Musical Improvisation Classes - individual lessons, all instruments, ages and abilities

From 57 C$ /h

I’m a professional violist and have been improvising since I was a child. Nowadays, I perform with various improvisation ensembles and have been collaborating with theatre, dance, and film projects. I co-founded ”Kaipuu” FESTIVAL OF SILENT FILM AND IMPROVISED SOUND in 2018. I’ve been taught in Classical Improvisation by Prof. David Dolan at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London during 2010-2015 whilst completing my Bachelor's and Masters studies. Further studies followed at the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts, Helsinki. I also took part in numerous conferences and courses such as the METRIC International Conference for Improvisation in The Hague in 2017. I’ve held numerous improvisation courses at the East Helsinki Music Institute.

Improvisation is the best way for anyone to explore more - about themselves, about others, about the world around you. According to your level of experience, the content will be tailored to your specific wishes and going at a pace that challenges you but builds on positive experiences. We will push past ”limitations” that we tend to impose on ourselves and travel on the road of creative freedom.

Depending on your personal interests, we will discover different areas of musical improvisation and explore a common mindset that will help you in all areas of life.

Some of the areas we can explore together are:

- improvising on scales, ground bass, harmonic progressions,
multi-part improvisation, tonal and tonally free improvisation, modulation

- improvising within Classical forms such as Minuets, Rondos, Sonata-form

- improvising to text, images or silent film

- improvising within musical repertoire (including cadenzas and ornamentations)

- improvising in between or ahead of pieces (Preludes/ Interludes)

- Practice habits that incorporate an improvisational, more creative mindset

- Improvisational exercises to help with audition/concert preparation, enhance performance and reduce anxiety

Extra information

Required equipment: own musical instrument, tool to record and play videos (phone/laptop/tablet OK)

Location

Online from Finland

About Me

I’m a freelance musician and full-time viola and violin teacher based in Finland, where I commute between Helsinki and Lappeenranta. I offer online classes to all ages and all levels of experience. Teaching live classes on location can be discussed.

With over 20 years performing and over 10 years teaching experience, I would say that both areas are of equal importance to me. The main aspect about performing and teaching that I love is to share music with people around me.
I love teaching beginners, I equally love working with students of other levels. I’m very open-minded, patient and love to build my teaching around each student’s personal wishes. We will tailor the lessons to what you would like to learn and work towards specific goals!

Students will receive plenty of additional help and material to guide them between lessons.

I would love to meet you and get started soon to help you realise your musical potential!

Education

Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London: Master of Music (Distinction)
Sibelius Academy, University of Arts Helsinki: Master of Music
Teacher’s Certificate of Pedagogics according to Tampere University

Experience / Qualifications

Violin/Viola Teacher at East Helsinki Music Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Violin/Viola Teacher at North London Colourstrings Centre, London, UK
Helsinki Chamber Orchestra, principal viola

Substitute positions in:
Norrlandsoperan Symphony Orchestra; Sweden (principal viola)
Lappeenranta City Orchestra, Finland (principal viola)
Pori Sinfonietta, Finland (principal viola)
Lapland Chamber Orchestra (principal viola)
St Michel’s Strings (principal viola)
Lohja City Orchestra (principal viola)
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Kuopio Symphony Orchestra

European Youth Orchestra, member 2019
Germany Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, member 2004 - 2010

Age

Preschool children (4-6 years old)

Children (7-12 years old)

Teenagers (13-17 years old)

Adults (18-64 years old)

Seniors (65+ years old)

Student level

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Duration

30 minutes

45 minutes

60 minutes

90 minutes

120 minutes

The class is taught in

English

German

Finnish

Skills

Sound (music)

Children's music

Music theory

Availability of a typical week

(GMT -05:00)

New York

Online via webcam

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

00-04

04-08

08-12

12-16

16-20

20-24

One-to-one violin and viola lessons for all ages and levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced

94 C$ /h

Learn to play viola or violin, take up your playing again, or refine your existing skills further!

I offer one-to-one lessons in viola and violin playing. I have over 20 years of performing and over 10 years of teaching experience and am currently working as viola and violin teacher at the East Helsinki Music Institute and the Lappeenranta Music School. I have also in-depth knowledge of working as an ensemble coach and improvisation teacher.
I teach all ages. Alongside teaching, I’m playing as a freelancer in orchestras in Finland and abroad, frequently as section leader.

I have a Master of Music Degree from both the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. My interests in different musical styles are broad, and I’ve been involved in many cross-arts collaborations. I’m a German and British national, currently living in Finland. Whilst German is my mother tongue, I speak English and Finnish fluently.

You can choose the length of the class - 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, or 90 minutes. Additional material such as marked scores, exercise sheets, personal plans, and access to teaching videos are included in the lessons.