Benefit Concert for the Cleveland School of the Arts

For those in Cleveland who would like to support a good cause, there is a fund raiser for the Cleveland School of the Arts Lower Campus Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 3 p.m. It will be held at Plymouth Church of Shaker Heights (2806 Coventry Rd., Cleveland, OH 44120), and there will be students from the school performing on the first half hour of the program. I will also be performing, along with teacher/artists Dianna White-Gould and Dennis Reynolds, plus singer Norris Kelly and my good friend conductor/violinist John McLaughlin Williams.

I began my affiliation with the Cleveland School of the Arts last September when I was asked by the Cleveland Music School Settlement to teach viola for the fourth and fifth graders. I was not interested at first, because I felt that seeing students once a week when there is no parental involvement was not enough for deep learning. However, they agreed that I could come twice a week for an hour long lesson each time, so I agreed. I teach a group lesson the first day and then “private” lessons the following, which means seeing two students at a time so I can give more individual attention.

The students I teach are and inspiration to me and a healthy challenge. They thirst for learning and are eager to play the viola. What more could a teacher want? Well, maybe teaching in a real classroom and not a stairwell, but I’m more interested in motivated students right now!

csa-benefit-postcard