Philosophy of Teaching Statement
I thoroughly enjoy a “standard” classroom environment where I am called upon to lecture on a regular basis, however, there is nothing more satisfying than the creation and cultivation of a thriving private studio and chamber music program. There is little in this world more rewarding to me than mentoring an aspiring musician or group through a period of personal and/or ensemble growth.
It has been made clear to me over my twenty plus years of instruction that every student—no matter the age or perceived talent level—can learn to play the violin and/or viola in a way that brings them pleasure and connects them to this field of expression that I hold dear. Having said that, every person inevitably learns at a different pace and in a different way from their peers. Therefore, it has been my policy to avoid blindly applying one “tried and true” method for every student—in the hopes of forcing the majority who do not respond to that singular school of thought towards progress. Instead, care is taken to suss out the approach that is most efficient for each individual.
Through my previous private instructors, I am strongly linked to the two greatest violin pedagogues of the twentieth century—Ivan Galamian and Josef Gingold—and feel that I can effectively pass on their teachings to my students, when deemed appropriate. I have also taken the time to study (and apply various techniques from) the teaching methods of Demetrius Constantine Dounis, Leopold Auer, and Shinichi Suzuki. I believe that only by way of a customized set of procedures and curriculum can every student progress towards their musical goals.
-Dr. M. Brent H. Williams
I thoroughly enjoy a “standard” classroom environment where I am called upon to lecture on a regular basis, however, there is nothing more satisfying than the creation and cultivation of a thriving private studio and chamber music program. There is little in this world more rewarding to me than mentoring an aspiring musician or group through a period of personal and/or ensemble growth.
It has been made clear to me over my twenty plus years of instruction that every student—no matter the age or perceived talent level—can learn to play the violin and/or viola in a way that brings them pleasure and connects them to this field of expression that I hold dear. Having said that, every person inevitably learns at a different pace and in a different way from their peers. Therefore, it has been my policy to avoid blindly applying one “tried and true” method for every student—in the hopes of forcing the majority who do not respond to that singular school of thought towards progress. Instead, care is taken to suss out the approach that is most efficient for each individual.
Through my previous private instructors, I am strongly linked to the two greatest violin pedagogues of the twentieth century—Ivan Galamian and Josef Gingold—and feel that I can effectively pass on their teachings to my students, when deemed appropriate. I have also taken the time to study (and apply various techniques from) the teaching methods of Demetrius Constantine Dounis, Leopold Auer, and Shinichi Suzuki. I believe that only by way of a customized set of procedures and curriculum can every student progress towards their musical goals.
-Dr. M. Brent H. Williams