Violin Lessons in Arlington, VA

Instruments: Violin

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
I generally organize my practice sessions in three parts: Scales, Etudes, and solo/orchestral music. I find that scales and Sevcik finger exercises are an excellent warmup to more intense study. It's a lot like stretching and aerobic activity before beginning physical exercise. I work on specific etudes that will sharpen specific techniques. For example, octaves, thirds, sixths, tenths; double stops. Finally, I spend the remaining tine focusing on problem passage work in solo/orchestral music. I practice slowly measure-by-measure and note-by-note identifying issues with intonation, phrasing, articulation.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I have pretty eclectic taste in music but really enjoy Baroque music. The music composed by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, and Corelli are among my favorites. There is a stately quality found within Baroque artistic expression which is characterized by ornamented note patterns -namely, trills, mordents, passing tones, and arpeggios. This is particularly true in the Unaccompanied Violin Sonatas by Bach where the musician is required to balance left hand dexterity with skillful manipulation of the bow while producing elegant phrasing.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I attended the "Kinder Concert" series sponsored by the Buffalo Philharmonic and was drawn to the string section. They were always involved and this was intriguing to me. Then, my elementary school sent a notice to parents encouraging school music lessons. My mother, an educator, required that my brother and me listen to an album of orchestral instruments so that we could make an educational decision on which instrument to take. Neither one of us could initially distinguish the viola from the violin. Eventually, we selected the violin after discovering that the violin tended to be used a bit more by many composers. Our school instructor observed talent that we didn't know we had and referred us to Philip Teibel of the Buffalo Philharmonic. It's been an incredibly rewarding adventure ever since.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
Music has added so much joy to my life but there are a few accomplishments that stand out. Being selected to participate in the NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association)All-State Chamber Orchestra as a High School Junior is a major milestone. Only the best musicians who auditioned throughout New York State were accepted. I was also selected to participate in the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra and tour with the Choir during Winter Term. Appearing on Grammy nominated live recordings with world renown Gospel artists Richard Smallwood and Donny McClurkin. Serving as Principal Second Violinist with the Pan American Symphony Orchestra on our inaugural tour to Peru; performing with Steven Curtis Chapman as concertmaster, Worship Orchestra of Washington at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
One of my students was awarded an academic scholarship at York College of Pennsylvania. I assisted her prepare for her audition at the school. We drilled scales and arpeggios; and selected a solo piece that demonstrated her exemplary musical skills. She is minoring in music and continues to thrive playing in various musical ensembles wile pursuing a rigorous program leading to a BS in Criminology. I was recently told that she is teaching a few local students as well. I don't know how she is able to fit everything into her tight schedule but always found a way as my student.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
I would have to say that the bow is the most difficult aspect of the violin to master. There are multiple bow techniques that require diligent practice. There is staccato (sharp detachment of each note with the bow), spiccato (bouncing the bow), richochet, (metered or rhythmic bouncing of the bow); collegno (using the wood of the bow). For example, richocet bowing technique is used in the "William Tell Overture" by Rossini. It is characterized by it galloping effect that everyone can instantly identify. The left and right hand can work in tandem but sometimes work independently. Training the mind and body to accomplish this feat takes persistent repitition.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
I do use specific teaching books as a framework for fundamental techniques. I use "All Strings" for beginning and intermediate students because it provides an incremental approach to learning the basics of the instrument. "Wohlfahrt 60 Studies For the Violin" is a book that expose all of my students to once the basics have been mastered. These studies provide students with many of the techniques needed for an accomplished violinist to successfully navigate the instrument. I introduce more advanced students to "Kreutzer 42 Etudes For thee Violin." These etudes or caprices introduce tome of the intricacies they will encounter in violin literature. I also incorporate Mazas and Viotti Duets to foster the development of Chamber music skills.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
There is an abundance of violin repertoire that appeals to me. However, the Beethoven Violin Concerto is a piece that I would love to perform. I have read through sections of it but never truly learned it. The second movement is one the most lyrical compositions ever written for the instrument. I recall playing in the violin section with a Chinese violin soloist. She moved me to tears by her interpretation of the second movement. It was both soulful and prayerful. Beethoven balances tender expression with drama and intensity in this movement.

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