Emmanuel Borowsky: Teaching Philosophy

I am truly passionate about teaching, and find great satisfaction in working with all student levels and aspirations. With pre-college students, the foundation we build is essential for setting up strong technical and musical habits that will stay with them for years to come. We can enjoy the process as much as the results: how to learn, practice, approach various styles, etc. A wide variety of input from an array of influential teachers has given me a comprehensive toolbox that I draw from in my teaching. Among my strengths as a teacher, I pride myself on my creative approaches to problem-solving, enthusiasm, and patience. I offer a fully individualized approach that meets each student at their current level and help them develop their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. My pedagogical approach of distilled knowledge offers simple solutions to seemingly complex technical problems. I believe in a foundation that gives the violinist the ability to instill meaning to each note, relying on non-static settledness for every aspect of movement and sound production. I emphasize the importance of mental work and awareness, ensuring that this foundation will carry through every step, be it in playing open strings, scales, while sight-reading, or performing concerti. I believe in a holistic approach to learning, and have taken an interest in the Alexander Technique. This has had a significant impact on my performing and has become an integral component of my teaching. I believe that bringing conscious awareness to one’s physical and mental habits, breathing, tension, balance and other elements of practice and performance are as important as the effort we put into learning the music itself."

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