David S
5.0
(5)
Instruments: Cello
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues
David S
5.0
(5)
Instruments: Cello
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 10-80
On weekday afternoons in the 6th grade, after lunch and recess, with my large poof of curly brown hair, I excitedly wheezed and waddled my pudgy 11 year old frame across the blacktop and down the stairs to the basement of my middle school. This was 6th period beginners orchestral class, but I spent most of time away from the other students playing together in a mostly unused music office right outside the rehearsal room. The office was always dimly lit. Shelves of well read books and yellowed ripped sheet music lined the walls. The entire room had a smell of old paper, years of rosin buildup in the corners, and the smell of varnish from the short row of school instruments that students could borrow behind the tiniest teacher desk I had ever seen. I spent 3 years in this tiny office. This office would come to be the room where I got to know the violoncello. I fell in love in this room, and began a lifelong relationship that would come to be a part of my very identity above anything else. I have now been playing 22 years. Cello is my highest passion, source for inspiration, and endless source of happiness. I am eager to share my lifelong obsession with others and to inspire others to great things with this sublime instrument.
I have spent 24 years with the cello. I graduated with honors from the Appomattox Regional Governor's School for Arts and Technology in Petersburg, VA in 2005, and have a BFA in cello performance and music theory from Loyola University New Orleans. I have studied under Joel Krosnick, Tanya Anisimova, Neal Cary, Jason McComb, and Allen Nisbet, and have participated in masterclasses with Lynn Harrell, Clancy Newman, and Alisa Weilerstein, to name a few. I held a private cello studio in Richmond, VA for 2 years, and have taught private lessons for about a total of 6 years. I also am a composer, and have recently finished a cello sonata, among other smaller works for cello. I currently am the cellist of the Prytania String Quartet, and have recently joined the New Orleans Civic Symphony as a section cellist.
Other than what would be the general consensus of the standard cello repertoire, and a couple of technique books which I find to be incredibly useful with one area of pedagogy or another, I do not follow any of the current methods widely available to string players. It is my firm belief that it is the job of the teacher to be both adequately well versed and acutely attentive to each individual students' strengths, flaws, and the overall nuances of their playing style to be able to recommend appropriate literature, exercises, and music that is best suited for the student. You cant get that level of detail and precision out of the Suzuki method.
At the bare minimum, there are four skills that one must become adept in in order to play cello. 1) Proper body movement and coordination 2) Left hand technique (the hand which determines the notes on the instrument) 3) Right hand technique (the hand which manipulates the bow and produces sound) 4) A basic grasp of music theory Every student of mine will be trained in the classical sense, and learn some classical repertoire, because classical technique on the cello is the foundation for any other style the student would like to perform. In addition to this, I highly encourage improvisation exercises in my lessons, and this teaches the student to break away from the rigidity of the classical standard. In these contexts, the student can then branch off into whichever genre they find most personally suitable and intriguing.
Kristen
David’s combined skill, experience, and love for music make him a highly qualified cello teacher, who is experienced in many different genres of music. His passion for the cello and classical music is contagious and inspires you to put more time into your practice sessions. His patience separates him from the average cello teacher. He customizes each lesson to the individual student, and helps you to develop and improve your playing through practice strategies and technical exercises. I recommend David to any cellist who is exploring the instrument for the first time, or who wants to take their playing to the next level!
Alyssa
David's abundance of passion for all types of music studies, especially orchestral and classical genres, spills over to anyone in his "musical presence". It's refreshingly comforting, creating an atmosphere that surpasses the static, repetitious music lessons that many teachers reuse to exhaustion. With his adept instrument knowledge, anyone that wants to learn how to play the cello or even take their playing skills to the next level would benefit greatly from his worldly collection of acquired skills. His patient, enthusiastic, and compassionate character compliments his relaxed, high-quality teaching. David delivers a unique lesson tailored to each student's needs and goals. You will be so happy that you chose to experience and explore musical expression with him.
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