I am sensitive to the musical tastes of my students and try to cater to them. Most are very happy with Alwin Schroeder Foundation Studies, Carl Schroder Violoncello Method and the Suzuki Books. Others are also interested in folk or pop-Disney movie music, The Lord of the Rings, Beatles Songs, various ethnic music or personal favorites. It is a joyous moment when a student is ready to begin their study of the Bach Unaccompanied Cello Suites! Read More

Instruments: Cello

My teaching style is a combination of Suzuki method and traditional method. Having learned with the traditional method, I feel it is vital and extremely important for students to learn to read music from the point at which they start reading books and words, this is typically at age 5. For students under age 5 we begin learning everything by ear, once they start reading we introduce reading notes. I'm passionate about having a parent present for every lesson as it is extremely important that a parent or caretaker learn the material so they can be the teacher at home during the week for practice sessions. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Cello Viola

For violin and viola students, I use All For Strings for beginners, and for more advanced students, use various books, including the Suzuki book. Fun and learning, are the key! And, if a student wants some pointers on how to write a song, I am quite experienced in that, having written several Off Broadway kid's shows, including my popular, "The Everyday Life Of Kids", which played throughout the Westchester NY school system. Read More