Swissvale Violin Teacher Accepting New Students

Jessica Landes is currently accepting new students at her private violin studio in , while at the same time, offering free music workshops in Braddock on a monthly basis.

Landes teaches violin and viola in the Suzuki method, with students from the ages of four to 30.

“With the method I teach, there are also group lessons, so there is a chance to work individually, in groups to learn how to play violin with other people in an ensemble and have concerts,” Landes said “Those are very important ways for us to perfect what we do—giving us a goal and a chance to play in front of other people.”

The Suzuki philosophy is called a mother-tongue teaching approach. It uses the concept that the way people learn a language is also the way they learn music, which means being surrounded by music, listening to music, having support from parents and starting very young is the best way to go.

“There’s really no limit,” Landes said.

With older students, she teaches fiddling and branches off from the Suzuki method. Irish fiddling and old time bluegrass fiddling are two techniques she teaches as well. Landes has been playing violin since she was 10 years old, and has studied piano since the age of five. She attended Goshen College in Indiana and studied music.

In addition to lessons at her Swissvale home, she also offers a free music workshop once a month at the Braddock Carnegie Library.

“We know there are many ways that music enhances our life experience,” Landes said. “If we can connect to music through making music, that’s a whole other level of life enrichment that touches on our ability to focus and our ablity to work with other people.”

Music education in general is important for personal development and life enrichment, Landes said.

“Parents who are willing to take time to invest in music education for their children, especially with the Suzuki method, really gives them a chance to work with their children to the point that it enhances their relationship,” she added.

Landes also said that studying music allows children to explore their own creativity and build confidence.

“It’s a sense of accomplishment for personal worth and showing kids that wow, you can really do something not everyone can do because you spent careful time practicing,” she said. “Every person can do this.”

Landes also enjoys the experience of discovering new ways of teaching with each individual student.

“I love the kids' energy, so having the individual energy of each kid is an inspiration,” she said. “Seeing them develop is very exciting to me. It’s amazing the beautiful music that can come from someone who takes time to practice.”

For more information, e-mail jessicalandes@hotmail.com, visit www.landesstringstudio.com or call 412-242-9050. Upcoming music workshops at the Braddock Carnegie Library are held from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. on the following dates: Nov. 12, Dec. 10, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 10, April 14 and May 12. To register, call the library at 412-351-5356.