MY PHILOSOPHY
My teacher, Margaret Rowell, always said, "I don't teach the cello, the cello can't learn. I teach the human being."
I have always embraced this philosophy in my long teaching career emphasizing personal musical growth specific to the individual student. It is always about the music, and every student's growth as a musician and cellist no matter what age or level.
We don't "work" music; we play music in the most profound and rich sense of play.
MATERIALS
I use a combination of traditional and contemporary materials based on my many years of teaching, playing professionally, and studying. I have been fortunate to have worked with many teachers and musicians including Margaret Rowell, Irene Sharp, Burton Kaplan and Bonnie Hampton.
I TEACH ALL LEVELS AND AGES
I especially enjoy working with beginners of all ages!
A good start on the cello centered on a natural and direct approach emphasizing posture, clear tone and intonation, and of course,
musicianship is essential for steady growth.
I also equally enjoy working with intermediate and advanced students.
School age students who want to be or are in school or youth orchestras, or who might be interested in continuing musical studies in college, or college students, or anyone of any age wanting to embark on the wonderful adventure of playing the cello in the most fulfilling way, are all welcome.
I have a monthly class for all of my school level students to go with their weekly lessons. My wife, Karen Balabanian, is a pianist and piano teacher, and we do joint cello and piano student recitals twice a year.
Also, my adult students get together every other month to play for each other and to play cello ensembles.
MY EDUCATION
I have studied at San Francisco State College and at California East Bay State College.
My teachers have included Margaret Rowell, Lazlo Varga, Alan Gove, Bonnie Hampton, and especially Irene Sharp.
I have worked with Burton Kaplan at the Magic Mountain Practice Retreats, Teaching Children the Cello workshops at the University of Wisconsin, and with Irene Sharp teaching seminars at the San Francisco Conservatory.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
I am a tenured member of the Napa Valley Symphony and the Vallejo Symphony and freelance as much as possible.
I am the cello/bass coach and a member of the AiR String Quartet (the artist in residence string quartet) for the Berkeley Youth Orchestra
and have a private teaching studio in Vallejo. Also, I am a contract instructor at Pacific Union College in Angwin.
My wife, Karen Balabanian (karen@tutticelli.com), and I perform cello/piano duo recitals
My teacher, Margaret Rowell, always said, "I don't teach the cello, the cello can't learn. I teach the human being."
I have always embraced this philosophy in my long teaching career emphasizing personal musical growth specific to the individual student. It is always about the music, and every student's growth as a musician and cellist no matter what age or level.
We don't "work" music; we play music in the most profound and rich sense of play.
MATERIALS
I use a combination of traditional and contemporary materials based on my many years of teaching, playing professionally, and studying. I have been fortunate to have worked with many teachers and musicians including Margaret Rowell, Irene Sharp, Burton Kaplan and Bonnie Hampton.
I TEACH ALL LEVELS AND AGES
I especially enjoy working with beginners of all ages!
A good start on the cello centered on a natural and direct approach emphasizing posture, clear tone and intonation, and of course,
musicianship is essential for steady growth.
I also equally enjoy working with intermediate and advanced students.
School age students who want to be or are in school or youth orchestras, or who might be interested in continuing musical studies in college, or college students, or anyone of any age wanting to embark on the wonderful adventure of playing the cello in the most fulfilling way, are all welcome.
I have a monthly class for all of my school level students to go with their weekly lessons. My wife, Karen Balabanian, is a pianist and piano teacher, and we do joint cello and piano student recitals twice a year.
Also, my adult students get together every other month to play for each other and to play cello ensembles.
MY EDUCATION
I have studied at San Francisco State College and at California East Bay State College.
My teachers have included Margaret Rowell, Lazlo Varga, Alan Gove, Bonnie Hampton, and especially Irene Sharp.
I have worked with Burton Kaplan at the Magic Mountain Practice Retreats, Teaching Children the Cello workshops at the University of Wisconsin, and with Irene Sharp teaching seminars at the San Francisco Conservatory.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
I am a tenured member of the Napa Valley Symphony and the Vallejo Symphony and freelance as much as possible.
I am the cello/bass coach and a member of the AiR String Quartet (the artist in residence string quartet) for the Berkeley Youth Orchestra
and have a private teaching studio in Vallejo. Also, I am a contract instructor at Pacific Union College in Angwin.
My wife, Karen Balabanian (karen@tutticelli.com), and I perform cello/piano duo recitals