amy jones-gantkin
Violin, Viola
Amy Jones-Gantkin received a Bachelor of Music degree in Applied Viola and Music Theory, and a Master’s degree in Music Theory from the Hartt School of Music. Amy has been providing private instruction for violin and viola students for nearly twenty years. She teaches traditional violin and incorporates Suzuki techniques into her teaching style.
Amy performs regularly with the Eastern Connecticut, Waterbury, Nutmeg, and Wallingford Symphony Orchestras, and the CT Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. She also provides violin instruction at the Warner Theatre Center for Arts Education in Torrington.
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I began as a traditional violin teacher with an emphasis on note-reading from the beginning. The extensive use of the Suzuki method in schools made it necessary to learn and incorporate Suzuki techniques into my teaching style. I begin students with a number/string approach which emulates the "speak first, then read" philosophy of the Suzuki program. Students are asked to listen to their pieces so they may better reproduce them. Mimicry and repetition (I play, then they play) gives the student a visual as well as audible basis for correct intonation and rhythm, and a visual reinforcement of the physical techniques involved in playing the violin. I have taught from the Suzuki book to help the students progress in school as well as privately.