Teaching
Teaching music is a beautiful reciprocity for me. I've been teaching music for over 20 years. I continue to learn and grow with this gift of sharing music which I am most passionate about. Along my own musical journey I’ve been able to study with incredible, masterful teachers from many different traditions. I feel so fortunate to have received such powerful and beautiful musical training. I draw from decades of my own practice, from performing alongside world class musicians and my teachers who have shared so much with me.
I currently teach music and direct a strings program at the Croft School in Providence as well as private lessons from my home studio.
Private Lessons :
Private Lessons are available for musicians of all abilities, ages and new students looking to develop a relationship to sound and music. I offer private lessons for cello, beginning guitar and voice are available as well as masterclasses for instrumentalists, bands and classical chamber music.
General music lessons are available for music theory, ear training, improvisation, just intonation, early music education for children, ensemble skills/coaching, practice and rehearsal techniques for singers and instrumentalists as well as guidance in exploring sound for healing and creating a practice well being.
Private Lessons Rates:
30 minutes - $40
45 minutes - $55
1 hour - $70
Group Classes:
Are offered for music theory, ear training, ensemble coaching, sound healing, songwriting and creative improvisation.
Rates depend on the size, length and frequency of the classes.
I am strong advocate for making music accessible to those who are passionate and dedicated to learning. Sliding scale rates are available as needed.
Testimonials:
"Isabel’s is an incredibly talented musician, whose gift and passion for teaching is evident at every lesson. She is always quick to offer praise
for accomplishments while identifying key areas for improvement. More importantly, she is able to deconstruct issues and systematically offer
approaches to conquer challenging passages in a way that helps musicians quickly master new skills. Aside from her evident musical prowess, Isabel is a warm, caring, engaging, and wonderful person. We feel so fortunate that we found Isabel, who has helped our daughter flourish as a musician and who we hope will remain a family friend for years to come.”
~Sarah (student) & Jane (parent)
“I started learning cello much later than many of my peers, and yet I passionately wanted to pursue music in college. Throughout my journey, I could not have wished for a better teacher to prepare me. Auditioning to be a cello performance major within three years of my first time holding a cello felt a little more than ambitious and a little crazy at times, but Isabel supported me with unwavering confidence through it all. When other people showed their doubts about my goals and even when I doubted myself, she showed overwhelming encouragement. I am now studying at the UNC School of the Arts, and felt well prepared coming here. In studying with her, I learned a very holistic approach to the cello that I feel nourished my passion and allowed for a deep connection to my instrument that I can fall back to when I need to. Isabel has introduced me to an extremely diverse world of music that goes beyond the reaches of conventional classical training. It has sparked an even greater passion in me and has shown me the limitless world of potential that awaits me in my lifelong journey with the cello.”
~Elijah (student)
“Isabel is a remarkable combination of an accomplished, professional musician and effective and inspiring teacher. She has been a huge influence on my son Elijah, who picked up the cello for the first time 4 years ago and is now in his first year at UNSCA as a performance major. “
~Steve (parent of Elijah)
“Our son has been receiving cello instruction from Isabel for more than five years. With the necessity of virtual lessons, Isabel has been able to make the shift as seamless as possible. Lessons remain engaging and beneficial, and we are grateful to be able to retain this normal part of life in an abnormal situation.
We appreciate her consistent and thorough teaching methods. She patiently guides proper technique and reforms bad habits so our son can bring the most musicality out of his instrument and himself. He has strengthened his focus and responsibility for his own musical education because Isabel challenges him and also offers reasoning and options to support his curiosity. Her ability to incorporate her performing and composing experiences is a highlight of the lessons.
Isabel is knowledgeable and supportive of our son and ourselves, who as non-musician parents, definitely need a resource on all things cello.”
~Chris & Joe (parents)
“I came to Isabel as my third teacher in North Carolina. She was suggested to me by my precious teacher because he thought that I could learn more from her than I could from him. I have to say that he was right. Isabel taught me many things and taught me in a way that I was excited to learn more. I had fun learning different techniques and when I struggled, she found another way that would work better for me. Isabel is a very kind, loving, and intelligent teacher. She adjusts the pace to what the student needs, but at the same time encourages them to go even farther. She has a way of teaching that is quite engaging for the student. Even when I don’t sound the best, she pushes me to try again and corrects me so that I can improve. Students will feel very comfortable around her, as she isn’t like those scary teachers that expect you to do something immediately after being taught. Isabel nurtures the student to know how to get to future goals. I believe that I have learned a lot from her, as well as become close with her. Isabel is not only a teacher and guide, but a friend as well. I feel as if that is what makes her so special and sets her apart from other teachers.”
~Alexis (student)
“Having Isabel as my daughter’s cello teacher was a great blessing for us. Her abilities and talents of being a cellist and teacher as well as the passion for music and students, wasn’t limited to detect my daughter’s lacks and provide solutions. She inspired my daughter to increase her confidence, gain in-depth understanding of music, and maximize her enjoyment through the learning process and achievement of her goals.
My daughter started cello at the age 12 and had three teachers in the first three years of playing cello before Isabel. I watched her struggle with physical pain and skills that hindered her practice and performance. Then, Isabel was introduced to us by the third teacher, he praised Isabel's talent as a cellist, teacher and artistic musician and strongly recommended her to us and believed that Isabel could not only help my daughter with correcting techniques, but could also amplify her ability and skills to advance as a cellist.
My daughter’s music career as a cellist has thrived. She passed all her auditions and became a member of the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra, Western Regionals Honors Orchestra of both Junior and Senior and played many pieces as first chair and with solo parts.
I sincerely thank Isabel for enriching my daughter's journey with music!”
~Joy (mother of Alexis)
Teaching Philosophy:
Teaching music has always been an integral part of my musical journey. I learn from every student. After decades of studying with master teachers from various traditions, sharing the love, inspiration, beauty and knowledge I’ve been given feels like important reciprocity. To see the light on a student's face when they are able to create musical sounds is delightful. I believe learning music enriches the spirit and teaches us much more than just the music itself. We get to tap into the wellspring of creativity in ourselves and with each other that can carry over into all other aspects of life. Learning music engages us in a multi-layered process. The right and left sides of the brain get to work together. We learn motor skills and kinesthetic awareness, while simultaneously heightening our senses and sensitivity to sound; honing our ability to hear, perceive and to express emotions through sound.
I believe all of us contain the ability and talent to experience and create music. Music has been a central part of human life for millennia; it inspires and connects us. I teach each student based on their unique musical desires and needs. I have taught general music to students as young as three years old and I’ve taught retired elders who dreamt of playing music their whole lives. Music is accessible to all. The process of learning music shows us first hand what determination, persistence and focus can make possible.
I teach cello, guitar and voice. Music theory and ear-training are incorporated throughout the lessons to build a strong foundation and understanding of music. My musical background ranges from western classical conservatory training, studying North Indian Classical music in India, playing avant-garde free improvisation and jazz in NYC, rock, pop and folk music, influences from Middle Eastern and African music to chamber and orchestral playing. I draw from all this experience and share with my students what inspires them.
Homage to my teachers:
I am deeply grateful for the musical lessons and mentorship my teachers have shared with me. It is unique and special relationship to receive tradition as well as create anew while at the same time grow and evolve as a human being and artist. I received a Master's Degree in Contemporary Music Performance from The Manhattan School of Music. My primary teachers here were renowned cellist, Fred Sherry and Indian music teacher Samir Chatterjee. During my Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from DePaul University I studied with cellists Chris Constanza, Katinka Kleijn and Steve Balderston, other primary teachers here include conductor Cliff Colnot, violinist Olga Kaler and many more professors. Previous cello teachers include Fred Zlotkin (NYC Ballet), Danny Morganstern (Lyric Opera, Chicago) and Myriam Santucci (National Symphony, Argentina). I learned a tremendous amount about sound from my North Indian Classical Music teachers Rajyasree Ghosh (Kolkata, India) and Falu Shah (NYC). This list goes on and I honor all my teachers with my continuous exploration and growth.