Mission Statement:

I am, above all, a LOVER of life and a believer in the potential for nobility within each of us.  I believe that people are hungry for beauty and for a positive way to express their innermost longings. Children and young people who are involved in a caring, supportive relationship with a significant teacher and their parents have a greater capacity to foster caring relationships as adults. This is the essence of Suzuki Talent Education, and is the cornerstone of my philosophical approach.  In my practice as a cello teacher, I endeavor to listen and watch closely to each individual student, in order to access the special inner qualities of each, so that they may bring forth the voice of their own hearts. This is not an instant endeavor. It requires commitment and perseverance on the part of all concerned. In more than two decades of teaching, I have yet to meet a student or a parent who has regretted the undertaking.  

 The cello provides a unique vehicle to EDUCATE both young and old about our culture, and the cultures of other lands. The cello’s voice calls to the soul and to the human heart, and has provided a “soundtrack” for many of the world’s great humanitarian movements throughout its history. The great Spanish cellist, Pablo Casals played as a statement against the fascist regime of Francisco Franco, remaining in exile in Puerto Rico for the rest of his life in protest.  The Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, played at the fall of the Berlin wall in support of the end of communism. The “cellist of Sarajevo” played in the streets each day as the bombs fell all around him, during the war between Serbia and Bosnia. Beloved contemporary cellist YoYo Ma has been taking his cello around the world to explore ancient traditions and cultural influences, through his Silk Road Project. His projects with Brazilian and Argentine musicians inspired a renewed interest in the Tango and the music of Latin America. The film “The Soloist”, is based on a true story about a gifted young cellist beset by a tragic mental disorder, whose music redeems his suffering.   

Many less well-known artists and their stories comprise the lineage of the cello. When your child takes up the study of this great and noble instrument, he or she is joining a long line of insightful, sensitive, and socially responsible human beings who have played it and loved its rich and satisfying sound. From the study of this instrument, the attainment of an appreciation for ARTISTRY, indeed the possibility of producing art oneself, can be realized. While it is not necessarily my goal to produce only professional musicians, the work of learning to play well has far reaching and scientifically documented benefits for all students.  

The pursuit of excellence in playing the cello produces PROGRESS, from which perseverance is reflected in all areas of life.  Upon hearing the Suzuki children at Carnegie Hall in 1964, Casals remarked: “Perhaps it is these children who will save the world”.  Even if this lofty ambition cannot be realized, we who are involved in the teaching of music can attempt to make the world a better place. It is my aim, and my honor to try.   

~Alicia