Violin Lessons in Cliffside Park, NJ

Instruments: Violin

In 1968, I auditioned and was accepted with scholarship to Dartmouth College as a participant in the Convocation of the Arts summer program. Upon my return to Chicago, I studied with the late Morris Gomberg, then Chairman of the Strings Division at the Chicago College of Performing Arts/Roosevelt University. My studies with Mr.Gomberg were interrupted in 1969 when he stopped teaching due to illness.  In the years following, I began to study the chamber music literature, participating in a number of chamber music workshops and master classes including programs at Mannes College of Music/The New School, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Music Mountain, Vassar College, and VMAC (Vermont Music and Art Center). Read More

Instruments: Violin

My teaching philosophy centers around the goal of my students developing control of their own learning by becoming independent thinkers, problem solving on their own, and understanding critical methods for effective practice and successful performance. I guide this process by asking questions, offering suggestions, and ultimately steering students towards an ownership of their choices. As a result, they are able to maximize their practice time during the week as they become better analysts of their own playing from both a global and detailed perspective. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin

For beginning piano students who are children, I usually start with John Thompson's "Teaching Little Fingers To Play."  Once the student has progressed and becomes more familiar with reading the notes in both clefs, I will begin to introduce solo pieces of music that the child picks out of the choices I present to them.  I do this to help encourage and reward the child with their success.  For adult piano students, I find out what the student is interested in and guide my instruction accordingly. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin

My goal is to instill a love for music with all my students. Imodify my style and approach to the interests and skills of each student. No student is alike and therefore, no teaching approach is alike. As long as the student is enjoying playing an instrument, progressing, my goal has been reached. Read More

Instruments: Violin

I began teaching general music 12 years ago by presenting 45-minute programs for ages 3 yrs-14 yrs at numerous public schools in the Greater Boston Area in partnership with From the Top. These presentations had a vast range of topics and activities. With a class of 4th graders, I helped the students express their daily routine by writing and performing their own piece of music. I had a discussion with a class of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders about the story behind a Bach Sonata I performed at the beginning of the class. Read More

Instruments: Violin Electric Violin Fiddle

I typically start the students off with open strings and rhythms and we learn the left hand separately so that the start is not overwhelming. With an intermediate to more advanced students we progress to scales (Jhnke, Galamian, Flesh etc...), etudes and exercises (Shradieck, Kayser, Mazas, Kreutzer, Wieniawski, Paganini etc...), as well as performing pieces (this often includes Bach and Mozart in every student's repertoire). I very much encourage all of my students to record themselves a few times a week, perform as much as possible (even for the family pet), play competitions and play with others! Read More