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Families & Discounts
Families & Discounts
Families & Discounts
Families & Discounts
specializing in strings and piano and theory of music.
Personal Statement:
My experience as a teacher includes many years of private teaching violin, which was my major in college at both New England Conservatory and Yale University Graduate Professional School of Music, where I also played in the conductors' training orchestra known as the Lab Orchestra, and took score reading and analysis with the conducting teacher, Otto Werner-Mueller. Before I graduated NEC (1977), I was already teaching privately, and continued to do so throughout my career as a concert violinist.
Goals & Philosophies:
Most young people can learn and accomplish at higher levels than people assume. My aim in seeking this position is to achieve the highest possible musical standards utilizing existing financial and human resources. This is measured by increased participation in statewide and other competitions and experiences. It will also be measured in solo performances and possibly in chamber music performances, and in testing in the areas of theoretical knowledge; ie, tablature: note-reading, rhythm, key signatures, etc.
To accomplish the highest standards, then to exceed them, I...
- teach above the norm.
Instead of getting to the average level, we must push
'the bar' higher. Those that are below the norm will be
encouraged to achieve at least the norm and those at the
norm will reach higher levels. In the end, everyone is
challenged. The result is that no one is demoralized by a
'dumbing down'. Instead, their efforts are hard-won and
truly owned. They are encouraged by their success at
reaching higher plateaus and will seek out newer,
greater, more "dangerous" challenges.
- Innovate!! constantly re-inventing
and freshening methods by inserting new ideas,
experiments, and what we learn from our interactions with
the students to help improve the technique for the next
student. Questioning the student in a socratic way to
elicit responses is a technique I use frequently. I try
not to spoon-feed too much information. I encourage
students to find their own answers through
process-thinking/working through the problem. If a
student developes the tool of being able to analyze a
problem and solve it on their own, they can solve any new
problem.
- Reaching out and Catching their
attention.
- Students need to be
excited by the experience of education. Boredom is the
greatest enemy of learning.
- Encouraging creativity through
composition.
- I'm finding that a team approach
to learning is also very successful with some
students. Feeling included in a team strengthens moral
and provides incentive to succeed. Music students have
their own team, just as sports participants do.
- Students need to be
excited by the experience of education. Boredom is the
greatest enemy of learning.
- Provide opportunities for students to
showcase what they're learning. In addition to
participation through auditions in youth-music
organizations, we explore exciting collaborations with
other organizations including colleges, bands, choruses
and orchestras, both amateur and professional. For
instance, several years ago, the Bristol Chamber
Orchestra & Easton String Orchestra performed a very
successful concert, pairing off as mentor-performers each
of the professional musicians of the chamber orchestra
with a student musician in the Easton String Orchestra
(high school and junior high ages).
My Work Mode and Standards of
Excellence:
In general, I'm hard-working and easy to get along
with.
I am an accessible educator for my students and adults;
parents, collaborators & faculty.
During my tenure as concertmaster of the Orquesta Sinfonica
de Las Palmas & Professor of the violin(1979), I taught
myself Spanish so that I could teach several orchestra
violinists.
Two of my students that I taught in Grand Rapids continued
on to the Juilliard Prep School in NYC after intensive
lessons including a summer boarding school that I conducted
at my home for serious students.
More Teaching Background:
During my years of teaching at New England Conservatory
Preparatory School, I also coached mixed chamber music
groups (strings & piano). My work there also extended
into the Summer at the NEC music camp in Lexington.
Program Developement:
I founded my own program of music lessons for violin and
cello at New Testament Christian School (see 1996-present on
my resumé), recruiting students, creating a program
and working with parents to develop this as an after-school
option for students there. I began a chamber music program
and a group lesson program as components of this program
which I ran for two years. I began this program after
creating a similar one under the auspices of the non-profit
I helped to found known as the Chamber Music Society of
Easton, which featured group ensemble coachings and private
lessons.
I create programs for teaching and performance;
As president of the board of the Chamber Music Society of
Easton (CMSE), I design and administrate the budgets,
personnel, fund-raising, development (including Board
Building) and Artistic Direction of the season. I designed
the 3-concert yearly season and continue to administrate our
in-school educational lecture-demonstration concerts, which
are co-sponsored by Bose Corporation and the Music
Performance Trust Fund (RMPTF).
I recently helped form and conduct the Sharon Community
Chamber Orchestra, which provides performance &
rehearsal opportunities for Sharon and other town's
residents. As conductor of this orchestra, I work with
woodwind, brass and keyboard players, helping them perform
better and develop orchestral (ensemble playing) etiquette
and cooperative abilities.
Teaching Techniques:
I continue to develop my pedagogical ideas and techniques in
my private studio, where I have also assembled similar
programs for summer0 studies. Included among my students,
who range from 4.5 years to 56 years old are some with
disabilities including brain damage and other special needs.
I consult with my wife, who is a speech pathologist in the
Easton school system with over 15 years experience at
Spaulding Rehab. Hospital, for help in developing musical
lessons that parallel rehab treatment approaches.
(fax)508-238-0624 email:
violin@shilakowskyarts.com
