LESSONS with sam
WEEKLY OR BI-WEEKLY
IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL
60-MINUTE SESSIONS
one-on-one mentorship for growing your creative practice.
Lessons are for musicians of all ages and abilities. I teach complete beginners, advancing professionals, and those who play just for the love of music. Cello lessons provide connection to a lineage of artists, mentorship with a master teacher, and insight into the unique perspective you bring to the instrument.
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WHY LESSONS?
Cello lessons are about co-creating meaningful experiences of empathy, healing, and growth. My goal is to make a safer space for students to care for and listen to their own bodies and experiences. When we feel safe, we can begin experimenting, imagining, and creating. Read my teaching philosophy.
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HOW DOES IT WORK?
We play duets, sound meditations, scales, improvisations, études, and repertoire. I offer many teaching modalities including meditation, somatics, breath work, yoga, and deep listening. Together, we will cultivate habits of listening and self-reflection, and tailor unique strategies for your personal practice. Check out our studio policies.
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MY CREDENTIALS
I have been playing cello for 20 years and coaching fellow musicians for 8 years. I hold the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts (2020) from The Ohio State University. My DMA document explores music teaching as a form of community care, ancestral work, and spiritual practice. Here is my cv.
Lesson fees
I charge for lessons on a sliding scale of $50–$100 per hour in recognition of income inequality and student debt, in order to make cello lessons accessible to more people. Cello lessons are more than simply transactional - they are participation in community care. I ask that cello students or their families pay what they feel is appropriate for their income within that scale. If you make more money, pay in proportion with your income in order to support those who cannot afford to pay as much; if you make less money, pay what you can within the scale.
CELLO LESSON RESOURCES