Joseph M
Instruments: Violin
Styles: Classical
Joseph M
Instruments: Violin
Styles:
Classical
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-80
BM, University of Southern California, Violin Performance
Celebrating 20 years of teaching violin, I’m excited to open my studio to the Musika community. I have extensive experience in the traditions of Joseph Joachim, Jascha Brodsky, Ivan Galamian, and Dorothy DeLay. I graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance studying under renowned violinist Alice Schoenfeld. My studies at USC focused heavily on solo, chamber, and orchestral work -- my performances included live radio, solo engagements, and appearances with leading orchestras.
I began teaching violin at age 15 to young beginners and also developed a small studio class while I was in high school. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching children "the basics" of the instrument and the fun of making music. Over the next several years and through college I would begin accepting advanced students, until my studio class had reached a level that could compete with the likes of Southern California's best young violinists. Each student is different and has a unique set of goals -- and I am always excited to discuss, or help plan for the future. I encourage my students to enter competitions, apply for scholarships, perform recitals, and audition for local orchestras.
I'm currently accepting students of all ability levels, so my methods will be vastly different from beginner to advanced. For beginners, we start at the very beginning, learn how to hold the instrument and bow. Surprisingly, this first step can ruin or really hinder a person's technique down the road if it needs to be corrected. I focus a large chunk from the start on the bow arm as my students have impeccable bow technique. The bow arm is integral to a polished and effortless performance. Left hand of course is very important, but I pride myself on the work I do with the bow with both beginning and my advanced students.
For intermediate/advanced students, I assess, most likely have them play, check the technique, will 100% make adjustments to the left arm/hand and also the bow arm/hand and also explain why I'm doing what I'm doing. My methods when it comes to the bow arm/hand come from the teachings of Galamian and DeLay. We then discuss what I'm hearing and seeing. I want to hear and see you at your best, and if I'm not hearing and/or seeing you at your best, then we need to match the two. If it's a mismatch (you sound all right, but your technique is not great), then we fix. I want you to sound excellent and I want your technique to be spot on.
I'm a very warm and optimistic person, so of course I would love to have all of my students shoot for the stars with their goals when it comes to the violin! Of course, that's not always the case and that is always fine too. Sometimes not everyone is riding the same wave. During our first lesson, we will discuss your goals. If you are advanced, that usually means you aren't playing the violin casually. However, if you are beginning and want to become advanced, then we will need to discuss ways of achieving that goal -- lots of practice! In any case, my teaching style is this, the more fun and exciting the music is, the more you'll need to practice! That's how I explain it to my younger students who want to become really great down the road. If you'd like to play the violin casually and possibly learn how to read music too, that requires practice as well. Either way, practice will be involved. What I will say is this, if you practice in concentrated periods, you stand to learn a lot pretty quickly. My lessons tend to fly by because I'm generally outgoing and upbeat, and it's always great to see progress from my students!
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