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2015- Graduated University of Michigan with highest honors
2015- Musicians Club of Women the Farwell Trust Award
2015- American Viola Society 2014-15 Orchestral Excerpts Competition First Place Winner
2014- Dale and Nancy Briggs Chamber Music Competition Second Place Winner with Piano Quintet
2014- University of Michigan Concerto Competition Finalist
My name is Amy P., and I teach private violin, viola, and recorder lessons to students of all ages. I have taught lessons for over five years, and I do my very best to accommodate your schedule when setting lesson dates and times. Additionally, I am a musician in the San Antonio Philharmonic, and I have performed with several other orchestras including the New World Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Grand Teton Music Festival, Utah Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Austin Symphony, and Fort Worth Symphony. I have also taught students as part of the Community Outreach Program of the San Antonio Symphony and plan to continue being part of the community outreach program with the San Antonio Philharmonic. As a professional recorder player, I have performed as soloist with the Music of the Baroque Orchestra. Also, I played recorder in the "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" movie score with the San Antonio Symphony, Utah Symphony, and Alabama Symphony.
I have been teaching privately since 2017, and I have always enjoyed working one on one with all ages and levels of students who have a passion for music. I have helped prepare several students for various auditions including the Texas region. Last year, three of my private students auditioned well enough to make it into the region orchestra, and I was really proud that I was able to help them perform their best on their audition day! I strive to help every student achieve their desired goal in each lesson, even if they only want to play music for fun. Additionally, I am open to helping students learn various styles of music as long as they can bring written out sheet music. I taught a couple of adult recorder students in the past, and each of them has improved on their instrument as a result of my teaching.
For beginning students, I start by teaching them how to hold the instrument. Violinists and violists would learn how to pluck, and a beginning recorder student would learn how to blow air correctly into the instrument. I also teach all students correct left hand position. If students do not know how to read music, I teach them how to read the notes using words and phrases they would remember (ex. FACE treble clef spaces and Every Good Boy Does Fine treble clef lines). Beginning students start by playing exercises out of Essential Elements Book 1. Intermediate and Advanced Students can bring in specific pieces in which they need help, and I will break concepts down as needed in their lessons. My goal is for everyone to play everything correctly and be motivated to practice outside of their lesson time.
My goal is for students to love playing their instrument so much after every lesson that they are motivated to keep working on concepts outside of their lesson time. Thus far, all of my private lesson students practice outside of their lessons, and I hope to keep it that way! I believe that all students are capable of learning music regardless of preconceived notions about talent level. I understand that people have busy schedules, but I expect them to make some time to practice outside of lessons even if it is only for 10 or 20 minutes per day. My favorite part about teaching is seeing every student improve over a period of time. I am proud to stay that all of my students have experienced growth since day 1 of their music lessons!
Amy has exceeded our expectations of a viola teacher. She has high standards while still being a source of encouragement. My son looks forward to his lessons and being stretched musically by Amy. She is also an excellent communicator. We recommend her services.