Cello Lessons in Oakdale, NY

Instruments: Cello

I am a warm and intuitive teacher who loves to guide students toward a life long love of music! I keep lessons fun and light, acknowledging accomplishments and pushing students toward their next milestone. I tailor my teaching style to each students learning style and personal goals, but also provide a solid structure for building practice habits and good technique in younger or beginning students. I love playing along with students in duets, as making music together is one of the great joys of learning an instrument. 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: Cello

I gravitate towards the Essential Elements for Strings books for beginner students because the books so effortlessly combine the first steps of cello playing with basic concepts of music theory and history. I then use a combination of cello duets, etudes (like Dotzauer and S.Lee), and method books (Feuillard) for technical studies. I always incorporate traditional music for the cello (like Bach Cello Suites, famous cello concertos), but work with students on whatever music they enjoy. Read More

Instruments: Cello

For beginners, I start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements and Suzuki Book 1 for cello. These books give a firm structure and introduce classical pieces as well as familiar tunes. Once we finish these two method books, I focus on what the student is more interested in. Are they geared towards classical, or do they really like showtunes? Whatever their interest may be, I find suitable repertoire and continue to challenge and strenghten their abilities. Read More

Instruments: Piano Cello

I currently work as a pianist for various Ballet companies and have studied music performance at the Juilliard School and San Francisco Conservatory of music. We will learn and explore the capabilities of the very large instrument by studying literature and repertoire that helped develop the instrument into what it is today. The more we read the more we learn! I will teach you how to read music so easily you will be able to read music at the piano for the first time. Read More

Instruments: Cello

One of the keys to learning a musical instrument well is patience and comfort. So regardless of age or experience, I begin with scales. As the famous cellist Paul Tortelier said, "Scales are the language of music." Once there is a solid grasp on this fundamental, I progress to teaching simple etudes, and at the same time solo pieces within the student's ability. Read More