Nicolette Y
Instruments: Violin, Viola, Fiddle
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country
Nicolette Y
Instruments: Violin, Viola, Fiddle
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 10-80
BA, University of California Los Angeles, Ethnomusicology. Teacher Training, Strings Without Boundaries, Richard Greene.
2009- Concertmaster of Ruth Asawa School of the Arts Orchestra 2011- Opened for The Dirty Projectors at UCLA's Royce Hall 2012- Best Musical Ensemble, Best Original Composition, and Best Overall Entry at UCLA Spring Sing Competition with Alto 2013- 2nd Prize in Advanced Fiddle Category, Topanga Banjo Fiddle Competition 2013- Grand Prize in Band Category, Topanga Banjo Fiddle Competition
I am a violinist and fiddler based in Echo Park, and have been teaching privately as well as in public schools and music camps for about eight years. In 2013 I graduated from UCLA with a degree in Ethnomusicology, and have since been writing, recording and performing with several ensembles in a variety of genres. I have won competitions as a solo fiddler, in bluegrass ensembles, and with bands performing original compositions. My band, cofounded with producer Joseph Lorge, performs regularly in venues across California, and has been featured on radio station KCSN. Today I have the honor of being a private instructor for over 30 regular violin students.
I began my work as a teacher in college at UCLA and at Cazadero Music Camp in Northern California, both as a private instructor and group instructor in violin and viola. After 10 years of classical study and performance I decided to pursue a degree in Ethnomusicology, and direct my studies specifically toward American folk fiddling. While studying under fiddler Richard Greene, I discovered a love for playing and passing down folk music in the oral tradition, and saw the benefits of a multi-genre musical education first hand. In 2014 I founded the string program at Lincoln Heights Youth Arts Center, a program that provides affordable music classes to students aged 8-18. Additionally, in the past two years I have been the primary music instructor at Lincoln and Mountain Avenue Elementary Schools in La Crescenta. After eight years of work in music education I have developed a passion not just for the craft of the violin, but in helping each student to achieve their personal goals through fun and engaging music.
I have taught beginning violin using many different methods and books, including but not limited to the Suzuki Method, Essential Elements for Strings, and All For Strings books. However, I have found that the best way to engage students and maintain progress is not to keep too strictly to any one method, but to find what best suits each individual. I also incorporate a mix of transcribed fiddle tunes and/or popular music pieces to provide variety and keep the material fun! The more fun the students have in their lessons, and the more they enjoy the music they play, the more they will practice and continue to progress with their instrument.
As a student I had many teachers who made me achieve at their pace and with their understanding of what the violin required. Ultimately the classical route did not give me enough freedom to play the way I wanted to. In my work as a teacher I have found that the pursuit of an instrument, though hard work, should fundamentally be enjoyable for the student. Whether it is finding the music that resonates deeply with you, or constructing practice assignments that are clear and achievable within a week, I want to connect with each student I teach and help them to find a regular rhythm in their lessons that keeps them feeling productive.
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