Leerone H
Instruments: Violin
Styles: Classical, Pop, Folk, Musical Theater, Showtunes, Avant-garde
Leerone H
Instruments: Violin
Styles:
Classical, Pop, Folk, Musical Theater, Showtunes, Avant-garde
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 3-80
Master Degree: The Juilliard School, Bachelor Degree: The Juilliard School
When I was two years old, I saw a young girl play the violin in a concert. I was so inspired that I begged my parents to let me begin violin lessons. Finally, at five years old, I stood proudly with my tiny violin and have not put it down since. Playing the violin has taken me around the world for various performances, music festivals, and teaching workshops. I have performed as a soloist with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta in Carnegie Hall, traveled to three different continents for music festival concerts, and co-founded the Heartbeat Project and the Joining Hands Project. The Heartbeat Project brings violin education and concert experience to Najavo children on the reservation in New Mexico. The Joining Hands Project in Israel combined the teaching and performance of both Arabic and Jewish music to children of all backgrounds in Israel, with the purpose of spreading inclusion and celebration of differences. From all of my experiences, I most enjoy teaching. I find that spreading knowledge about something is easy and fun if you are passionate about it, and it has connected me so strongly with my students.
I place a large importance on spreading music education, as this world desperately needs more passionate artists. I began teaching privately in 2014 when my 65 year old neighbor asked me to help him rekindle the flame in violin playing. Since then, I have greatly expanded my studio and taught private students of ages ranging from 3-65 of all levels. With my many years of studying violin, I have learned that a student will practice if they feel excited about what they are working on. As a teacher, I find that choosing the right repertoire and finding ways to make routine practice engaging are key to fast improvement. I have also taught group violin classes as a teacher Harmony Program and Bronx Arts Ensemble, so I have had experience keeping students on their feet, planning recitals, and catering lessons to each student's individual need. Even if my students do not end up pursuing music as a career, music education enhances critical thinking, focus, and creativity- all qualities I encourage for my students.
For very young beginning students, I usually start with Shirley Givens' Adventures in Violinland. After some time, I like to switch to the Suzuki books to encourage training their ears. Each student is very different, and I cater and switch method books based on each student's individual need. For all ages, I encourage them to listen to violinists they enjoy on YouTube, and choose pieces they want to learn. Even if what they choose is a challenge, I believe they will be more inspired to work hard to learn the piece if they chose it. I generally have my students fill out a practice log, so that I can track what they practiced from our practice list each lesson. Even just putting a check mark next to an activity makes some students feel very accomplished.
The main takeaway I want my students to walk away with after our lessons is that they enjoy playing the violin. I believe that encouragement and patience are huge parts of music education. However, I also like to push my students to take challenges and reach their highest potential. This is why I encourage students to play in recitals, choose pieces they want to learn, and work on a few works at a time (including etudes, scales, short pieces, concerti, etc.). I also find that the easiest way to work on a challenge with a student is to break everything up until difficult concepts become simple.
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