ERIC GRATZ
TEACHING
Far too many students attend major conservatories for a number of years, only to graduate not feeling remotely equipped to take on their goals. One would think that attending a prestigious music school would give you all of the tools needed for success, but I have noticed this is often not the case. What’s going on? I’m reminded of the old proverb, “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Too many teachers are giving out fish. I want to teach you to fish. My philosophy as a teacher is that you must understand something in order to truly do it well. Receiving tweaks and pointers and some fingerings don’t lead to an informed violinist and musician. We must dive deep, consider the historical perspective of why we do things a certain way on the instrument, and question whether or not some things can be adjusted for the betterment of our own personal technique.
My journey as a violinist and educator has been full of questions, mistakes, failures, adjustments, and successes. It’s a cycle, and the more cycles you experience, the more efficient of a learner you become. It doesn't have to take 15-20 years to achieve satisfaction in your violin playing. I've had students gain acceptance to major conservatories after playing violin for just a few years. They've won competitions, performed with major orchestras, and become ambassadors of their art form. I've taught all ages and ability levels, from beginning children up to adults preparing for professional orchestra auditions. My varied experiences as a veteran concertmaster and soloist with over a dozen orchestras have equipped me to handle a wide range of needs.
Learning an instrument is a highly personal endeavor, and I take a highly personal approach with every student. I consider anatomy, flexibility and mobility, learning style, and which repertoire a student actually enjoys playing. In short, I make it efficient and fun.
Let's connect –– either in person in my Chicago studio –– or online, wherever in the world you may be.