How did Violin Technique Coaching begin?
I am so happy our paths have crossed.
It is a big world out there, but it is no mistake that we are meeting here, today.
Music is in my DNA. I have a beautiful lineage of musicians in my family. But the art of mastery is not something you can inherit. It is a path that is studied, practiced, learned, and explored. It is an intentional path. Often, in music, it is a path that is wrought with pain, fear, performance anxiety, and abuse. But it does not have to be. Mastery demands structure and regimen, but it does not demand fear or stress.
When I discovered Sally O’Reilly at the University of Minnesota, I began my journey of equipping myself with a technical regimen for violin. As her teaching assistant for three years, I had the privilege of Ms. O’Reilly personally training me in the technical and philosophical studies of her method. This sequence of pedagogy allows for no gaps in the learning process of a student. In my own history, I had so many technical gaps in my learning. Both the musical and professional implications of these gaps were manifesting themselves post higher education.
My story was similar to many of my colleagues. I knew I needed to have a teaching plan that could help my students not inherit my weaknesses. I wanted to serve my students to the best of my ability and skillfully prepare them for a lifetime of musical enjoyment.
As I learned from Ms. O’Reilly, I realized my own playing was drastically improving as was my emotional confidence. This way of learning was transforming my entire being. I was curious to see if it was just me, or if this way of learning could help others. This began my three-year doctoral research study.
Throughout my study, I found that a structured technical regimen coupled with a collaborative teaching approach that values the emotional and mental development of the student yields a confident learner and a strong musician. This musician is self-motivated, structured, relaxed, and maximally utilizing time and energy. My students were progressing three times faster than I had ever witnessed. And they were so happy! Hence, my business was born.
I equip students with the tools and techniques needed for success. I scaffold their training so that they are able to optimally learn and apply the tools. And I teach them how to problem-solve and coach themselves to be independent learners, independent creators of their own happiness and success.
I also guide teachers through the process of learning and implementing this technical regimen while teaching them the strategies to instruct from this philosophical perspective.
