Teachers in Minneapolis St. Paul
Hello all,
I'm facing the Great Teacher Dilemma and I would really appreciate your advice.
Once I graduate from high-school next year, I'm moving to the Minneapolis St. Paul metro area (probably southeastern, since I'm hoping to eventually go to Red Wing for college). To make the move a little easier, I'm starting my search for a new teacher now.
I would classify myself as an upper-intermediate player; I have played on and off for seven years and I'm starting on the easier movements of solo Bach and working on the Mozart concertos. I would like to play professionally part-time, in regional orchestras and quartets and such. So no Juilliard or CIM ambitions. But I would like someone with high standards who holds me to them, who can help me be the best player I can be.
Also, any potential teacher must understand health problems. I have fibromyalgia and a connective tissue disorder so I need someone who is patient with extended absences.
Other than that, I would love to have someone who has an inspiring passion for music, someone who pays close attention to technique, someone who could guide me through more advanced theory and ear-training, someone who could give me more opportunities to perform, someone who could help me become a better chamber and orchestral player, someone who could help me secure musical connections and friendships throughout the Twin Cities, and someone who knows the etudes and the repertoire and who can recognize my strengths and weaknesses.
If any of you know of anybody in the Minneapolis St. Paul metro area, or if you have any overall advice for teacher-hunting, I'd appreciate hearing it!
Thanks much, Emily
Replies (23)
Thanks much! I met Mr. Shows at a concert once and he seems like a really nice, inspiring guy.
I highly recommend Mary West. She is in her late 90s and still going strong with a studio of about 40 students who are consistently successful in competitions and such. She helped me improve my bowhold and find a comfortable position for the violin.
Sally O'Reilly would also be a good choice. She focuses on etudes, lotsof sevcik at very slow
speeds, flesch scales, and schradieck. She is very picky about intonation and makes you play with a metronome constantly. Don't expect to be coddled though.
You also might want to try the other teachers at the UofM: Mark Bjork and Young-nam Kim.
There are many fine teachers in the Minensota orchestra and SPCO: Roger Frisch, Jorja Fleezanis,
Aaron Janse and others.
You should also try MacPhail Center for Music where I teach. I teach both Traditionally and Suzuki Violin. I have a M.M. from Rice University and a B.M. from Oberlin Conservatory. My teachers were Almita and Roland Vamos and Kathleen Winkler. The number there is 612-321-0100. Press 1 to get student services and they will help you out. Good luck!
A good thing about macPhail is that you will have a ton of performance opportunities. There are also theory teachers that you could take from as a supplement to violin lessons.
Yeah, I've contemplated going to MacPhail for years...my first teacher used to go there, years and years and years ago.
Thanks for all the helpful advice.
Many years ago I considered Mary West to be the best violin teachers in the Twin Cities. She may have retired though.
She taught some great players like Brian Krinke, Troy Gardner, Matthew Reichert, and many others.
I received some great advice from her on string playing and appreciated her friendly and intelligent approach.
It's my understanding that Mary West is still teaching. She did wonderful things with Ari Isaacman-Beck, a friend of mine here at the Institute, and it seems as though she has quite the stellar pedagogy reputation.
Mary West received several awards from ASTA. And most of all, I like her healthy attitude toward people, violin, and music.
Some say she is the Dorothy Delay of Minnesota...
There is no shortage of string teachers in the Minneapolis area. There are a couple of larger studios that cater to beginning and intermediate students, including MVSM (mvsm.net), and there are private teachers serving college-level students. Carleton and St. Olaf colleges, both in Northfield, about a 40 miles drive from downtown Mpls, have extensive music programs with the finest teachers you'll find anywhere; many if not most perform with the Minnesota Orchestra or the SPCO on at least a part-time basis.
Add to your list Nancy Oliveros, who is married to Ray Shows (already mentioned in an earlier comment) and is the 2nd violinist of the Artaria Quartet. She also teaches. They live in St. Paul. I study violin with her, and have found her excellent at explaining technical issues, very patient, and enthusiastic. My playing has certainly improved as a direct result of her teaching.
I've also been coached by both her and her husband at many adult chamber music workshops. Both of them can explain clearly how to convey musical ideas, and express the wonder and joy of playing violin. Either one would make an excellent teacher, and especially so if your interest is chamber music. Contact info is on the Artaria Quartet web site.
Minneapolis unfortunately has a bit of a scarcity of good teachers. Here are three worth trying:
Aaron Janse
Sally O'Reilly
Mary West
Hi Emily,
Your initial letter dates back to the month of May, but on the other hand, that is not sooo long ago. I am a former pupil of J. Heifetz and have recently returned to the Twin Cities after 30 years in Europe (where aside from extensive concertising I was Concertmaster of a major orchestra in Vienna). At the present I teach privately in Minneapolis. You may find a bit more under "musicians" on this domane, as well as detailed info under: http://www.lakewoodinstitute.org
Good luck in your endeavors
Adam Han-Gorski
I've studied both with Aaron Janse and Sally O'Reilly. Since you've said you don't have professional ambitions, I'd recommend you get in touch with Aaron Janse (email me if you want his number). Ms. O'Reilly's wonderful, especially for technique, but she's definitely tough and that can be hard if you're playing violin just for fun. Best of luck!
Hi!
If you want a violin teacher who is a fine example in both art and life, 'Mary West is the best'. (That's a common phrase in the area.)
One could write pages about her incredible education, teachers, playing career, and her prize-winning students, plus her own numerous awards. We're just very fortunate she ended up living in Minneapolis.
The Minnesota Orchestra, the youth orchestras in the area, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and teachers at all of the music conservatories in the country know her and praise her work. Professional violinists continue studies with her.
Late this August, one of her students won a 1st and 2nd prize at two international competitions in Switzerland--winning $25,000 and the loan of an Amati violin.
She can also refer you to just the right teacher.
Good luck in your search!
In the Minneapolis area, I would also recommend Ray Shows. He is my current teacher, and I am very pleased with the help that he gives me.
I know this is a response to an old post, but since it's been a few years I wanted to let everyone know I'm taking new students in to my private studio. Come check out my website at: stevenleungstudios.com
Steven Leung
This thread is amusing..... I never have made it to the Cities...and I never did get a teacher. *sigh* It's sad how life works out sometimes.
But, on a brighter note, when I finally do move, I may be contacting you, Steven! Thanks for sharing your info.
Hi Emily,
If you do get to the cities, please do contact me for lessons. I'd be happy to take you on as a student! Good luck in all your musical endeavors!
Steven
This is an old thread but I would like to know if all the teachers mentioned are still in the Minneapolis area.
I think everyone is still working except Mary West, who passed away in 2007 at the age of 97. I see Ray Shows's students doing a lot in the local scene (whether they study privately with him or through the Artaria quartet program). Sally O'Reilly also has a lot of students that win lots of awards; I'm pretty sure she taught Chad Hoopes. I know a fantastic young violinist who studies with Mark Bjork at the U of M. If you're looking for a first rate teacher who's doing first-rate work right now, I'd advise looking at the last few years of Schubert Club string scholarships. You'll see the same names popping up again and again.
If you're looking for a viola teacher, I know one who is just ridiculously fantastic at communicating; he corrected a bunch of my tension problems in about an hour. Contact me privately for info since he has a more than full-time performing career and I don't know if he really wants to take on many students right now.
Be curious to hear if anyone else has any other teacher recommendations...
In the Mpls/St.Paul area the best teachers seem to be booked solid.
Maria Cecka Daily is the best violin teacher and coach I ever met. She currently serves as the SACO concert master and works with many of the brightest violinists around this area.
I am the owner of the Sargent Violin Shoppe in St. Michael, MN. I play the violin professionly and have played with the MN Orchestra and the St. Anthony Civic Orchestra. However, I do not teach.
If I were a student, or seasoned violinist that needs coaching, Maria would be the one to get, hands down.
Good luck in getting Maria to fit you into her schedule.
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May 18, 2006 at 06:57 PM · Hello, Emily:
There are many excellent violin teachers in the Twin Cities area, and it may be wise to check with some of the local violin shops and solicit their impressions and feedback.
I would highly recommend my teacher, Sally O'Reilly, to you. She is on the faculty at the U of M, and consequently does not have much free time to maintain a large private studio.
I have heard very good things about Ray Shows, in St. Paul. He is the first violinist of the Artaria String Quartet, and has extensive experience teaching, both privately as well as at St. Olaf Colllege.
http://www.artariaquartet.com/
John Waddle, who has a violin shop in St. Paul, is quite "plugged in" to the Twin Cities strings community, and may be able to provide you with additional, candid, and un-biased information on area violin teachers.
http://www.maestronet.com/waddle/
Good luck in your transition,
Al