Violin Lessons in Stone Park, IL

Instruments: Guitar Voice Violin Bass Guitar Harmonica

The first lesson is always partly an interview so I can understand exactly what the student's goals are. I typically establish good posture and breathing habits (or bowing and fingering, if violin) first and then move on to essential warm-up exercises. Those exercises then become their regular homework, to hopefully be practiced multiple times a week or if possible, every day. I remind the student of breathing and posture regularly - good habits are the goal! Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

I prefer to start young beginners with the Suzuki method. I feel it's the best method for not only instilling the correct posture and tone production, but also a great method for instilling a passion for the instrument. Students learn songs by rote in a lesson, and then practice at home along with a recording in order to train the ear. Once students have a good foundation, I add in I Can Read Music and use it as a supplement to continued Suzuki practice to begin developing music reading skills. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin

I encourage a parent/guardian to be involved in helping students build a practice pattern. My philosophy is that students need to practice every day, even if its only 5-10 minutes they have time for. Practicing a little bit each day is more effective than cramming practice into the day before the lesson. I want to be a team, making sure students and guardians feel comfortable communicating their needs as the lessons take off! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Clarinet Bass Guitar Synthesizer French Horn

From the very beginning of my work, I believe in positive reinforcement because I find that we all need our hopes and beliefs in our ability to accomplish something to be nurtured before we take on any challenge, objective or goal. This is very important because I also believe that presenting students with challenges and goals allows them to experience adventure, fun, and rewards- particularly in the context of music. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Electric Violin

My teaching style is based off of my experiences with 10+ teachers I worked with in my history of violin playing (25 years!). I had a lot of fabulous teachers in my life, but the ones I remember and am truly grateful for are the ones who inspired me to be a better musician and ones who taught me how to teach myself. Those are my two goals for my student, find out what would inspire students to want to get better and then teaching them how to practice so that they can get better. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola

I started teaching in high school, with my very own private students, and coached non-music major ensembles during my undergraduate degree in addition to receiving pedagogy training. As many performers do, I began as a reluctant teacher, but quickly realized that teaching is extremely rewarding and fun! I make sure that the students are enjoying the lessons while pushing them to play as well as they can. I find it difficult to suppress my passion for my instrument and for music, and I think that this rubs off on my students. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Violin Cello Viola Music Keyboard

Music Director of the Chicago Philharmonia Orchestra since 1985, Farobag has also served as Managing Director of the University of Chicago’s Performing Artists Series from 1990 through 2002 and principal conductor of its resident professional ensembles. A skilled interpreter of Baroque literature as well, Cooper continues in his capacity as Artistic Advisor to the Baroque Masterplayers, a virtuoso ensemble that concatenates period performance techniques with modern instruments thus creating a unique voice within the realm of 17th and 18th- century repertoire. Read More